Simply Cookin’ : Easy Granola

A few years ago, a dear friend gave me a recipe for her homemade granola.  This friend is my go-to chick for anything related to homemaking.  She is what I lovingly refer to as “The Ultimate Homemaker.”  I’m pretty sure her Super Homemaking Cape is lined with fairy dust.

Anyway, she told me how easy this recipe was and I didn’t believe her.  Not because she lies or anything, but because she makes EVERYTHING look easy.  And usually when I try the same thing, it ends up as a major Homemaking Fail.  You can’t even imagine how ecstatic I was when I made it the first time and it actually worked!  A Homemaking Win!  This granola recipe has replaced store-bought cereal in our home (well, for the most part – sometimes I just want need Peanut Butter Cookie Crisp.)  My husband and children all adore it (which is a miracle all by itself), so I like to make several batches at once and store them in mason jars for snacks, breakfast, dessert toppings, and so much more!

I wanted to share my version of the recipe with you, so you can also rejoice with a Homemaking Win!  What I love most about this recipe (besides the fact that it’s ridiculously delicious) is that the ingredients needed are ones you probably already have right in your pantry!

Quick & Easy Homemade Granola

1/4 cup canola oil
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup honey
1 tsp vanilla extract (or almond, or pumpkin spice, or hazelnut, or whatever)
1 tsp cinnamon, optional (but super awesome with it)
Salt to taste (I like mine to have a sweet and salty flavor, so I use about 1 – 1 1/2 tsp)
3 cups quick oats, uncooked

Preheat your oven to 300 degrees F.  Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.  I love the Reynold’s Wrap pre-cut pieces.  A little more expensive than the roll, but it lays flat and is the perfect size.  Mix oil, sugar, honey, vanilla, cinnamon, and salt together in a large bowl.  Once mixed together, add 3 cups of oats into mixture and smoosh together with your hands until the oats are well covered.  NOTE : Smooshing is a perfect job for your littles to help you in the kitchen!  Spread mixture onto prepared baking sheet and flatten with your hands until it’s a nice, even layer.  Bake for 18-20 minutes.  Once removed from oven, let cool completely.

Once the granola has cooled, you can add whatever mix-ins you’d like!  My children love it with mini semi-sweet chocolate chips.  My husband thinks plain is the best.  I like mine with some toasted coconut and the mini chocolate chips.  I’ve also made it with toasted almond slivers and cranberries.  YUM!

I think you’ll find the possibilities are endless with this recipe!  I’ve used it in my Honey Granola Bread, Whole Wheat Banana Muffins, and more.  I like it as a breakfast cereal with vanilla almond milk.  It’s also delicious sprinkled on ice cream for a fun dessert or on vanilla yogurt for a breakfast treat.

I can’t wait to hear what you think of the recipe and what toppings you have tried!!

**Special thanks to The Ultimate Homemaker – Mrs. Susan Previts – for sharing her
knowledge and making it all look so easy!!**

*Disclaimer: Kitchen depicted is NOT my kitchen….mine is definitely not that clean!

The Joys (and Struggles) of Friendship

Have you ever watched little children on the playground?  I was constantly amazed when I would sit and study my children playing.  Children seem to have this unique capacity for friendship.  I mean, they can sit for HOURS in a sandbox with a child and never even exchange names!  Oh, how I envy the ease of a child’s ability to make friends.

I know some adults, though, who also have that same childlike gift of making friends.  My mama was one of those people.  She would be standing in line at Walmart and strike up a conversation with another person and they would end up making pleasant small talk.  If I tried that, I know I would end up sounding like a creepy stalker lady and security would probably be called.

A former co-worker of mine at the optometrist office I worked, has that same gift.  It is what made her so successful at the task of pre-testing patients.  She would talk with them as she brought them back, and I’m sure they instantly felt like they were with a friend.  I must admit, I was very jealous of her ability to make people feel welcome and comfortable.

Unfortunately, I didn’t take after my mama.  I am more like my daddy.  He and I share the same ability to be what I call “Quiet Observers” (aka wallflowers).  Not a whole lot of talking done, but a whole lot of people watching (and not in that creepy, stalkerish way).  I think being that way allows me to glean more information about people by not only listening to their words, but studying body language, how they interact with others, etc.

There is a downside to being that Quiet Observer, though.  Because I do tend to be so quiet and observant, I can come across to others as being rude or standoffish….especially in a group setting.  I don’t mean to be, and I certainly don’t want to be….it’s just how I initially appear.  The thought of someone thinking me rude or stuck-up makes my heart sad.  I know that I am NOT those things, but as we all know, first impressions can be difficult to alter.

I feel there are many benefits of being that Quiet Observer.  As I’m constantly trying to teach my children, the good Lord gave us TWO ears and ONE mouth for a reason – so that we can listen TWICE as much as we talk!  Being a good listener is a HUGE part of friendship.  If we don’t have the ability to be still and truly listen to our friends, I’m positive the friendship won’t last.

On the other hand, if people believe you to be rude, standoffish, stuck up, or whatever other word applies….then there won’t be any friends that you can listen to.  There has to be a balance and I’m embarrassed to admit that I haven’t found it yet.

My husband and I left our family and friends in Ohio to move to North Carolina in July 2015.  No family, no friends here – – basically starting over.  There is a passage in Anne of Green Gables that puts me in mind of my own situation right now.  Anne has just found out she is staying at Green Gables and she asks Marilla the following:

---

“Marilla,” she demanded presently, “do you think that I shall ever have a
bosom friend here in Avonlea?”

“A–a what kind of friend?”

“A bosom friend — an intimate friend, you know–a really kindred spirit
to whom I can confide my inmost soul.  I’ve dreamed of meeting her all my life.
I never really supposed I would, but so many of my loveliest dreams have
come true all at once that perhaps this one will, too.  Do you think it’s possible?”

---

I feel like those words were written for me.  I ask God frequently, “Lord, shall I ever have a bosom friend?  A kindred spirit whom I can confide, a friend that will come into my house and see a mess and there is no judgment? A friend who will bring over Ghiradelli Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Caramels on a bad day and not care when I hug the bag before her?”

I know the Lord has plans for each of us, and that plan includes a bosom friendship for me.  Until that day, I will wait…..quietly, of course, and know that the Lord is my friend above all friends.  So if you’re in the market for a Quiet Observer Friend…..I’ll be here, probably eating chocolate.

 

Where, oh where, have I been?

Back in 2011, I had started writing this blog to keep my sanity. We were moving to a smaller house in the country and I just felt like if I didn’t write down what was going on, I may end up on the 6:00 news…..and not in a good way.

Anyway, the main reason I stopped is because we didn’t have internet at the house. (GASP – it can be done, but should it?)  It became too complicated…..and this is one mama who doesn’t enjoy complicated.

So now I’m back connected to the world outside my door and decided that it was time to start writing again…..I missed it. I knew if I tried to write everything that has happened in the past 6 years, it would be a novel, so I’ve decided to condense it down to as few as words as possible. Can I do it in less than 75??? Challenge accepted.  Ready? Here we go:

---

Mom died. Left Ohio. Moved to NC. Got internet. Started homeschooling. May be crazy. Got a job. Hated it. Got another job. Liked it. Got a job working from home. Love it. (Cue angels singing) Have a teenager. With a learner’s permit. (pray for me) Have 2 tweenage daughters. (pray for Aaron) Trying to make friends. Miss my Buckeye state.
Miss my mom. Miss my dad. Miss my church.

---

Oh yeah, 68 words. Success.

Don’t Be So Meowthy

Oh my goodness.  I am tired today.  Adam had to be to work this morning at 6:00.  (He works at a restaurant known for it’s delicious chicken sandwich, waffle fries, and lemonade).  Anyway, I set my alarm for 5:15 – that should give me enough time to get up, throw some clothes on, and try to wake up before having to drive him on dark, dark roads.

For some irrational reason, even though my alarm is set on my phone, I am still worried that I won’t hear it and will not get up on time.  I don’t typically sleep well the night before he has to work an early shift.  I’m restless, watching the clock, sleeping in less than comfortable positions so I don’t fall into a deep sleep and miss the alarm.  Paranoid much?

Anyway, I finally crawl out of bed around 4:55 this morning.  The house is pretty well lit, thanks to the candle light thingy in my kitchen window that apparently has a bulb that harnesses the power of the sun.  I putter around, drinking my first cup of ice water today.  I sit down and give some thanks to God for getting me up early.  There may have been some sarcasm involved, so it’s a good thing He is forgiving.

Without being told, my teenage son gets up on his own and gets ready for work.  I’m sitting in the living room thinking there must a full moon or something for this to be happening.  I drive him to work and head back home, where I’m already anticipating laying back down to catch a little more sleep.

Aaron is up when I get home, already running on the treadmill (that man has more energy than ten people combined) and I hop back into bed, put a sleep mask over my eyes to make it darker, and cuddle into my pillow.

Meow.  Meow.  Meow.  Sigh.  Princess the Cat has decided that it is time for all to be awake.  She is standing on my headboard, batting my hair while meowing loudly.  I know what she wants, but I don’t want to stand in the bathroom for 10 minutes while she gets a drink from the faucet because “bowl water” isn’t for her.  I pick her up and place her outside the bedroom and shut the door.  Climb back into bed and snuggle in.

MEOW.  MEOW.  MEOW.  MEOW.   Yes, the caps are necessary because she was yelling at me.  Again.  Some child of mine, who shall remain nameless, but is my youngest, let her into the room because she was meowing outside the door.  Sigh.  I pick her back up and put her outside my room and shut the door.  A little bit harder this time.  Climb back in, and get comfy.

Just as I’m dozing off, the door opens AGAIN, and this time Aaron comes in to get ready for work.  Princess the Cat follows him and proceeds to the headboard.  Before she can even start, I pick her up and take her to the bathroom, turn on the faucet, and let her drink while I make the bed.  I do love my cat, but she is so meowthy, it drives me nuts.

Princess the Cat

So while my day didn’t start as well as I had wanted it to, I am making a real effort to change it around.  Having some Jesus time, drinking some more water, the girls and I are doing our exercises, I’m getting some work done……I will make it a great day!

The Heat is Off

So yesterday was moving day.  If I misspell words I apologize.  My arms feel a bit like rubber and apparently my Super Woman cape is at the cleaners because I am one tired mama.  I’m writing this from our old house because I’m still working from there.  Now I’m on break and decided to update my dear friends with our exciting farmhouse news.

The day actually went pretty smooth.  The kids were helpful (sort of) and the wonderful two guys who came to be some muscle, really worked their booties off.  They were a God-send for sure!  So thanks to Mike and Dave (both of whom will probably never read this anyway, but you have my gratitude – and Dave…you and Sara will be enjoying some chicken stuffed shells this week).

Have you ever seen the show Hoarders?  I told Aaron last night as we collapsed into bed (which is just on the floor since I forgot to go pick up the new rugs for underneath and we do not want to set up this monster again) that we should just leave the boxes and crap as is and then telephone the show Hoarders and apply to be on there.  We can cry a little, walk over the mountains of stuff, and crab walk to the bathroom through the piles that have yet to be put away and organized.  Then THEY can help us organize and downsize!! 

Last night I wanted to hose off the children in the shower (which we could barely get to with all the boxes in the bathroom) and I turned off the water.  The girls got into the tub and I mentioned to Aaron that the water seemed to not be getting warm at all.  I asked him whether he had turned on the hot water heater.  “Yes,” he assured me.  “I did that earlier in the week.”  Okay.  Quickly rinse the girls off and Adam gets in.  Then Aaron takes his and mentions to me that the water seems a bit cold.  Okay again.  I get in and this time my hair completely soaped up, shampoo is dripping into my eyes so I now cannot open them without an awful burning sensation, and the water is not just cold – IT IS FREEZING.  I gasp and tap dance a bit in the shower while trying to rinse my hair while completely keeping my eyes closed.  I ask Aaron to check the hot water heater so he traipses down to the cellar and lo and behold – – it’s just on the pilot light.  My dear, lovely husband had every intention of turning it on, but had forgotten.  Needless to say, that was the worst shower in the world.

But we’re in.  We survived our first night without TV and internet AND the girls in ONE ROOM….TOGETHER.  Now if we can just unearth the couch and the kitchen table, we can make it start feeling like home. 

Best quote of the move though goes to Riah.  Remember that we moved FROM a 2,200 sq ft home with 2.5 baths and 5 bedrooms to a 3 bedroom 1 bath 1048 sq ft home.  I gave her a basket of bathroom toiletries and asked her to please take it to the bathroom for mommy.  Her reply?  “Which one?”  Oh good grief.  I’m getting a glimpse of 5 years down the road when her and Mara are primping in the bathroom and Aaron, Adam, and I are left standing outside the door banging on it for our turn. 

Better start planning that addition soon…..

What’s That Smell? and Name That Farm

We are approaching crunch time.  M-Day is coming soon.  If you’re just now joining me, M-Day stands for Moving Day.  We are getting ready to move into our teeny tiny farmhouse on 3.5 acres.  Anyway, we’ve been headed out there more frequently trying to get everything ready for our big move next Saturday.  I took the kids out with me with a van load of stuff (i.e. crap that probably won’t fit in the house anyway) and when I open the door, instead of being greeted with the mustier 113 year old house smell, I am greeted with scent of everyone’s favorite nocturnal animal – the Skunk.  Oh yes.  It was horrendous.

I walked back outside and then realized the smell wasn’t OUTSIDE the house.  As I start to get a bit more concerned I walk over to the Dorothy/Toto cellar doors and realize the smell is much stronger over there.  Fearing the worst, I grab my cell phone (even though we can’t get internet, I can still get a couple bars on the cell phone) and I phone Aaron at work.  I tell him my fear that a skunk may be in the cellar.  After picking himself up off his office floor and composing himself, he tells me to have Adam and I on each side of the cellar and then lift up the doors gently while hiding behind them in case Mr. Skunk is waiting at the top of the stairs. 

I have got to tell you that it took Adam about 10 minutes to finally agree to help me.  We each get on the side of the cellar and grab the door handles.  On the count of three we slowly lift the doors and duck.  I peek my eyes around the rusted cellar door and breathe (through my mouth) a sigh of relief.  No Skunk in sight.  We walk quickly away and leave the doors open in case it’s down there.  We never saw one come out so we’re not sure if Mr. Skunk went down there and got mad he was in a hole in the ground and then sprayed it all up and came back out a hole or something, but man…that was awful. 

Country living at it’s finest…or so I’m told. 

We’ve had much going on.  A couple weeks ago Adam went to Aaron’s co-workers house to clean out the chicken coop for practice.  Mr. Slaiman told Adam that if he cleaned out the coop, he would give it to him for free.  Yes, we are about to become proud owners of a chicken coop.  And since we have a chicken coop….you can probably guess that chickens are on the way.  Adam has been doing research and found the breed he wants to get.  They are calm, docile, and produce high quantities of large brown eggs.  So if any of you enjoy farm fresh brown eggs….give us a couple months and we can so hook you up.  Supposedly the chicken coop is being delivered on Saturday so we need to clean out the area where it will be staying and make sure it’s all ready to go.

Another thought on our mind is that we really want a name for our property.  We’ve been racking our brains trying to come up with something whimsical, yet makes sense.  I came up with Flutterby Acres only because we are growing hay to sell and the butterflies are SO bountiful because they absolutely love whatever purple things are growing amidst the hay.  Tonight at supper, Adam came up with “Eggs”traordinary Acres or “Egg”cellent Acres.  I thought both of those were cute too.  We are open to suggestions, so bring ’em on. 

I am exhausted after a busy day, so I’m going to close here.  Have a great night!

My Head is Tone Deaf

I know I have gifts.  I know I’m organized.  I know I’m good at filing papers.  I know I’m okay at cooking.  I’m pretty good at cross stitch and scrapbooking.  But there is one teeny tiny little gift that I’m sure God has made a mistake on.  GASP!  I can hear the whispers right now….”Did she REALLY say God made a mistake?”  Little old church ladies are fainting as I type these words out. 

But it’s true.  I do believe God made a mistake when passing out gifts.  See, I love music.  And when I say I love music…I mean I really, really LOVE music.  80s music in particular.  We’ve discussed that during my Secret fantasy post about race car driving.  Anyway, back to the subject.  What I don’t understand is that for a person who loves music as much as I do…wouldn’t you think God would have provided me with the talent to back it up?

No.  No He did not.  I love to sing.  I make up songs all day long and we even have “musical” days at home where we can’t just talk, we actually have to sing our words (ala Oklahoma, The King and I, etc.).  It makes the kids laugh, but Aaron refuses to participate for some reason. 

I sing non stop.  Songs fill my head just about every moment of the day.  When each of my children were born, whatever song was in my head at the time I was rocking them was their song.  Adam’s song is “If” by Bread.  [author’s note: find it on YouTube if you don’t know it].  Riah’s song is “You are my Sunshine” and Mara’s is…well, it’s the bread commercial song from 2006 that goes “I don’t love you much do I, just more than all the stars up in the sky.  I don’t love you much do I, I think you hung the moon and that’s all right.”  Yeah.  She’s the last, she gets a bread commercial.  Wait a minute – – as I was actually typing those words out I completely understand why my kids are the way they are.  I SANG THEM THAT WAY!  Riah is so stinking joyful – – it’s because I sang You are my Sunshine over and over since she was 2 days old.  And Mara is my little carbivore (loves bread and crackers) and it’s because I sang the bread commercial to her since she was about a week old.  And Adam has a HUGE imagination and the words to If really fit him.  Who knew??

Wow.  Really went off on a tangent there, didn’t I.  I didn’t expect that to happen.  I guess one never knows when a lightning moment will occur.

Anyway, the point I was getting at was that I love to sing, and in my head I sound like Celine Dion.  But not so much out loud.  Is that going to stop me from singing?  Probably not.  You just wait.  You get to know me better and you’ll find out I’ve made a song up about you.

My Secret Fantasy

I have a Secret Fantasy.  I assign it proper name status because by doing so, I am hoping that someday it won’t be just a Secret Fantasy – it will be Reality. 

I’m sure all of us have our own Secret Fantasy.  Maybe it’s being a chef on Food Network.  Maybe it’s being HGTV’s Next Design Star.  Maybe you want to be an astronaut or a dancer.

I have many things I’d like to do, but there is that one elusive Secret Fantasy that I highly doubt will ever come to fruition.   Are you ready to find out my Secret Fantasy?  Are you sure?  Maybe you should put down that cup of coffee.  Go ahead….I’ll wait.

All set now?  Good.  If I could fulfill one Secret Fantasy before I die it would be…..

To Drive a Race Car.

Yes.  I am a Speed Demon.  I have an alter ego named Susie Speeder.  I see an open stretch of country road and my fingers flex and tighten around the steering wheel of my Toyota Sienna minivan.   My foot creeps down on the accelerator smoothly.  And if you combine my love for speed with 80s music blaring on the radio – good grief – just get out of the way! 

There is something about 80s music that just gets the foot pressing on the accelerator.  “Radar Love”?  Forget about it – that toe tappin’, catchy song is one of the worst offenders.  “I Can’t Drive 55”?  I hear ya, Sammy.  I, too, cannot limit myself to 55.  Throw some Big Hair Fair 80s Hair Band music and whoo-whee.  There she goes!

I will admit that I have only been pulled over for speeding twice.  Once was when I was still a teen and the other one was a couple years ago.  It was a darn country road and I was clocked at doing 80 in a 55.  In my minivan.  Thanks to my excellent driving record, I was let off with a warning and a lecture. 

So, if you are on a country road and you happen to catch a glimpse of a sky blue Toyota Sienna minivan with windows open, 80s hair band music blaring, and red hair streaming out the window as the van blows past- just wave!

Tales From Customer Service

Today I thought I’d veer away from our farmhouse and talk about another part of my life – my job as a part time customer service representative.  This past October, I was blessed to be able to find a legitimate job working from my home providing customer service for a company that handles high-end catalog merchandise.  My duties are fairly simple – take orders, check order status, answer the questions I can about the products.  What I can’t do is handle returns or answer some specific questions about products.  I would actually say it’s about 80% fun and enjoyable.

It’s the other 20% I’m going to share today.  Just to let you know, when I say “high-end” catalogs – I mean REALLY high end catalogs.  We cater to customers who can drop $3,000 on outdoor rugs without batting an eyelash.  We cater to customers who pamper their little puppy wuppys with $750 dog beds.  So I speak with well off people (aka people with more money than brains) daily.

Don’t get me wrong – I adore rich people – after all, they are the reason I have a job.  But just because you are rich doesn’t give you the right to stomp all over little customer service girl.

Most of the customers are really nice.  I enjoy speaking with them and they seem to enjoy speaking to me.  It’s the ones that are nasty and mean that really get my goat.  Last night seemed to be full of them.  So many, in fact, that my face seemed to be in a perpetual scowl all night, which we all know is NOT good for the wrinkles.  And let’s just say that my tongue may have been stuck out at my computer screen more than usual.  Yes, I know it’s juvenile, but when you are dealing with a person who is rude and you’re not allowed to be rude back, sticking your tongue out at the computer makes you feel better.

So today I thought I would put together a little list of how to treat the people in your life that provide you with customer service:

• Please do not ask your customer service representative a question and then when she tries to answer, you immediately cut her off and start talking again and then get mad because she didn’t answer your question.
• Please do not ask your customer service representative to repeat themselves and then when they do all of a sudden yell out in a grumpy voice – do you wanna take my order or what?
• Please do not curse at your customer service representative.  That will “accidentially” get your call disconnected.
• Please do not get mad when your customer service representative asks you to repeat yourself because the first time you said it you were chomping away on gum.
• Please do not start talking to your customer service representative and then answer your call waiting and leave her on hold for 5 minutes. 
• Please do not assume that between calls your customer service representative is weaving rugs, building tables, or upholstering furniture.  Your customer service rep does not actually make the items in the catalog – most of them are from China anyway – we just take the orders.
• Please do not ask your customer service representative to take the item you so desperately wanted  but waited until last minute to order and now is gone, from the customer who did get it.  It is first come, first serve.
• Please do not ask your customer service representative if they will drive the item to your home because shipping would take too long.  They don’t get paid enough for that.
• Please do not get upset when the item you want to order is backordered for two months.  And please do not ask us if we can make it come any sooner.  We are not magicians or genies that can make things appear with the blink of our eye.  If that were true, we would not need to be sitting here taking your order.

And finally – – –

• Please do not get mad at your customer service representative when the item you had for 10 years broke and you want a replacement.  For free.  With expedited shipping.  For free.  It just isn’t gonna happen.

Lessons in Nature

Yesterday God put a lesson for my kids right in my shopping cart.  Monday is Errand Day at the Kramer house so we ran to a few places, including the grocery store.  While at the store, we came across some sad, pathetic, limp little hydrangeas.  They were marked down from $9.99 each to $0.99 each.  I immediately start looking them over one by one.  Adam is standing there with pre-teen grump written all over his face.  His whole attitude screamed “Mom I think you are nuts and why are you wasting MY time?”  Meanwhile the girls are chanting “Dead flowers, dead flowers, dead flowers” over and over again.

After looking over the plants, I chose three and put them in my cart.  The kids were astonished.  Mom, why are you buying dead flowers?  I told them that I could get them looking good again.  Yeah.  First disbelief flickered across their faces, followed by excited grins from the girls – “Mommy is a genie” they said.

Smiling, we took our groceries and our three pathetic little plants home.  I asked Adam to place them on the deck.  We made lunch and cleaned up. After lunch I asked them if they wanted to help me plant the flowers.  They were definitely up for that.  I planted two in containers with my secret weapon.  The third I left on the deck railing in it’s original plastic container.

We watered all three of them and then set them in various places – one by the deck door, one in the flower bed in the yard, and finally the third still on the deck railing.

This morning after breakfast, we went out to water all the potted plants.  Imagine the kids surprise when they walked out onto the deck and saw that the first hydrangea sitting in it’s pot by the deck door was perking up.  It still had a few dead leaves on it, but the others were standing straight and tall and the leaves were thick and lush.  We went to water the other one in the pot in the yard.  Same scenario.  Then we came to hydrangea #3 on our deck railing in the little plastic pot it came in.  It was sad – it’s poor little leaves actually looked worse than yesterday.  It was starting to brown and none of the leaves were standing tall anymore. 

The lesson came to me in an instant – I explained to the kids that the two plants in potting soil (and my secret weapon) were similar to a person who chooses to live their lives for Christ.  The third little plant is similar to a person who chooses a life away from Christ.  The fundamentals for what a plant needs is exactly what a person needs:

A Firm Foundation

For the plant, a firm foundation consists of good potting soil.  For the person, a firm foundation is the Bible.  Reading, studying, and memorizing the Word helps a person keep their feet on solid ground.  Keeping God’s Word in your heart helps you stand tall as a child of God.

Hydration

For the plant, the hydration comes in the form of water and the nutrients in the potting soil.  For the person, hydration can come in the form of worshipping at church on Sunday.  A way to get your Spirit refreshed.

Sunlight

Just as the plant needs the sun to grow, people need the Son to grow.  Without the sun to provide the plant with the light it needs to flourish, it will wither and die.  Without the Son to provide people with the Light it needs to survive in a dark world, they will wither and die.

So three $0.99 plants, some potting soil, and God helped me teach my children a tangible lesson.

By the way – we’re not going to let the little 3rd plant suffer – he’s going to get planted too!