The Most Important Mission: Love

I've never been on a mission trip.  But I do live a mission everyday.

It's not as life changing as taking care of orphans in a foreign country or teaching Christianity in far off lands.  Those missions are amazing, and God calls certain people to that kind of service and sacrifice.  But that doesn't mean that the rest of us aren't called to important missions as well.

For 15 years, my mission was to help my patients at my dental office.  I didn't just beautify smiles and teach adults and kids how to brush and floss.  Sometimes, when I would lean that chair back, I became like a therapist, an ear to listen.  So many people just need someone to listen to them and to show them that they truly care.  I didn't always succeed, but I tried very hard to treat every single one of my patients as a fellow human being and not just a set of teeth in my chair!

I'm also a missionary to my children.  To teach them about the Faith through my words and actions.  To raise them to be loving and holy men and women of God by reading them Bible stories, teaching them how to pray, loving their father, being thankful even when times are tough, living a joyful life in the midst of messy rooms and little sleep, and so much more.

But in all honesty, I'm called to be a missionary to everyone in my life!  My family, my friends, my co-workers, and everyone I come in contact with.   

And so are you!

I believe that every single one of us is called to be a loving Christian example to all of those we meet.  What better way to lead others to Jesus than through our actions?  It could be anything from helping a friend get through a crisis to thanking the grumpy sales clerk with a smile.  In this way, we embody the love of Christ.

We are all called to different missions, but in the end, no matter where we're sent or what we're called to do, every single one of us is under the same mission, His mission: 
 

to bring our fellow man to His Son Jesus Christ through words and acts of love. 

 
This was very important for me to hear and understand as a new stay-at-home mom.  It's easy to get lost in the everyday monotony of making meals, changing diapers, and cleaning up messes.  How is this mission of mine important? is something I would consistently wonder.
  

What makes my mission important isn't what I'm called to do or where I'm called to do it.  That is just what makes it uniquely mine.

What makes my personal mission important is my goal and how I live it: leading my children to Christ by a loving example.

    

Like St. Thérèse of Lisieux said:  My vocation is love.
How true that is for every single one of us. 

Photo by my lovely friend Amanda Jo

So to all my fellow missionaries wherever you're stationed at this very moment:  

may we live out our missions with holiness, love, and fervor for the glory of His Name!

               

Are you looking to link up with Tuesday Talk?

Head on over the next post!

Today, I'm linking up with 
my link party Tuesday Talk along with my 12 other awesome hosts,
Andrea at Momfessionals for Show and Tell Tuesday: Share Your Mission,
and with these awesome parties :)

Preparing for Advent: Our Family's Jesse Tree (A Book Review)

I was given a copy of Our Family's Jesse Tree to review, but all opinions are my own.  This post does NOT contain affiliate links.  Please see our disclosure for more information.


Advent will be starting at the end of the month!

This year, Jim and I are planning to do a lot more to prepare ours and our kids' hearts, minds, and souls for the Birth of Christ. One thing we're really excited about is having our first Jesse Tree, and I've been given a great book to help us!

Over at Faith and Fabric, Jen has a new family craft book for Advent called Our Family's Jesse Tree.  It's filled with activities and reflections on the Jesse Tree for every day leading up to Christmas.  Each of the 25 days has an opening activity relating to that day's Bible story, how the story connects to Jesus, a call to prayer, and then a coordinating ornament. 

I'm really looking forward to going through the Bible stories, activities, and prayers together as a family everyday.  My favorite part of Our Family's Jesse Tree is that each section is completely focused on uniting the family in our Faith:

Each day starts out with an activity that is engaging and fun for the kids (and parents!) and draws everyone's attention to the Bible story.

The section about the connection between Jesus and the Bible story is easy to understand for the kids, but it still draws out rich meaning for the adults - even from stories we've heard many times before!

The prayer section is open ended - it gives you a great start and then leaves each person in the family to add their own intention.  It's perfect for teaching and guiding your children to form their own personal prayers.

I also love how the ornament crafts are so versatile!

Professional crafter?  Well, then you can sew your ornaments according to the easy-to-follow instructions with templates.

All you own are scissors and crayons?  Then, you can print out the ornament and have your child color it.

Somewhere in between?  You can use felt and fabric glue or craft foam and glue to make your ornaments each day.

There is literally something for everyone!

I am really looking forward to growing closer to God as a family by using this book to help us prepare for the Nativity of our Lord for this and every Advent!

               

Would you like to win a copy of Our Family's Jesse Tree?  

Head on over to Faith and Fabric's Facebook page and Instagram!  

She's giving away a copy from each outlet from now until November 7th! 

Or you can go ahead and click here to purchase Our Family's Jesse Tree for the sale price of $5 from now til November 7th. 

Starting on November 8th, it will return to it's regular price of $7.50.  

P.S.  I'd love to know: 
Does your family have a Jesse Tree tradition?  
What does your family do during Advent to prepare for Christmas?  


I'm linking up with these awesome parties!

Super Soft Dark Chocolate Chip Cookies

This chocolate chip cookie recipe is by far the best one I've ever made.  They're big, soft, and chock full of chocolate.  And as a bonus for our family, they come out perfectly even with the substitutions we have to make for our allergies and dietary restrictions.  They're perfection!  (Thanks, Pinterest and Averie Cooks!)

This post contains affiliate links where we may make a small commission if you make a purchase after clicking on our link.  See our disclosure for more information.


Super Soft Dark Chocolate Chip Cookies
(Egg and Peanut Free**)

Yield: 20 cookies
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Chill Time: 2 hours+
Cook Time: 7-9 minutes


Ingredients:
3/4 cup (1-1/2 sticks) unsalted butter
3/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup applesauce*
2 tsp. vanilla extract
2 cups 100% whole wheat pastry flour* (My favorite is Bob's Red Mill)
2 tsp. cornstarch
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
2 cups dark chocolate chips*

*Substitutions:
-1 egg may be used instead of 1/3 cup applesauce.
-2 cups all purpose white flour may be used instead of 100% whole wheat pastry flour.  I have found that 100% whole wheat pastry flour works well as a 1:1 substitution for white flour.  Regular whole wheat flour is too dense as a 1:1 substitution. 
-2 cups of any combination of cookie fillers may be used instead of dark chocolate chips.  Those are just our favorite!  We have used 1 cup craisins + 1 cup white chocolate chips as well - oh my, deliciousness!


Directions:

1.  Beat butter in a stand mixer until smooth (1-2 minutes).

2.  Add both sugars and beat until creamed (2 minutes).

3.  Scrape the sides of the bowl with a spatula.  Add the applesauce and vanilla.  Beat until well mixed (2 minutes).

4.  Scrape the sides of the bowl with a spatula.  Add flour, corn starch, baking soda, and salt.  Mix until just combined (1 minute).

5.  Add dark chocolate chips.  Mix at a slow speed for a less than 30 seconds.  Or fold in with a spatula.

6.  Form heaping mounds of cookie dough approximately a little less than 1/4 cup size each.  Arrange cookie dough mounds on a plate (see picture below).  Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours (but up to 5 days).

And if you don't use eggs, feel free to eat as much cookie dough as you please ;)

7.  Preheat oven to 350F.  Spray cookie sheet with cooking spray.  Bake 8 cookies at a time for 8-10 minutes.  (If using applesauce, it will probably be closer to 10 minutes.  If you use an egg, 8 minutes.)  Once the cookie's edges turn slightly golden brown, the cookie is done (even if the center still looks doughy - it will firm up!).  Do not over-bake.

8.  Allow cookies to cool for 5 minutes on cookie sheet.  Then transfer to cooling rack to finish cooling.  Store in airtight container for up to 5 days.


Notes:
Do not skip refrigerating the cookies.  The original recipe states that refrigeration is optional, but the cookies are so much better if they are chilled for at least 2 hours prior to baking.  Without being chilled, they will come out flat and dense.  We much prefer our cookies to be fluffy and soft!


**Always check the ingredients to make sure what you're using is free from the allergen you want to avoid.  Some chocolate chips contain peanuts.  I use Nestle Toll House Dark Chocolate Morsels, which at the time of this post, do not contain peanuts.  But as I have already said, always check the ingredients no matter what!

Modified from Averie Cooks's Chocolate Chip and Chunk Cookies

Today, your Tuesday Talk hosts are sharing our favorite cookie recipes!  We'd love for you to hop on over and join us.  Check out our recipes and link up your own!

Click here to link up your fave cookie recipes
with Tuesday Talk's Cookie Swap!

(Starting at 8am EST!)

Don't have a cookie recipe to link up?   

Click here to check out all of the faves of the Tuesday Talk hosts and our readers!

(Starting at 8am EST!)

Enjoy!

               

I'm linking up with these awesome parties!

Halloween Costumes (and a Giveaway coming up!)

I'm still trying to think of costumes for the kids this year - it's more that I have 500 ideas, and about a week to get it done. Abby keeps flip flopping on her costume, and I like having Tim 'match' her...so we'll see what we come up with. :)

In case you are like me and still don't have costumes, here are some easy DIY ideas from Halloweens past ... 

DIY Hobbit Costumes (Cloak and Feet Tutorial)

Check out how Jess made their costumes here!

Five Easy Halloween Ideas for Boys and Girls

Baby Wonder Women - felt glued on a shirt and a DIY tutu

The Boy who Lived ;) Harry Potter Forever!

Our Costumes Last Year

Last Halloween, we did a Toy Story theme - Jessie and Buzz. I used plain white shirts and glued on felt. Buzz's wings were a little tricky, but well worth it because they were adorable! :)

Jess' kids were Dorothy and the Lion last year - so cute! :) She found their costumes on clearance at a consignment store. Great find :)

What are your kids dressing up as this year? Do you buy your costumes or make your own?

As for the GIVEAWAY announcement - make sure to follow us on Instagram! Our sister, Kelly, and our sister in law, Karissa, both launched Etsy shops in the past two weeks. We're teaming up with them to give away some really cute stuff soon! :) You can follow Karissa and Kelly too and help support their shops :) 

Hope your week is off to a great start!

Ok, on to the Link Up!

One thing before you link up - if you want the opportunity to be featured, please make sure there is a link back to at least one of the hosts in your post, sidebar, or party page.  (You can grab the button below!)  Your lovely blog is being presented on our 13 blogs - we would love it if you would return the favor and link back to us!  Thank you!!!

Check out the Tuesday Talk guidelines here,
and check out the features from every week here!

(Starting from the upper left:)

Beth - Our Pretty Little Girls ~ Michelle - Grammie Time
Keri - Living In This Season  ~ Christina - Waltzing In Beauty
Lauren - Simply Free ~  Becky - BYBMG
Jess and Katie - Sweet Little Ones ~ Whitney - Polka Dotty Place
Laura - Life Is Beautiful ~ Elizabeth - All Kinds Of Things
Sarah - Abiding In Grace ~ Stephanie - Wife Mommy Me
Emily - Morning Motivated Mom

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