HOW to PRAY for your Children**

I know as a parent it's easy to pray for God to HELP US in all aspects of parenting... but do we pray enough specifically for WHO we want our children to be?  Or how to act?  I got a little card from someone with 12 bullet points on "How to Pray for your children." I love it.  Many of them I wasn't consciously making an effort to pray for, or even focus on at all.  Whether you have a child, multiple children, or plan to have children, it is never too early to pray for the life experiences they will inevitably face; their future marriages & relationships, their fight against Satan's schemes, and the guarding of their hearts.  I pray with a vision over my kids, and through scripture and prayer I know God will take care of them.   Try praying these scriptures over your family...

1.  That they will know Christ as Savior early in life. (Ps. 63:1,11 ,Tim. 3:15)
2.  That they will have a hatred for sin.  (Ps. 97:10)
3.  That they will be caught when guilty.  (Ps. 119:71)
4.  That they will be protected from the evil one in each area of their lives; spiritual, emotional, physical.  (John 17:15)
5.  That they will have a responsible attitude in all their interpersonal relationships. (Dan 6:3)
6.  That they will respect those in authority over them.  (Rom 13:1)
7.  That they will desire the right kind of friends and be protected from the wrong friends. (Prov. 1: 10,11)
8.   That they will be kept from the wrong mate and saved for the right one.  (1 Corint. 6:14-17)
9.  That they, as well as those who marry, will be kept pure until marriage.  (1 Cor. 6:18-20)
10.  That they will learn to totally submit to God and actively resist Satan in all circumstances.  (Jas. 4:7)
11.  That they will be singlehearted, willing to be sold out to Jesus Christ.  (Roman 12:12)

12.  That they will be hedged in so they cannot find their way to wrong people or places and that wrong people cannot find their way to them.  (Hos 2:6)


.. I also love these books from Stormie Omartian & my mama, Gari Meacham**... That help with specific, intentional vision prayer for yourself & loved ones.

Trick your Toddler with Veggies in their Smoothie!

I don't know about you but it is a battle getting my toddler to eat her veggies.  Anything green in her dinner dish winds up getting extracted and placed in a mound on the side of the plate. :( Sigh!  So I decided I'm going to try a different approach - Smoothies.  Vegetables in a smoothie?  Yes.  I can add any fruits and vegetables I want, and maybe even a little yogurt to add sweetness.  That way it won't scare away my little one, and it will be a yummy, healthy option to get those nutrients in my daughter's diet.  Here's a great recipe I'm planning on trying.  Now the only thing I'm worried about is if it turns out green! ... We might need to try some food coloring:)... Enjoy!

"Eat your Fruits & Veggie's" Smoothie

Ingredients (4 servings)

• 2 big handfuls fresh spinach leaves (about 4 cups)
• 2 bananas, peeled
• 4 medium carrots, rinsed and trimmed
• 1 cup frozen mango
• 1 12oz bag frozen strawberries
• 2 tablespoons flax oil
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups unsweetened original almond milk
• 1.5 cups water

Combine all ingredients into the blender, and give it a whirl!