Stacking Stones & Way-Markers

Sermon: Pentecost Part 2

Servings: 6 (I usually double it because that's not enough for us!)

Ingredients:

• 2 T of butter
• 1 T of minced garlic (2 cloves)
• 1 1/2 Cup of the amazing Louisiana's Choice Creole Seasoning Mix vegetable blend (bless you Winn Dixie for this wonderful mix of chopped onions, celery, shallots, bell pepper, & parsley). You can also buy this mixture frozen. I've used it as well. 
• 1 Cup of shredded carrots
• 1/4 Cup of Gluten Free Flower
• 4 Cups of Chicken Broth
• 3/4 Cup of light cream (I've substituted milk when I didn't have the cream)
• 1/4 stick of Cream Cheese
• 1 head (or 1 bag pre-chopped bag) of cauliflower (I have also used frozen cauliflower rice)
• 1 bay leaf
• 2-3 tsp of a cajun spice seasoning 
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 lb of shrimp (I just use frozen) or crab meat
• Optional toppings: crumbled bacon and/or green onions

Download a PDF of this information from Humanitarian Disaster Relief

• Most offices have a regularly scheduled staff meeting, so why not plan a regular family meeting to see how everyone's doing, to celebrate small victories, to understand needs to be addressed? You may think that you are around each other 24/7, so why do a meeting time? We operate better when we intentionally give our families space to be reflective and share information and questions.

• Set the meeting at a time when there are not other disruptions or distractions. Families become more connected as they talk around the dinner table, but eating can be distracting when trying to set schedules, address needs, etc. Also, turn off all devices. 

• For some families, this will feel very natural, but for others, the idea may feel awkward at first. Having a plan or coming up with a list for meetings at work helps the meetings flow more smoothly, and the same will be true for your family meeting. 

• As you begin, set some ground rules of listening to one another, not blaming one another, and being willing to work on matters discussed. 

• Start the meeting by giving everyone a chance to share some things for which they are grateful, even in this new reality. Paul encouraged the people of the church at Colossae to "show yourselves thankful," as they, like many of us, faced uncertain and unfamiliar days. Modern research suggests that gratitude reduces stress and creates more happiness in one's life. Our family creates a gratitude chain* from strips of paper taped together. During the meeting, each person writes on the piece of paper their gratitude. Once everyone has had a chance to share their thankfulness verbally, you can tape them together like a chain and display them as one. Leave other blank strips of paper out for individual family members to write on during the week to add to the chain.

• As a family, create an outline of a daily schedule. We are in uncharted territory, so if our families are going to continue to move forward, we can use the help of new structures and systems. Growing Leaders shares some valuable ideas in guiding this part of the family meeting as well called "Home Chats."

• To shape our families in positive ways during this time, we will have to imagine a new routine, new timetables. Our children feel more secure with a consistent rhythm to our day and knowing what to expect.

• Parents, teachers, and administrators are rethinking the timeframes for formal academic learning; at-home learning does not require the 6-8 hours a day spent in traditional school. Homeschooled grade school-aged children often spend less than two hours a day on formal learning. While high schoolers may require more structured academic time, some take as little as three hours a day. But at-home-learning can take place in many other ways other than just formal lessons.

• When forming a new daily schedule, consider setting a time everyone will get up each day and a regular time to go to bed each day. 

• Every family will have a different schedule, but Khan Academy gives several great examples to begin to form your family's unique, daily routine.

• You can brainstorm this plan at your first family meeting, then make a poster or print the schedule and post it in a common area (or give each child their own schedule, if different).

• Also, include and discuss times in this schedule, which you will be unavailable because of conference calls or a need to focus on work uninterrupted. That may not happen, but if you share your expectations, your children might surprise you.

• Working from home while trying to manage your children's education is new and frustrating for you, but this experience is unfamiliar and can be frustrating for our children as well. They, like us, maybe grieving, the loss of time with friends, the cancelation of significant events valuable to them, regular time training for a sport or learning an instrument, and all the freedoms they once knew. Again, Paul wisely instructs the parents of Colossae as they chart unfamiliar circumstances, "Parents don't come down too hard on your children, or you'll crush their spirits." Our children are adjusting to learning in a new way, as well. Try considering this time as a gift, and focus more on connecting with your child rather than correcting them. 

• Be flexible and lenient in your expectations of yourself. It's unlikely your kids are going to get behind in school. Many schools plan to cover materials that review what children have already learned in the school year. Many are not planning to introduce any new concepts. If anything, this is a chance for children who were behind to catch up, maybe. 

• If you have the option, consider working at night when the kids have gone to bed. To help reduce interruptions from your work, take a 10-15 minute break after each conference call or other work to hang out with your kids for a few minutes. If you have a partner at home, maybe break up the day to give one another time to get work completed or to be alone for a moment. 

• If you have older kids, schedule time for them to help younger kids with school or art projects or instruments or to entertain them with a game. 

• Remember that learning takes place in a variety of ways. Children learn by being creative with art or building structures with blocks or legos or cooking. They learn by being outside and exploring nature. Many television shows and networks are also committed to education from which children can learn. Physical activity helps young brains develop. Parents of younger children find programs like Cosmic Yoga helpful for giving them a few minutes to get some work done and keeping their children active and occupied.

• Khan Academy
• K12.com (for many states)

• Acellus: (powerhomeschool.com)

• Acellus.com
• International Connections Academy

• Just as having a regular schedule is important, having a designated physical space for formal learning, helps create healthy rhythms as well. Some homeschool families choose to set a separate room in the home designated as a classroom, or if they don't have space, they use a dining table for the area where all the children work. For many families having multiple children in one place does not work well. Some children find success doing schoolwork in their bedrooms room at a desk or designated workspace. Other children may find toys or other items in their rooms distracting. The dining table, a specific chair or couch, or even outside are all fine places to do schoolwork. The main idea is to designate a particular area for formal learning to take place.

• Working parents and caretakers need a designated space as well. If you are fortunate enough to have a separate room with a door and depending on the ages of your children, you might find creating a sign for the closed-door, indicating if you are on a call or need a few minutes of uninterrupted time. Again, they may interrupt, but they may decide to wait a few minutes to call out your name again. 

• Remember to remove phones, other devices, and other distractions from the workspace during formal lessons for children.