Liz, this is especially for you!

Ian didn't like it at first, but after I added more salt and pepper the next day, my picky eater gobbled it up! Luke simply eats everything.

1 package (14 oz) soft tofu - drained and dry with paper towel
3 cups of macaroni (i use whole wheat pasta; healthier and with all the sauce, can't even tell!)
2 tbl milk
1 tbl butter
1 tbl flour
1 cup milk
2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1 tsp salt (add more to taste later!)
1/8 tsp of pepper (add more to taste)
1/2 tsp paprika

Drain tofu over strainer; let sit to strain more. Blot with paper towels.
Cook macaroni according to package. Drain. Set aside.
While pasta cooks, blend 2 tbl milk with tofu until smooth. (I used a food processor. I'm sure a blender would work fine, too.) Set aside.
Melt butter in sauce pan over low-med. heat. Whisk in flour. Blend completely. Slowly whisk in 1 c milk. Cook 5-6 min. while stirring often until thickened.
Add tofu mix, cheese, salt, pepper and paprika. Stir until cheese is melted and sauce is smooth.
Pour cheese over macaroni, mix and enjoy!

Every couple months I go in for a blood test to determine whether or not my liver is inflamed. I go in for one tomorrow. After this one, once again, depending on results, I may have to be placed on additional medication. Of course, I don't want it. So please pray for a normal accurate blood test tomorrow and peace whatever the results.

A devotional I recently wrote for our church bulletin...

I’ve got mommy issues. This usually translates into the fact that I have identity issues, being the person I think I ought to be.

Sometimes I hear my 7-year-old saying things to my 21-month-old that I often howl myself. “NO!!! You’re gonna get it if you don’t stop! You’re making a mess! If you don’t kill yourself doing that, I will!!” I explode in a reactionary rage. I’m convinced I have anger management issues, since having children.

Romans 12:12 says to be “patient in affliction”… but I’m not.
1 Thessalonians 5:17 says to “pray (simply talk with God) continually”… but I don’t.
Philippians 2:14 says to “Do everything without complaining or arguing”… but I do.

If I were a more Godly, Spirit-filled, loving mother, these unharnessed displays of emotion would be controlled, right?

The truth is: Yes, I have a lot to work on. But there’s something more destructive that lies beneath the truth of my challenges… It’s the lies from the enemy that exploit my weaknesses, twists the truth, and jabs below the belt.

Yes, I’m a sinner in process, a woman being made into His likeness, a lamb being lead by a caring shepherd. I am on a journey. But when I start believing the layers of lies (because of your anger, you are a mean, cruel person, etc.), not even recognizing that they’re lies, I can spiral down into an ungodly pity party.

This pity party is sometimes in the form of a full-blown complaining session with fingers pointed every which way, outward and inward. Or it can manifest in a calm, matter of fact, decisive confidence that life sucks. Sometimes, there’s not much feeling at all. There’s a numbness that simply stifles life in all that God created life to be for me. I’m sure there are many more varieties of “pity (or pitiful) parties” that can be added to the list.

But what often yanks me out of these funks is simply and genuinely spending time with God: in His Word, in worship, and with His people… who care enough to pray for me and slap me out of my untruths in love.

There is healing when I am honestly open to hearing Him through these various means of communication. It resets my perspective back on track. It encourages, corrects and gives hope.

Try it. It really works! When was the last time you sat down and really tried to engage, even against the doubt that it’ll do anything or even against the simple feeling that you don’t want do it? Ask God to give you His wisdom through these various avenues. Listen. Then receive.

How can you tell the difference between truth and lies? God’s truth says, “Yes, you need help; I’m here for you.” It’s a loving turning toward God. The enemy’s lie says, “Look at you, you’re hopeless.” It’s a lonely turning inward. If I believe the lies, I could become a worse mom, without even knowing it.

The truth is: yes, I could be a better mom. The Lord and I are working on that. But there’s also another truth: I have some good qualities as a mom, too. I feed the children; they’re alive at the end of the day and they smile sometimes, too. Even better, I pray specific scripture over my children; we play together; and I kiss them a lot! I can celebrate with God in these.