Monday, May 30, 2011

Sky Ranch Session 1 Summer Camp is off to a great a START!

My family and I spent yesterday welcoming campers and their parents to Sky Ranch Session 1!  There is nothing quite like being back on camp for the first time of the summer!  You see the excitement and feel the presence of Christ in all the Staff and counselors.  Sky Ranch is clean, safe, ready and thrilled for the arrival of all the new campers!!  As you drive in you also get a big whiff of the smell of homemade chocolate chip cookies as you enter the gates!  
The staff is phenomenal, the counselors are awesome...the campers are so excited for a great week 1!
My family did not want to leave...we even stayed to watch opening show and did not get back home to Prosper, Texas till 12am!...But it was so worth it!
because...
WE LOVE SKY RANCH!!!
~Tori Miller
Sky Ranch SkyMoms Ministry Director












Monday, May 23, 2011

SkyMom loves....Guest Blogger Beth Bryson's FRENCH TOAST CASSEROLE - A PERFECT SUMMER BREAKFAST ITEM



When I saw this on my girlfriend's Beth's Blog...I instantly knew we needed to post this for our 
Sky Ranch SkyMoms...and YES, I need to make this for MY family...
FRENCH TOAST CASSEROLE
 will be perfect for Summer,
we only have 7 more days of getting up and getting ready school!! 
Yipeee!!
Thanks Beth!


This recipe is a MUST for your files!  Easy to prepare and, an INSTANT crowd pleaser.  I truly hope you will make this SOON and, serve it to people you love.




  • FRENCH TOAST CASSEROLE  
  • 1 loaf French bread
  • 8 large eggs
  • 2 cups half-and-half
  • 1 cup milk
  • 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • Dash salt
  • Praline Topping, recipe follows
  • Maple syrup

DIRECTIONS

Slice French bread into 20 slices, 1-inch each.  Arrange slices in a generously buttered 9 by 13-inch flat baking dish in 2 rows, overlapping the slices. In a large bowl, combine the eggs, half-and-half, milk, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt and beat with a rotary beater or whisk until blended but not too bubbly. Pour mixture over the bread slices, making sure all are covered evenly with the milk-egg mixture. Spoon some of the mixture in between the slices. Cover with foil and refrigerate overnight.
The next day, preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Spread Praline Topping evenly over the bread and bake for 40 minutes, until puffed and lightly golden. Serve with maple syrup.

PRALINE TOPPING

1/2 POUND (2 STICKS) BUTTER

1 CUP PACKED LIGHT BROWN SUGAR

  • 1 cup chopped pecans
  • 2 tablespoons light corn syrup
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl and blend well.
SUMMER HOSPITALITY FLAIR IDEA:
Plan a summer brunch and invite a few of your dearest friends to come over for this AWESOME French Toast dish and, some hot coffee.  The best part?  Great conversation and laughs to get your summer going in the right direction. 
*Recipe and Photo Credit:  Food TV.

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Lisa Life Lesson~Criticism - A Dagger in a Mother's Heart


Moms, how do you respond when you are criticized as a mother? Or when your children are criticized?  The reality is this is one of the more difficult parts of motherhood.  It hurts and most likely we take it personally.  Biblically, how should we respond?

In 1 Samuel 2, the story of the High Priest Eli and Samuel is unfolded as Samuel's mom, Hannah, keeps her promise and offers Samuel back to the Lord as her sacrifice.  Eli takes him and promises to teach him the ways of the Lord.  Eli also has two sons.  They are bad dudes.  Many tell Eli of his son's exploits.  Eli talks to his sons and asks questions, but gets no real response and certainly no repentance takes place.  God's plan of judgement goes forth and Eli's son's die.  

Sometimes we receive criticism and need to know that God may put people in our lives to speak "for him."  We need to recognize this.  Truth is hard to digest some days but it is truth.  One response to criticism is to ponder in our hearts, could this be the Lord speaking?  And then act accordingly.

Another response is to remain silent in the criticism and know that quite possibly this person is critical because of their own insecurities, jealousy or to seek retaliation.  The possibilities are limitless as to why a person is critical.  Can we do anything about this?  Can we ever put out all the fires?  No.  Remaining silent and letting God deal with this person is the best response.  That is giving God authority to make right.  And he will.  

  Exodus 14:14: “The Lord will fight for you…and you shall hold your peace.”

Be encouraged today that the only actions in this world you can be responsible for are yours.  How you respond in all situations of life is key.  You own that and are responsible for that.  We can't dictate how our children will live their lives.  We can pray, raise them in godly homes and dedicate them to the Lord.  But at the end of the day they are responsible for their actions.  The same with the people in our lives.








~Lisa Clark, Sky Ranch Parenting Mentor

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Countdown to Summer...FINISH WELL!


The Countdown is on to Summer...we are counting how many more school days are left right now.
Even in our excitement for school to end we as a family make it a very HIGH importance to 
FINISH WELL!

 

Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 3:12-14




THEN our COUNTDOWN TO

Sky Ranch Family Camp is..... 
24 DAYS

THEN the GIRLS LEAVE for session 5 
Sky Ranch Summer Camp....
38 DAYS

WE ARE EXCITED about a GOD filled SUMMER!

Sky Ranch SkyMoms Prays that you are planning a purposeful Summer with your family that you will remember!  





Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Lisa Life Lesson~Make this a Summer to Remember

Make this a Summer to Remember


Hey Moms! How many summers to do you have left with your kiddos at home?   3? 6? 9? 0? Oh no! Don’t cry! Get motivated to make this a summer to remember!

How many times have your summers come and gone and you say to yourself, “Well, that was fun but what did we do?  What did we accomplish?  I felt like a referee most of the summer!”

Many of us have been there.  Those 10-12 weeks go by very quickly.  Plan now to make each week special and intentional.  Here are some ideas:

Spend some time each week learning.  We don’t want our kids to lose what they’ve learned this school year, and we certainly don’t want them to be brain dead upon returning to school in August.  Spend some time, maybe an hour or two, each week working through old workbooks or maybe even pull out some flash cards.  This is especially important for those kids who struggle academically.  If nothing else, READ.  Make it your goal for your children to complete a novel or two this summer.  Readers are leaders!

Get physical! Ride bikes, walk trails, swim…but get outside as a family! Make physical activity a MUST each week.  Our kids are prone to stay inside and play video games.  Don’t let this be the highlight of your child’s summer.  Set limits on all electronics!  If your children are 14 or older, consider some kind of work opportunity for them.  Help them figure out how to get a job that is age appropriate.  Our children need to know what it means to work hard.  Before they graduate high school they need to have had a job…an employer…received an official paycheck.  It’s important!

Encourage spiritual growth.  Ensure your kids have a devotional or bible study to work through each day.  Maybe this is a good summer to start a family devotional study together! Check out the new “Open Your Eyes” Family Devotional guide for Sky Ranch Camps!!!  Also, continue to make church attendance and fellowship a priority over the summer. 

Finally, SERVE.  This is the best way to grow as a family and to grow in your relationship with God.  Each week, set aside time to serve someone in your neighborhood, or a family member or in your church family.  Visit a nursing home.  Bake cookies for a neighbor.  Take a meal to someone who is in need of encouragement.  Write a note to a grandparent.  Make a donation.  The opportunities for service are limitless.  Service is our outward expression of love for our Father. 

So, let’s make the summer of 2011 the best yet! Moms, you steer the ship of your home.  You might want to take your calendar out now and start plugging in dates/times to make sure these things happen! Before you look up it will be August and another school year.  God bless you!

~Lisa Clark, Sky Ranch Parenting Mentor

Monday, May 9, 2011

Happy Mother's Day

We want to wish all our SkyMoms a very Blessed Mother's Day!
We are so thankful for you and the investment that you pour into your children, grandchildren, and the Sky Ranch kiddos! 
We Love YOU!


Have a VERY HaPPy MoTher's DaY!