A week ago today I woke to the news that our WA State elected officials declared ‘COVID’ is surging, oh my!? so we were immediately reverted back to Phase 1.  (Notice how they’ve trained us to understand this term, and we all snap to, no questions asked?) 

Many states got the memo, and ‘mandated’ (these are NOT laws, they just want you to believe they are) a myriad of random decrees on the ‘land of the free, and the home of the brave,’ Such as:

• In Oregon, 6 people or less can gather for Thanksgiving, or risk a $1250 fine and 30 days in jail. (So which kids are banned from joining you? Or let’s leave granny home alone, she’s safer there. Communist dictators don’t encourage large families, if you haven’t noticed.)
• In California, and too many states to count, you, a tax-paying adult, now have a 10 pm curfew.

The CDC website buries these actual facts on their website :

• Under 49 years of age? You have a 99.92% chance of recovering from Rona
• Over 70 years of age? You have a 94.6% chance of recovering from Rona.
• 40% of people aren’t even aware they have this bug.

Personally I am 1000000000% OK with living my life as normal and taking these ‘risks.’

Are you?

We, as American citizens, are preparing to enjoy another Thanksgiving Day next Thursday, November 26th.

All this doubling down will only isolate, divide, depress and infuriate much of the population… the only curve this flattens is the smile on our faces.

You signed up for a parenting newsletter, not a political discourse, but as I see it, if you want to raise your children in a free society and perpetuate a free society for the generations to come, these topics are not mutually exclusive!

As parents, it’s our responsibility to communicate to our children what the truth is, what we believe and why.

This is called ‘worldview’ in homeschool curriculum. (This was organically woven into every part of our lives and it was a roaring success with my 5 sons!)

So, instead of chatting about all things ‘turkey day,’ let’s reflect upon the truth of our celebration.

Here’s a fun little holiday craft idea from the Centers of Disease Control. No joke.

The Gettysburg Address…

In 2 minutes and 29 seconds, hear this iconic message to us Americans!

The story goes that Abraham Lincoln scrawled these 271 words, from the heart, on a scrap of paper, just before he ‘hit the podium’ to deliver his words.

How many of us Americans have never seen, heard or read this vital speech by our honorable President Abraham Lincoln? A clear indication of what is being left out of our education.

Hear, ponder, reflect, share and teach your children!

“If we lose freedom here, there is no place to escape to. This is the last stand on earth.”

Heather MacDonald is the Thomas W. Smith Fellow at the Manhattan Institute, a contributing editor of City Journal, and a New York Times bestselling author. This article was featured in a periodical called Imprimis distributed free of charge from Hillsdale College.

Real CROWD pleasers for your tribe!

Denise Mira, author of No Ordinary Child:  Unlocking the Leader Within Your Child, and contributing author to many publications, is the mother of five sons. Denise homeschooled her boys for over two decades. She has traveled extensively, both nationally and internationally, inspiring change as she shares the message God has given her for families. She is passionate about helping moms and dads train up No Ordinary Children through her writing, speaking, YouTube videos, and coaching and consulting with parents in all seasons of their parenting journeys.  Visit her at www.denisemira.com. You can reach her at contact@denisemira.com.

Hello friend,

This coming Wednesday, November 11th is a federal holiday here in the U.S. when we pause to thank our military veterans; those who have served or are serving in our armed forces in peace and in war.

In light of all we’re seeing play out before us regarding our recent bizarre, unprecedented election process, it’s a moment to reflect, talk to our children, and remind ourselves of our great Republic and the miracle of its ‘birth,’ our responsibility to protect it, and the necessity to demand truth in this pivotal moment in history.

Our privilege to vote legally in the greatest free nation on planet earth is a grace gift from God that’s been purchased and upheld by the service and sacrifice of generations of these awesome patriots.

This is our moment to stand up and speak up.

Don’t leave your responsibility to someone else.

Yes, shocking. I actually went to a theater this weekend!

I literally cannot remember the last movie I’ve seen in a theater, as much as I love a good flick.

I’ve had a Fandango credit since last summer when hubby and I planned to take our grandkids to see a new movie. We chose a different activity, and banked the credit.

Yesterday was rainy and cold and a reminder popped up to use my credit, so I randomly checked to see what was playing. There were some oldies sprinkled into the lineup and this one caught my eye.

Watching American Sniper from my cozy recliner in a first-rate, heated theater was odd, as you can imagine. The movie was brutal and heartwarming at the same time. Hats off to its production team – I think it’s worth your time.

I thought the lead characters did an outstanding job, but I didn’t leave the theater filled with lighthearted joy, to say the least. But it was a solid, healthy reminder of the price paid (and continuing to be paid) by so many men and women in our military.

Christopher Scott Kyle, the subject of the movie, was a U.S. Navy SEAL sniper who served 4 tours in the Iraq War, and was awarded several commendations for acts of heroism and meritorious service in combat.

May God bless our honorable vets and their families who sacrifice so much for our freedoms and the preservation of our legal, precious vote.

Quick, healthy chick food girls love…

Switching gears here, but I promised to share a little time-saving, healthy tip (and a story about hubby’s food preferences lol)

We raised 5 sons – eating machines. Wasting food wasn’t an option so I always found a way to stretch and repurpose pretty much any ingredients. ‘Goulash’ was a fallback for me. OK I’m laughing out loud right now.

My dear husband will eat just about anything and never complains, but goulash crossed a line for him. Still laughing. I would typically begin with ground beef, onion, garlic, seasonings, diced tomatoes…and throw in everything but the kitchen sink. He registered his critique asking if I could limit the parade of items I tossed into it. (leftover veggies, black olives, garbanzo beans, peas, macaroni – you get the picture…)

One day I switched it up and decided to use ground turkey, diced onion, seasonings and just one or two vegetables like diced zucchini and summer squash. Instead of calling it goulash, when he asked what we were having, I said…er, uh, turkey tumble! Now I am really laughing. He eyed it suspiciously and ate it, but it’s not his fav.

I literally crave it. Use the dark meat ground turkey for optimum flavor.

I make a pile of it, keep it in the fridge and eat it until it’s gone (4 days in fridge maximum for food safety) on top of prepared, bagged, washed and ready salad mixes, baby arugula, romaine lettuce leaves, grated carrot – whatever is prepped so I just have to open the bag and dump it on a plate.

Sometimes I drizzle dressing on top; yesterday I went all out and added diced avocado and cherry tomatoes. Here’s how it looked:

Sounds so simple, but it’s delish ?

I’d love to know if you give it a try!

Enjoying the blog? I’m so glad! Have you subscribed for my weekly inspirations, helpful resources and MORE? Just do it, I hate spam too! Find the link HERE

May we summon courage and wisdom and be guided and guarded by our loving Lord in the critical days ahead.

With so much love and constant prayers,

It’s a girl!

Our precious granddaughter arrived early this morning (ahead of her due date!) to change the world – that makes 6 grands so far – and Nana Denise is gah gah and although I’m 3,000 miles away from this holy moment, I’m so thankful for the technology that allows me to share in all is beauty!

BUT I’m especially thankful that my son and DDIL aren’t just my kids, but my dear, dear friends. We may be apart geographically but never in heart and spirit.

Priceless.

Which reminds me of a story I HAVE to share…

If you follow me, you know all of our married kids and grands moved away this summer and thankfully we had a month with our son (pictured here) and his fam; his darling expectant wife and our sweet granddaughter living with us while they transitioned.

They are so easy to live with! Pure joy.

One night my son, a gifted musician who needs his hands to be intact, was trying to open a corked bottle – a gift a friend had dropped by. It was a doozy and the cork wasn’t budging…and he was trying every single trick in the book to open it.

Meanwhile his annoying mother – ME! was following him through the house warning him not to cut his finger….CAREFUL! You need your hands…here try this instead…don’t shoot your eye out…blah blah blah…when he said, “Mama I’m 34 years old, I got this!”

I said, “NO you’re 10 and you’re my little boy and you’re in danger about to slice your hand open and I’m here to help save you!!!!” as I laughed out loud and gave him space.

Because…Mommy always wants to help no matter how old they are. (now I’m tearing up!) And then I said, “I’m sorry. I know.”

Oh, our hearts for our kids. We have to be careful that all our help doesn’t get all over everyone and make them CRAZY!!!!

I know you can relate if your kids are grown.

This Friday…

I’ll be sharing my hard-earned insights and strategies for you to enjoy more free friendship with your grown kids this coming Friday, Nov. 6th – and just a reminder that my BONUS OFFER ends in T-9 hours at 11:59 pm tonight – Thursday November 4th – get registered quick and grab your free Marco Polo private session with yours, truly.

I’d love to connect with you!

Register HERE

Enjoying the blog? I’m so glad! Have you subscribed for my weekly inspirations, helpful resources and MORE? Just do it, I hate spam too! Find the link HERE

Someone you know needing some new strategies for relating to their young, adult or home schooled kids? It would be awesome if you would share my blog with them <3

Hugs,
Denise