1/4/09

Talk, Toasted Cheese and Truffles - Another BG Lesson!

Do your friends feel better after spending time with you?

This was the question I asked the girls last week during our Balcony Girls time, while the girls built their own masterpieces with dominos. Some of the towers were taller than others, but they each had a goal of using every tile in front of them, and making something big!


Talk
Then we talked about the power of words, in how they can build up or they can tear down. Which is not a new concept to my Balcony Girls; after all that is the motto of the group!

As the girls put great detail into building their towers, unexpectedly it would happen. One of the girls would accidentally bump the table and Down! Down! Down! the pieces would fall. And then frustrated, they’d have to start over.


I then asked the girls to think of one destructive comment. And as they voiced that comment to the person on their left, at the same time I had them take their fingers and quickly destroy the “masterpiece” by knocking it down.

We saw how something that took so much time to build, in a matter of seconds was quickly destroyed.

The lesson was how the power of words can destroy – so quickly!

Toasted Cheese
I brought toasted cheese sandwiches over to the table, which the girls quickly devoured. I told them that I grew up with “toasted cheese,” but every girl there knew it as “grilled cheese!” Yummy, buttery, with hot melted cheese oozing out …….


More Talk
Then the girls lined up every domino, covering the entire table. With the strike of a finger, just like gossip, we watched every domino fall down, pushing the one behind it down – until they were all down! I explained that the power of destructive words can be just like that. Once a rumor gets started – it spreads like wildfire, and can go on for a long time. And can be very hurtful.


Truffles
In between the domino lessons we moved into the kitchen and started making truffles – so very tasty, easy and fun.


And Final Talk
Even though I was a little grumpy, short-tempered and on the verge of getting sick last week (little did I know!), I so appreciate my Balcony Girls group, the fun and love that these girls have for each other, and how their lessons always speak directly to me!

The morning I wrote out my lesson, I realized once again how words of affirmation really are so important.

And how they are required of us!

• Learn how to affirm our friends, and make a practice of it.
• Make a habit of appreciating them!
• Accept friends as they are – resist the urge to “fix” them!
• Point out the positives in their lives.
• Look for ways to build them up – and not tear down!


So to answer my beginning question, would you say that your friends feel better after spending time with you? (How about when you open your home to others?)

I would only hope that my friends would …

(If you want to know more about Balcony Girls, check out the posts on my side-bar!)


Share the LOVE with others
Don’t you think these Truffles are a great idea for Valentine’s Day? To package and give away to your sweet friends, teachers, neighbors or even grandparents?

I’ll be posting the recipe ahead of time so you'll have plenty of time to prepare – to share this tasty “love” with others!

25 comments:

~j~ said...

I just love these balcony girls posts! And this one was just as exceptional as the others Sandy, I always look forward to seeing how you apply the teaching with the activity, you nail it every time!!
And of course the food...:))
xo
j

Stacey said...

Your girls are so lucky. You are teaching them invaluable lessons at an important time in their lives!

Girl Raised in the South said...

Hurray for the recipe - I was so hoping you'd post it. I'd love to make some of these for my sewing group, who will be at my home the week of Valentines. And I'm in the 'grilled cheese' camp, but we have them with tomato soup at least once a month for a cozy supper.

Anonymous said...

What a great analogy! I hope your Balcony Girls realize how lucky they are to be learning these wonderful lessons at such a young age. I hope more moms begin groups like these for their daughters. I know I will when I have kids! Thanks for sharing!

Barb said...

Great lesson--tasty too! How close do you hafta get to dominos to take a picture like that?! You should write a Balcony Girls book!!!!

An Ordinary Mom said...

Happy New Year!!

Those truffles look AMAZING!

K :) said...

what a truly wonderful lesson and perfect way to illustrate it.

i, too, always had toasted cheese sandwiches...funny, i have never heard anyone else call them that.

Christine said...

Always awesome!!! Thanks for this great idea!

Anonymous said...

I'm so glad I stumbled over here from Southern Hospitality. I love decor and God, and am married to a reluctant entertainer. Plus, I've got two boys...14 freshman and 10 4th grade. Lots to read and learn here. What a great snack...a big platter of toasted cheese!

Barbara said...

Great blog--I'm so glad I found you!!! You speak to my heart, as well--thank you and God bless...

Anonymous said...

I love you BG posts. Those are beautiful girls - The values, morals, inpsirations, challenges, etc...they learn in your home will stay with them forever as they make those choices that move them through life.

Betts said...

What you do with these girls is a wonderful thing? They will grow to be better women because of it. I hope my friends feel better/good after spending time with me. They usually leaver with their stomachs full from eating and sore from laughing.

A Stone Gatherer said...

Wonderful Post! I hope my friends feel good after being with me, I think they do! That is a great looking bunch of girls and the truffles yummy! Looking forward to the recipe! I'm heading over to the side bar now to read more about Balcony girls!

Shell in your Pocket said...

Those look good..I make an oreo truffle that is to die for..I made them for my kid's teacher's at Christmas!!! So yummy!

I love all what you do with the girls..it makes me think maybe I need to do something with my girls..great idea..they do American Heritage Girls but I love this.
-sandy toes

Smelling Coffee said...

What a great lesson for the girls - and a wonderful reminder for all of us! Thanks for sharing this. I'm going to use this with my children this week! :-)

Glenda/MidSouth said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Glenda/MidSouth said...

I think I just lost my comment. Anyway - A great lesson for the young ladies. Love the "grilled cheese" sandwiches and with a little tomato soup.

Lady Dorothy said...

Happy New Year!

I presented you and your blog with an award for cultural and personal values. No obligation to do anything with it, but come by my blog to pick it up!

Tammy said...

I also love the balcony posts too...and what a tremendous lesson!
God is so using you with these girls!

And yummmm...those truffles look way too tempting! :)

Emily said...

what a timely post! we opened our home this past weekend (thur-sun)to guests - strangers to me! - that were visiting town on business w/my husband. our prayer was that they would be blessed, comfortable and nourished ... in our humble home. we worked frantically to prepare, including my 8 yr old, and i cooked up for them. i learned the night before their visit that the gal is a vegetarian/organic eater, so i wanted even more to accommodate her desires. and when they left today, they gifted us with sweet gifts (napa wine, swedish cookies)and a card, thanking us for making them feel "at home", for our hospitality,and the the "wonderful breakfasts" (one of which was my whole-foods-cooking-expert friend Jessica's oatmeal bake recipe - yum!~). the point: "stuff" doesn't matter. we have a modest apartment, and our guests live very comfortably in the bay area. i could easily have been intimidated but i determined to focus on what MATTERS - relationships. and the weekend was a blast!

Christy said...

Oh, please pass me one of those truffles... they look delicious!!!

Another great Balcony Girl post... love the lessons that you are teaching and how you do it.

Have a wonderful day!

LuLu said...

This is my first time reading about the Balcony girls and I love it. It especially speakes to me cause I have 3 girls... what a great lesson you did with them. Super inspiring. Hurray for you. Nothing is better to talk, laugh, learn and eat... it all looked very yummy, can't wait for the recipe!
LuLu

Melanie said...

My great friend and I were talking today about how God brought us together. I always feel refreshed and validated after spending time with her.

ShabbyInTheCity said...

Cyber hugs for an excellent post!
I don't know which I loved more...the truffles or the lesson for the girls :) I'm stealing it for my youth...

Ms. Tee said...

Yet another wonderful post! I love the idea of the dominoes - so true!

I'm like you - I hope that my friends feel good after leaving me, too. :)

Wonderful comfort food you served, too. And I'd love to have the truffle recipe. Happy New Year to you!