The Connection: Where Hearts Meet

The Connection: Where Hearts Meet came from the joint dream of Elizabeth Styffe and Karyn Purvis.

In 2012, they created an interactive, small group, facilitated study program based around 13 videos and a workbook. The Connection: Where Hearts Meet is based on Bible truths and research-based interventions. Though designed as a way for the church to help adopted and foster kids/families, it can bring healing to all people.

In 2022, Elizabeth created an abridged version of the workbook for zoom classes.

Karyn Purvis was the Reese-Jones Director and co-founder of the Karyn Purvis Institute of Child Development at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, TX., the co-creator of Trust-Based Relational Intervention® and co-author of a best-selling book The Connected Child by Karyn Purvis and David R. Cross.   www.child.tcu.edu 

Elizabeth Styffe co-founded the Global Orphan Care Initiatives with Kay Warren at Saddleback Church. Click Here to get to know Elizabeth.     

STUDY GROUPS

Ernie and Pat Casarez teach free classes on zoom using the abridged workbook 3-4 times a year. They also teach free TBRI classes on Zoom.

If you're interested in joining a free group study on Zoom using the abridged workbook or an in-person group study with the workbook, send me a message with the "contact" tab above.

Preview the SESSION ONE Video and Workbook.

Preview some of the Discussion Questions from the 13 sessions 

You can buy the Workbook $23, DVD $24, or Both $37 through www.pastors.com

EXTRA HELPS

TBRI: Some concepts in this resource are informed by or derived from an intervention called Trust-Based Relational Intervention® (TBRI®), developed by TCU’s Karyn Purvis Institute of Child Development (KPICD).  www.child.tcu.edu   

TBRI®: Trust-Based Relational Intervention® (YouTube)

TBRI® Animate: Attachment (YouTube)

TBRI® Animate: Toxic Stress & The Brain (YouTube)

TBRI® Animate: The IDEAL Response© (YouTube)

TBRI Engine Plate (YouTube)

Dan Siegel's Hand Model of the Brain (YouTube)

Life help from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 

Parenting Help, and Strengthening the Family facilitated group study

ADHD is Awesome by Kim and Penn Holderness (book)

Brainstorm by Dan Siegel (book)

Limitless by Jim Kwik (book)

ACEs Study -Ted Talk by Dr. Nadine Burke Harris (YouTube)

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) Questionnaire

Empowered to Connect was create with support of Dr. Karyn Purvis to help parents and caregivers have knowledge and skills to create healing environments for children who had experienced Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs).

The Out-Of-Sync Child by Carol Stock Kranowitz (book)

"If your feet are still planted on this earth, you're still in the journey of becoming glorious to increasing glory. And so, I want to encourage each of you to begin a journey, the journey that scripture tells us will lead us to healing. And interestingly, in the last 30 years, science caught up." -Karyn Purvis, Session 13 

Flatbread

 Flatbread Batches of 20 or 10.  

100 g. Flatbread cooling in a towel

Use all purpose or whole wheat flour?!

20 (100g.) Flatbreads

     In a bowl, put

2 1/2 c. (540 g.) warm water

1 1/2 c. (360 g.) milk

1 T. (9 g.) yeast

     Let sit 5 min. then add

1/2 c. (112 g) oil or pureed beans or applesauce

4 t. (26 g.) honey or sugar 

    Stir in 

10 c. (1123 g.) whole wheat flour (may need 1/2 c. more)

2 t. (12 g.) salt

     Mix well (I use my Bosch mixer) and let rest 1/2 hr., covered.

Roll out in 100g. portions like tortillas and cook on a griddle. Cool in a flour sack cloth and enjoy or when cold, freeze til ready to use. Take out of freezer individually and microwave 30 seconds. Delicious!!!

10 (100g.) Flatbreads

     In a bowl, put

1 1/4 c. (270 g.) warm water

3/4 c. 180 g. milk

1 1/2 t. (4 g.) yeast

     Let sit 5 min. then add

1/4 c. (56 g) oil or pureed beans or applesauce

2 t. (13 g.) honey or sugar 

     Stir in 

5 c. (562 g.) whole wheat flour (may need 1/4 c. more)

1 t. (6g.) salt

     Mix well (I use my Bosch mixer) and let rest 1/2 hr., covered.

Roll out in 100g. portions like tortillas and cook on a griddle. Cool in a flour sack cloth and enjoy or freeze til ready to use. Take out of freezer individually and microwave 30 seconds. Delicious!!!

33 g. flatbread snack or sampler sized!

Top flatbread with beans and cheese or Guacamole, black beans and lettuce.

We like to use the flatbread for pizza, breakfast burritos (folded taco style or like a pizza), a mini PBnJ sandwich... Go dream, imagine, and let me know what you like to do with em!

Whole Wheat Flour Tortillas

Whole Wheat Flour Tortillas – makes 10

    Heat 1 ¼ c. 270 g. water in microwave 1 minute

    In a food processor or bowl, add flour and salt and pulse 3 times or stir to mix

3 1/3 c. 403 g. whole wheat flour

¾ t. salt

   To the water, add

3 1/3 T.  44 g. canola oil. 

   While the processor is at speed 1, pour in all the liquid. When a ball of dough has formed, turn off.  (In a bowl, mix til all is combined. Knead a couple times.)

Let rest, covered, 30 minutes for best results. 

 Put away the processor and plug in the griddle. Use a medium high 350 degrees setting.

   Put the dough on a floured counter and divide it into 10 pieces with a dough scraper.  Cover with an upside-down bowl to keep fresh.  Roll out on a floured counter with a rolling pin. Cook on the griddle and put in a folded flour sack towel until all are done cooking. 

Fill with...

Hash and salsa, if ya want.  Brown burritos on the griddle for crisper edges.   

Kristen's smashed beans and cheese

Nut butter and jelly or fresh fruit (Try almond butter and oranges, Cashew butter and blueberries, Peanut butter and bananas, Sunbutter and raspberries)

Cheese and heat on griddle (Quesadillas)

Spread on butter and cinnamon and sugar

Or just eat plain!

Tortillas in towel in container to keep fresh!

In a 10.5" pie keeper container to keep fresh!

Rice Flour Playdough

I have a little friend who can't do gluten so I tried making playdough with rice flour.  I like it better than all-purpose flour AND it comes out of the carpet, unlike storebought playdough!  If this home-made playdough does get in the carpet, get out what you can, let the rest dry, scrape it a bit and then vacuum it up!

A double batch of playdough!

RICE FLOUR PLAYDOUGH

1 c. rice flour or all-purpose flour

2  t. cream of tartar
½ c. salt
1 c. water

1 T. oil (I used canola oil)
Food coloring (optional)

   Cook on the Stove Top:

   Combine all the ingredients in a saucepan and stir well. Cook over medium heat for 3 minutes, stirring until the mixture pulls away from sides of pan.

 

     Cool slightly and knead gently. Store in an airtight container when cool.

*****

Perfect Playdough Tools

Contain the mess by using a plastic picnic tablecloth or placemats or for each child to 'play' on.
If you're worried about playdough on the floor under the table, put a picnic tablecloth under the table area.
Who said you had to use cookie cutters for just cookies?
What about plastic forks, spoons, and butter knives.
Got any popsicle sticks?
Toy car tires leave cool tracks when you 'drive' on the dough. Let them dry well and shake to get the dough out.
A Slotted spoon pressed down on a ball of dough makes tubes of dough when the dough pushes through it (like spaghetti or hair).
Plastic Spatulas help you turn over or lift up some dough.
Test different objects to see the indentions that will remain!

This is the Original Playdough Recipe that I got while going to Central Texas College! 

Enjoy becoming a kid again!