2010

New Years is hours away and soon there will be lists of resolutions floating about…

What a great way to begin a year: by making lists of things that probably won’t be achieved and a schedule we won’t stick to. Sounds rather depressing to me. Sure, there are some who are determined enough to finally kick the discipline into gear, change their lifestyle and hold to their resolutions, but for the majority of America’s population that just doesn’t happen. I sure know it doesn’t for me!

So now what?

What if our “list” contains only one item and we focus on that: Seek God.
Instead of lists of things that we deem necessary to achieve in order to live a complete and fulfilled life, what if we strive to pursue a deeper walk with God, trusting Him to help us change the things that need to be changed and give us the courage and faith to persevere thru life.

Not that other things aren’t important, but if you're spending more time focusing on God, other things begin falling into place. If you’re unhappy with the way your life is headed, perhaps it’s time to reevaluate your relationship with Him and take an inventory of what’s inside your heart & mind. It’s never too late for a fresh beginning and January seems like as good a time as any.

Everyday is a bank account, And time is our currency
So no one’s rich, nobody’s poor,
We have twenty-four hours each
So how are you gonna spend, Will you invest or squander
Try to get ahead, Or help someone who’s under
Teach us to count the days, Teach us to make the days count
Lead us in better ways, Somehow our souls forgot
Life means so much, Life means so much
Has anybody lived who knew the value of a life?
And didn’t He give His own
to show the worth of yours and mine?
Everyday is a gift you’ve been given,
Make the most of the time every minute you’re living. . .

Happy New Year’s, my friends.
I hope 2010 holds many exciting adventures for us all.

Precious Sleep, Where Art Thou?

Last night I woke up at 2 AM and was completely unable to go back to sleep. A superfluous amount of topics were flying through my brain and I was helpless to quiet them. Ideas for blog posts, random song lyrics, projects to complete, interesting words (like superfluous), books I need to finish, menu plans, the laundry I need to catch up on, birthday gifts to buy, errands to run, the exercise I have been neglecting, the list went on and on. And it wasn’t like I was trying to think about stuff…it was just a jumble of useless information that had overtaken my brain and was depriving me of my very precious sleep.

In the midst of all this nonsense, I was also bothered by the fact I wasn’t able to sleep and began to worry that the cycle of insomnia from the previous winter-summer was going to plague me again. Which I’m sure did even more to prevent my slumber.

What happened to the little girl that use to sleep through thunder storms and didn’t even stir when being carried into the basement during tornado warnings in the middle of the night? I’m afraid she’s long gone, and in her place is a young woman craving a solid eight hours of sleep without dreams, thrashing about, or alertness or any sort.

There is next-to-no caffeine in my diet, and I know that I need to “unwind” before I’m able to sleep, so over the past year I’ve tried: medications, teas, TV, music, reading, praying, doctor visits, sleep study…

…and I’m running out of ideas.

What else is there?

By morning I am completely exhausted and can barely drag myself out of bed.  It just seems so messed up to me.
Any suggestions on how to get a better night’s sleep?

Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la

Christmas busyness is over and now it’s time to gear-up for our January busyness, which I’m sure ya’ll will be hearing more about in future posts.

Christmas day for us was filled with family festivities, food and fun. Lots of food. My food contributions were sickeningly-sweet White Chocolate Gingerbread bars and Hummus w/ wheat chips. The hummus turned out so good that I’ve been longing for a taste of it ever since. It was my first time making it but now I’m totally hooked and plan on never buying it from the store again.

Mom surprised me “The Pioneer Woman” cookbook, about which I was very excited! Especially since I bought the same cookbook for her birthday back in November and coveted it from the day I ordered it until I unwrapped my very own copy on Friday! I have been pouring over the pretty pages and tantalizing recipes…I can't wait to start cooking!

Ashamedly I must admit, we did not get a single picture on Christmas day (or eve), which will make for a pretty boring page in our 2009 scrapbook. …not that I’ve started our 2009 scrapbook yet, but I will. Really, it’s on my list of things to do…in 2010…and I’m already envisioning how pathetic the holiday section will look because there are no pictures. Maybe I’ll have to resort to buying some cute elf stickers and doodling ribbons and holly around the edges and writing a little poem about how lame it is that we couldn’t manage to get a picture of ourselves around Christmastime that even remotely resembled the look of something festive.

It was a lovely day, and as I recall, I even managed to stay awake for all of it. It was wonderful to have a couple days off from work, spend time with family and just enjoy each other’s company. I am so blessed.

Did you have a good Christmas?

Silent Night. . . Holy Night. . .

Christmas Fun!

“…presents underneath the tree, candles burning bright…stockings hung with lots of care…on this silent Christmas night…”

All our Christmas shopping is finally done as of this morning. Internet shopping = For the Win! Amazon.com has the best deals and it sure beats having to push & shove your way though the crowded stores (not that I’d ever shove, mind you) and wait in insanely long checkout lines.

I can’t believe I haven’t watched any Christmas movies yet this year. Tragic. However, “The Grinch” is an absolute-must before December is over! Little Cindy-Lou Who is completely irresistible and no holiday season is complete without watching Max try to pull the overstocked sleigh or the Grinch sewing his own Santa suit. *sigh* I love animated films.

The holiday festivities for the week include:

• Tuesday I’ll be going with my husband to his company Christmas party, which I hear will be complete with pizza and Guitar Hero…

• Christmas Eve is our Christmas together with just the two of us, and then a Christmas Eve service at church, which is always very lovely.
  
  
• Christmas day is split between our two families, which always makes me more thankful that none of us are too far away from each other! Breakfast with his family, supper with mine – always great memories made on that day!

Mom asked me to make hummus for Christmas, so I have to whip up that on Thursday and a Chocolate Chip Cheese Ball for the party on Tuesday. We have a vacation coming up in January so I've been trying not to keep too many sweets in the house this season.  So far so good, although I did splurge on a batch of brownies last week... :)

Are you making any new recipes or anything fun this week?

The Stuff That Hurts

Most people don’t like going through pain and emotional hurt, but did you ever look back and realize that it was through those circumstances that God helped draw you closer to Himself? I can think about the times in my life that hurt so badly I thought my very insides were going to crack into pieces, but afterwards I could see how God used those moments for good and made me stronger in my walk with Him. In the end, the hardships always seem worth it.

I love what Elisabeth Elliot had to say about it:
"I am not a theologian or a scholar, but I am very aware of the fact that pain is necessary to all of us. In my own life, I think I can honestly say that out of the deepest pain has come the strongest conviction of the presence of God and the love of God."

…this from a woman who outlived two husbands and endured many other hardships.

I want to live with my hands outstretched – not holding too tightly to things in this life, but willing to be what God wants me to be and go where He wants me to go…trusting that His will for me is better than anything I could conjure up myself.

You are the One; there's no one else

Who lifts me up

And gives me water from the well

But there's a hole

That seems to drain it all away

And once again I'm left in fear and doubt

When all my strength is crying out

So here I am again

Willing to be opened up and broken like a flower in the rain

Tell me what have I to do

To die and then be raised

To reach beyond the pain

Like a flower in the rain

Watcha Reading?

I love to read, but sadly there are times when weeks go by without me having the opportunity to pick up a book or do more than glace over a page or two. I have been trying to adjust my priorities a bit lately and bump reading a little higher up on the list.

Natalie over at http://www.pursuethebeauty.com/ is doing a fun Quest trying to see what everybody is reading these days – a stack they are currently reading and a stack they are waiting to read. Here is my submission, and you are all welcome to add yours as well.

Currently Reading:

“Redeeming Love” by Francine Rivers – I know this book has received rave reviews, but I’m halfway through and my verdict is still out on it.

“Master Your Metabolism” by Jillian Michaels – only a couple chapters in but very informative and gives lots of good information in one place that I’ve been trying to grab from hundreds of sites online.

Ryrie Study Bible – given to me by my beloved husband on our wedding day

“The Daily Sacrifice” by the late H.A. Ironside – a simply daily devotional…short, but a good way to start the day.

Waiting to Read:

“Love and Respect” by Emerson Eggerichs – I’ve read bits & pieces of this book but eventually I want to read it in its entirety.

“Shopping for Time” by Caroyln Mahaney – a birthday gift, which ironically, I haven’t had time to read yet… -- “leading women to the bedrock of biblical priorities and then suggests real-life methods by which to apply them”

“Fearlessly Feminine” by Jani Ortlund – “encouraging women to be joyfully confident in who they are before God.”

“Prison Letters” by Corrie Ten Boom – letters written by Corrie during her stay in the Nazi concentration camps.

What’s on YOUR reading lists?

The Greatest Gift of All

I love Christmas time.

A.B.S.O.L.U.T.E.L.Y. L.O.V.E.

People seem so much happier (unless you catch them after just spending an hour in line at the department store…) and the mood around town seems lighter. I love walking downtown or through big stores where there are lights strung everywhere, oversized wreaths hung from the rooftops, and there is laughter echoing from every direction. People have a spring in their step and a jolly ho-ho-ho in their hearts. Of course there are a few Scrooges in the mix, but that’s when I want to yell: “Get your Jingle on, people! Christmas time is comin’!!!!”

And presents.
Did I just say Presents?

Yes, I admit it, I feel like a little kid when it comes to giving & receiving gifts. It’s so much fun! To give somebody that special-something that you know they would love but didn’t want to spend the money on for themselves…or to open a gift that was bought especially for you! Knowing that it took time, love, and planning for it to end up in your hands. *sigh* It’s such a warm fuzzy feeling.
 
My husband tells me that I’m rather like a Hobbit in that regard. They love giving & receiving presents. And trust me when I say, it is SO MUCH BETTER to give than to receive! And if you don’t agree, try it out for yourself.
 
Christmas is about a Gift. The Ultimate Gift. Jesus. Born in Bethlehem; destined to die. For me. Destined to have His blood spilled out so that I could be washed clean, white as snow. So I could have life eternal with the King of kings.
 
The Christmas season comes and people like to put the cute baby Jesus in the snow-covered manger… but it wasn’t glamorous, it wasn’t glitzy, it wasn’t soft and cozy. It was dark, dirty, and in a cave with the ash of a hundred shepherd’s fires and the manure of a thousand sheep.

But it was beautiful.
 
Sometimes I think people forget that Jesus didn’t stay there in that little manger. We go on thinking of our idyllic picture of how we like to imagine the Christmas story. But that night was just the beginning of the story; He went from the cradle to the cross. He died a torturous, horrendous death. For me. That is the Christmas story. It’s about love; the greatest love ever known to man.

It’s emotional. It’s deep. It’s personal. It can send chills up your spine. It’s easier to think about the cute baby than to think about the consequences of our sin. Your sin; my sin. The sin that nailed Him to the cross. But it was not the nails that held Him there; it was the love.

“For unto you is born this day, in the City of David, a Savior…”

He is my Savior…when His blood was spilled, trickling down the rough boards of the wooden cross, gasping in pain, carrying the weight on the world’s sin on His shoulders…He provided a way; the only way. 

He died, He rose, He conquered. Sin and death no longer have a hold.
 
Don’t leave Him in the manger, for the best part of the story was yet to come. In the midst of His pain and turmoil was a love deeper than we can grasp with our finite minds. It was pure love on that cross.

There are many signs & plaques I see around Christmas that say “Believe”. I’m pretty sure they’re referring to Santa.

But I’m not.

I’m talking about Jesus Christ, my Savior.

Do you Believe?

In March of 1991 I did, and He changed my life.

Do you Believe?

If you do, you’ll never be the same again.

What's that Smell?

Picture this:

Husband comes home from work, sweeps wife into his arms and kisses her. Wife tells him how much she missed him; husband has a pondering look on his face.

Husband and wife get ready to leave on some errands, and as they walk out of the door, the following conversation ensues:

Husband: “Honey, did you clean the toilet when you got home tonight?”

Wife: “No, I cleaned it a couple days ago. Why, is something wrong with it?”

Husband: “Uhh no, nevermind.”

Wife: “Honey… why did you ask?”

Husband: “Well, there is no real delicate way to put this…”

Wife: “Just say it.”

Husband: “Well, you smell like toilet-bowl cleaner.”

Pause.
Wife bursts out laughing.

Wife: “Smell my hand…is that what you smelled?”

Husband: “Ewww, what is that!?”

Wife: “My new lotion; supposedly very moisturizing… Not a big fan, huh?”

Husband: “Uhh, no. I was kissing you and couldn’t figure out what that smell was! Did you put some on your face, too?”

Wife: “Well, maybe just a little…”

Husband: “Yeah, it smelled like it was all over.  But I love you anyway, even if you do smell like SnoBol.”

Needless to say, that was the first and only time I used the lotion. So beware, if you’re ever walking down the aisle at the store and are tempted to buy the Burt’s Bees Aloe & Buttermilk lotion… Just make sure your significant other smells it before you spend the money. You don’t want him to think you just slathered yourself with SnoBol by mistake.

Be Thankful

Candlelight dinners.

Coffee conversations.

Cuddling together.

My life is so full of special memories and happy moments;
an abundance of things to be thankful for;
so many reasons for my heart to overflow with joy.

I am blessed. I am loved. I am content. I am thankful.

Happy Thanksgiving

Bath & Beauty Products

What are your beauty routine must-haves? Those bath & beauty products that absolutely have to be part of your day before you feel prepared to tackle what is ahead!
Here are a few of the products that I have fallen in love with after much trial & error, and I would definitely want to make sure they were tucked away in my suitcase if I ended up stranded somewhere…

LashExact Waterpoof Mascara by CoverGirl has been a lifesaver! After dozens of brands, this is the only one I can wear that doesn’t give me raccoon eyes after a couple hours. The flexible brush helps the application go so much smoother and I never end up with unsightly clumps. (And in case you want to run out and try it for yourself, Walmart carries it about $1.00 cheaper than anywhere else.)

Bare Minerals makeup is by far the best makeup I’ve ever used. Not that my experience is overly extensive, but I’m so happy with this that I don’t see a reason to try anything else! The makeup blends easily, has a beautiful shimmer, works great as a sunblock, and doesn’t clog your pores! My skin has never been clearer! 

Aveda Shampure shampoo & condition is very natural, smells great, and doesn’t leave my hair tangled at all. Before switching over, I would use regular shampoo & conditioner in the shower and then put in a leave-in conditioner just to be able to get through my hair with a pick. Now I don’t have to use any after-product – I can comb right through it! It has kept my hair healthy and doesn’t weight it down.

Ouchless Headbands have become part of my everyday routine, either as part of my hair style or simply to push the bangs out of my face while I’m applying makeup. For years I never wore headbands because of the pressure they put behind my ears – after an hour or two I would have a headache that lasted long after I removed the offensive object! Now, I can wear one all day long and I don’t even think about it!

Alba Sugar Scrub was addicting after just the first use. The smell was tropical and it left my skin feeling silky smooth, and eased away rough patches on my elbows or knees. It was a little spendy, at almost $12.00 a jar, but it was so wonderful that I even got my mom hooked on it. It was my personal little spa-moment every morning in the shower.

And then Mom stumbled across Village Naturals Sugar Scrub in the grocery store. Same concept; smaller price. For a stunning $2.00 she decided to try it…and now I’m hooked too! It was a lush Brown Sugary scent and works just as well as the more expensive Alba brand. Try it; you’ll love it!

Eucerin Calming Cream has become a dear friend to me. It’s unscented and completely gentle on my sensitive skin. I am sad to say that I have left fancy creams and sultry scents behind when it comes to creams & lotions because my skin always seems to rebel and will either start itching or leave a not-so-attractive rash across my neck. This cream has left my skin unbelievably soft and because it’s unscented I never have to worry about what perfume I wear on top of it.

Very Sexy from Victoria’s Secret was my husband’s pick. I was a little skeptical at first, but I quickly came to see it from his point of view. It’s fruity, floral, spicy, and oh so yummy. The perfect scent for a night out with your hubby!

Very Sexy Now is my alternate pick: think beach, tropical, Brazil & Hawaii. It’s a little lighter, a little fruiter, but totally lush. Between the two, I have the perfect scents for any occasion!

There you have it!  Those are all the "must haves" I can think of at the moment.  Please share yours!  I’m going to try having a Mr. Linky below if any of you have beauty posts you want to share!

Oops

Something happened to my layout. . .

. . . and I guess it's going to stay that way until I have time to try and fix it.

Roll Call

"Guest Post"

By: Leigh McLeroy

http://www.leighmcleroy.com/

Remember.

You may have a busy day. Me too. But today, if you look, you'll see flags flying at half staff wherever you live and when you do...remember.

Today is Veteran's Day.

Today American men and women around the world who have served in our nation's armed forces will no doubt remember their days as soldiers. And those who still serve will do they work they do each day, some of them remembering, too, their own dead comrades and perhaps even uncles, aunts, parents and grandparents who served before them.

Today in my city a local car wash chain is offering free car washes to any veteran who asks for one. When a reporter asked if vets would be asked to prove their status, he said no. To ask for proof from a soldier who says he served would be an insult, he said, and as for anyone brash enough to boast a role he never played, well they should be ashamed.

Today 13 Navajo code talkers -- whose created, secret language helped the U.S. prevail in the Pacific in World War II -- will gather in New York to take part in ceremonies honoring their 500-man unit. Fewer than 50 of them remain. Even when their code became declassified in 1969, they refused to break their orders to secrecy.

Yesterday I watched as 13 soldiers from Fort Hood, Texas, were eulogized and honored by their peers: with silence, with prayer, with hymns, and with gunfire. Thirteen battlefied crosses lined side by side paid tribute to soldiers fallen in the line of duty. A helmet to signify the soldier. An inverted rifle to signal an interruption in service. Combat boots to signify the final march of the last battle. All of it signifying uncommon and complete sacrifice.

Then at the end of the service, roll call. And silence where words should have been. At the end loved ones filed by the 13 crosses, and I cried as I watched widows and parents reach out to touch photographs of the soldier they lost. Each family was accompanied by another soldier. Some of them stood silently, and some reached out in support when knees buckled and shoulders shook.

This is where I'm supposed to sum everything up for you in a neat little package. I can't. The images are still swimming in my mind, and all I feel is...grateful. To be alive. To be loved. To live in America. To be the recipient of the blessings of years of sacrifice.

Remember.
And if you can, say thank you. We're all here on someone else's shoulders.

For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for a good man someone would dare even to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinnners, Christ died for us.
(Romans 8:6-8)

©Leigh McLeroy, 2009

The Shred

I have plans … to Shred.

Has anybody done this before?

A friend of mine gave me her copy of Jillian Michael’s “The Shred” DVD today… after nearly dying ten minutes into her first attempt she wanted nothing more to do with it. Apparently the lunges and squats are a killer.
 

I have been perusing reviews of Jillian’s products online this week, wondering what all the hype was about. (To further clue you in on my ignorance, after eight seasons of Biggest Loser, I have neither watched an episode, nor had any idea that Jillian was associated with it in any way...until a few days ago.) Her products get (for the most part) rave reviews and the detailed results were impressive. I’m not sure her drill-sergeant attitude is going up be up-my-alley though.

 

I’m a lightweight Pilates girl; not some hardcore workout-aholic. To be perfectly honest, I’m getting a wee bit nervous about this endeavor, and it hasn’t even started yet! 

 

Ya’ll have any tips or suggestions before I start this new challenge?

Alright, Shred, here I come!

Things I Love

Cough, Sneeze, Wheeze....

Hubby & I have been sick the last few days, and still not feeling quite up-to-par. Although we’re being responsible and dragging ourselves into work, we’d much rather be home sleeping.

I haven’t been to the gym in over a week…and dare I admit this to all my bloggy friends…I actually miss it. Can you believe it? I miss my Pilates class and how good I feel afterwards (even though my balance isn’t very good and often times I end up feeling like a dork because I can’t keep my entire body properly balanced while elevating myself off the ground with my hands and my feet resting on nothing but a large ball that likes to move from side-to-side instead of staying anchored securely in place). *sigh* But I do love that class.

This week hubs & I went into this splendid health food store not far from our house…and fell in love…with the store of course (*ahem* we fell in love with each other long ago). Aisle after aisle of good-for-you-loveliness that I know won’t make me sick or give me a headache. Now if only our budgets were so wonderful and allowed us to shop in such places. ‘Tis a shame that such places are so expensive. My happiest find was a large box of honey-puffed-wheat for only $1.99. It is SOOO good with a handful of peanuts on top for breakfast!

As I was unloading our fabulously healthy food-finds at home and singing the praises of preservative-free foods, my husband exclaimed, "Pretty soon we're going to be wearing nothing but sandals and fig leaves!" That statement sent us into peals of laughter, which I might add, is a very common occurrence in our happy home. :)

My husband is also realizing the benefits of us succumbing to these Organic & Natural foods, and is just as delighted about it as I am. Well, maybe not quite as delighted, but pretty close. :)

Off to whip up some dinner for my man.

Tomorrow is Friday ya’ll! Anybody have plans for their weekend?

To Eat...Or Not to Eat

Bad ingredients are everywhere; they are inescapable.

Being raised in a family with a stay-at-home-mom, where everything was made from scratch, gave me an understanding of the preservatives and ingredients that I wanted to avoid when out cooking & shopping on my own.
Easier said than done.

I work 40 hours a week, cook, clean, workout, do laundry, and somewhere in there have to find time to worry about the ingredients on my ketchup label. Am I crazy? Paranoid? Or just trying to do the best I can for my little family.

 Here are the things I was taught (and have researched myself!) to avoid:
• Hydrogenated or Partially-Hydrogenated Oils (trans-fats)
• High Fructose Corn Syrup
• Monosodium Glutamate (MSG)
• Excessive dyes/food coloring
• Aspartame

And if I haven’t board you already, keep reading and I will help explain why (with a condensed version).

Hydrogenated Oils –
Commonly Found in:
Pastries, ice cream, cookies, peanut butter, margarine or other butter substitutes, premade foods, microwave popcorn, doughnuts, candy, coffee creamers (yes, those ones in all the wonderful flavors), and many other things.

Hydrogenated oil is oil that has been processed into a substance that our body isn’t use to digesting, and over time can cause our arteries to become rigid or blocked. It has also been found to slow down your metabolism, thus helping you gain more wait. It aids is high cholesterol, blood clots, and other serious side effects.

http://www.naturalnews.com/024694_food_hydrogenated_oils_health.html

http://www.fitnessmantra.info/2006/05/22/hydrogenated-oils-the-hidden-killer/

MSG –
Commonly Found in:
Condensed soups (cream of mushroom, cream of chicken, etc), flavored chips, sausage, gravy, and salad dressings (especially Ranch)

 MSG tricks your mind into thinking it’s still hungry when it’s not, and makes you think that food tastes better than it really does. It has various side effects, including headaches and migraines, which myself and various members of my family have dealt with.

http://nikas-culinaria.com/2007/02/21/monosodium-glutamate-bad-for-your-brain-your-figure-and-your-health/

http://www.msgtruth.org/

Aspartame (and other artificial sweeteners) –
Commonly Found in:
Diet soda and other sugarless drinks, sugar free gum, diet foods, things listed as “calorie free”

Aspartame and other artificial sweeteners have been found to cause heath issues such as memory loss, headaches, seizures, and obesity, and has almost 100 possible side effects including those that mimic more serious illnesses like Meniere’s Disease, Alzheimer’s Disease, ALS, Epilepsy, Multiple Sclerosis, and many others.

http://www.sweetpoison.com/aspartame-side-effects.html
 
http://www.lovethetruth.com/truth_about_aspartame.htm

High Fructose Corn Syrup -
Commonly found in:
Ketchup, Soda, Jam, Juice, Bread, Cereals, Candy, and many everyday foods

The addition of High Fructose Corn Syrup in all our foods caused a rise diabetes and has also been found to release enzymes straight to the liver causing it to store fat. Newer research has shown that certain products containing HFCS also contain amounts of mercury, which come with its own set of problems.

http://www.accidentalhedonist.com/index.php/2005/06/09/foods_and_products_containing_high_fruct

http://www.noweightgaincookbooks.com/worse_than_sugar.htm

http://smallnotebook.org/2009/02/03/mercury-in-high-fructose-corn-syrup-what-theyre-just-now-telling-us/

http://www.highfructosecornsyrup.org/

Food Coloring / Dyes -
Commonly Found in:
Jello, Kool-Aid, Candy

There has been scientifically proven to have negative effect particularly on children, and has been linked to the significant rise in ADD, ADHD, and autism. It has times been linked to thyroid tumors as well.

http://bodhimed.com/bodhimed/bodhiblog/crusade-against-food-coloring-unveiled.html

http://www.i-sis.org.uk/FSAadditives.php

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
http://simplemom.net/watch-out-for-these-health-busters/
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

There are plenty of articles available online for further research.

What does everybody think? 
Do you avoid it?
Don't think about it?
Make certain things from scratch because it's healthier?

Recipes, please!

If you’ve read this blog for any length of time, you’ll know that I have fallen in love with cooking over the past several months. The time has come however, to simplify my week-night meals in the hopes of cutting back on our grocery budget and to have cooking & clean-up take less time out of my evening.
Which has lead me on a hunt for more recipes in the following categories:

•  Chili 
• Soup 
• Crockpot meals 
• Meals easily frozen

Anybody have anything they want to contribute?

But so it’s not all-take-and-no-give, here is a vegetarian chili recipe I made last week which was quite scrumptious.
(My hubby likes meat in his food and said it would be good some ground beef or turkey added.)

Bean Chili

•  5 c. chopped fresh tomato (if you don’t have fresh, or not enough, substitute with canned diced tomatoes) 
• 1 can refried beans 
• 1 can black beans, rinsed and drained 
• 1 can red beans, rinsed and drained 
• 1 carrot, shredded
• 1 zucchini, shredded
• 1 can corn, drained 
• 2 packages taco seasoning 
• 1 package dry Italian dressing 
• 1 tsp. chili powder 
• 1 Tbsp. vinegar 
• 1 c. beef broth 
• 1/4 c. packed brown sugar
• Salt and pepper to taste

Mix all ingredients together in a crock pot
 and simmer on low for 5-7 hrs.

Yes, it’s that easy.

ENJOY!

Zzzzzz......

This is how I've been feeling lately...

At work:

At home:

I need some energy.

Anniversary!

Twelve months have come & gone so quickly. We have learned a lot, changed a little, and our love has grown to depths deeper than I knew was possible. It was an absolutely wonderful year and I treasure the moments & memories it brought us.

Our anniversary wasn’t an extravagant celebration by any means, but it was simple & quiet (like us) and it was a wonderful day. The greatest gift is simply being with each other.

We went to one of those fun restaurants for lunch where they play country music overhead and have a bucket of peanuts on your table...and were you throw the peanut shells on the floor, which is the most fun part! :) 

At home we cut into our year-old wedding cake, a tradition we thought was pretty cool, especially considering we didn't really get to have any cake at the wedding unless you count feeding each other a bite when we cut it (but my bite was all frosting and I ended up running into the bathroom to spit it out...).  Mom had wrapped it up tight and kept it in the deep-freeze all year and it survived surprisingly well.  The cake was moist and the raspberry filling was delicious! 

And last, but certainly not least, we exchanged our very first anniversary cards.  My dear husband always picks out the perfect cards and writes the sweetest things inside...guaranteed to make me cry. :) 

It was a perfectly lovely day and a delightful way to spend the day commemorating our first year together.  I so look forward to spending many happy years with this dear man that God brought into my life. 

How have ya'll celebrated your past anniversaries, or any fun plans for future ones?

A Week in the Life

Good morning, bloggers!

This morning I was up early enough to do my devotions before I left for work. Love it! Admittedly I haven’t been nearly as faithful with that as I want to me. I am NOT a morning person, and actually staying UP after my hubby leaves for work doesn’t usually happen. Yes, I get up with him, make sure he has everything he needs for the day, kiss him goodbye when he leaves, and promptly crawl back into bed until I have to start getting ready for work.
But this week I am going to try NOT going back to bed. I’m sure I will still be craving the extra sleep, but I want to start trying to make better use of my time and the hours in my day when I’m actually not in the office.

•  Good use #1: daily devotions 
• Good use #2: extra gym time 
• Good use #3: catch up on dishes 
• Good use #4: clean bathroom 
• Good use #5: meal prep 
• Good use #6: tidy up house

 Those are just a few things that came to mind if I have an extra time before I have to start thinking about getting ready for work. As the Chris Rice lyrics say:

“Every day is a bank account 

And time is our currency

So nobody's rich, nobody's poor

We get 24 hours each

So how are you gonna spend

Will you invest, or squander

Try to get ahead

Or help someone who's under 

Teach us to count the days

Teach us to make the days count

Lead us in better ways

That somehow our souls forgot

Life means so much

 This week I purchased a devotional on Amazon.com called “The Daily Sacrifice”, written by H.A. Ironside, published in 1948.

The daily readings start with a text of Scripture and are followed by a paragraph of insightful expounding. Today I read through the 3rd chapter of Colossians and was reminded that “Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.”

It is a great blessing to start the day focusing on the Lord, and with His words in my heart & mind.

Tomorrow morning I am going to attempt an early-morning workout at the gym, be headed home by the time I'm usually thinking about getting up, hit the shower, throw on some makeup, grab breakfast, and be out the door in time for work. I’m feeling ambitious at the moment…I only hope that ambition is still there when the alarm is going off at some awful hour and I’m warm & cozy under the blankets while the wind is gusting and the rain is pouring outside. Have to see how that one works out.

Here is a rough outline of my week:

• Sunday: AM Church, birthday dinner @ the in-laws (Ribs!), PM church
• Monday: Work, sewing machine shopping w/ Mom, movie (“Julie & Julia”)
• Tuesday: AM Pilates workout, work, dinner, laundry
• Wednesday: Work, meet hubby for coffee @ lunch, out for birthday dinner
• Thursday: Work, dinner
• Friday: Work, birthday dinner @ my parent’s (Pizza!)
• Saturday: WEEKEND!!! YAY!!! AM Pilates workout, menu-planning, cleaning, laundry
• Sunday: 1 year anniversary!!!! Church

Are there any tricks you have learned for getting out of bed early, having daily devotions, or weekly workouts?

Happy Monday, ya’ll.



 

In Every Moment

Today my dearly beloved husband met me at Starbucks for our first taste of Fall by enjoying their Pumpkin Spice Lattes. Ahh, seasonal bliss. Tantalizing to the taste buds and invigorating as it warms your hands and your insides.  Oh course I also had to enjoy a Pumpkin Cream Cheese muffin while I was there, seeing as those are also only around this time of year and are usually gobbled up by early-morning-coffee-goers who can’t fathom a day beginning without their high dose of sugar and jolt of caffeine.

We sat outside, the low 70-something breeze blowing around us, the sky overcast, trying to ignore the spits of rain we felt. It was lovely just being together, even if it did feel like Seattle. Having a break in the middle of a work day simply to sit at a café and be together was wonderful, relaxing, and a breath of fresh air. Just being together is the best. The A.B.S.O.L.U.T.E. B.E.S.T.

It’s the small moments that sometimes bring the most joy. I sat there and silently thanked God for the blessing of those small moments and the amazing husband that I get to share them with.  The everyday life is ten-times better because we're together.  What a gift.

I returned to work, and had an email waiting for me. A friend of mine was just diagnosed with breast cancer; her surgery is this afternoon. It was so fast, so unexpected….”Not her, Lord!” were the first words I wanted to utter. But my God is not only a God of small moments, He is the God of big moments too. It hurt to read the words on that page, but I was reminded that God was greater than all this.

Where are words in the midst of pain? How to you reply to an email like that, or even find the right words to pray for them? But God knows.

I crept away to an empty room to pray. Prayed for the surgeon, prayed for my friend, and prayed for her husband. These people don’t profess an active faith in the Lord, so maybe God will use this to draw them to Himself. I am praying that He will. I am praying He will guide the hands of the surgeon and grant them knowledge in how to best deal with this situation, and that He will grant strength to this couple. This couple who loves each other more deeply than most, and that would never leave each other no matter what. I prayed that they would come to know the Great Physician and the true Healer, and that though this He would be glorified…and that she would be healed.

God is there, in the sunshine and the shadow, in the quiet blissful moments, and the moments of pain and tears. How I praise Him for His faithfulness and the hand that guides me and He who walks beside me each step of the way.

Running through yesterday into tomorrow
Don’t let it just drift away
Forget about tying the hands of time
Give every minute to the One who gave us today
-- Joy Williams

Dancing

Dancing.  Musicals.  Theater.
I love it all.

Here are a few video tributes to what are some of my favorite dancers and dances.

Enjoy!

Singin' In The Rain - "Good Mornin'"
Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds, Donald O'Conner


Tribute to Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers


The King and I - "Shall We Dance"
Yul Brynner and Deborah Kerr


Jamie Salé and David Pelletier - "Love Story"

Watcha Been Doing?

In the past few weeks :

• 
  
  I went to my first Pilates class.
  And stretched muscles I didn’t even know existed.
  
  
  
  
• 
  
  I fell in love with Norah Jones all over again.
  
  
  
  
• 
  
  I renewed my delight in drinking green tea in the morning.
  
  
  
  
• 
  
  I realized what a nightmare it can be shopping for bridesmaids dresses that look good on three people of varying sizes and shapes.
  
  
  
  
• 
  
  I discovered that if you puree squash you can mix it in just about anything for extra nutrients and no taste.
  
  
  
  
• 
  
  I learned that people think we’re strange for installing a clothes line. ...and I think our neighbors are groaning because they think we're hillbillies in the city.
  
  And last, but certainly not least, in the last few weeks:
  
  
  
  My husband took me on my first rollercoaster ride.
  ….and I screamed the whole time.
  So much so, that everybody else on the ride,
  and those waiting in line on the ground, were laughing.
  Loudly.   At me.    Never again.
  
  
  
• What have y'all been up to lately?