Broken-5 Minute Friday

Writing for five minutes straight about the word broken. Mind you this time I am on my iPhone writing from the blogger app, I am still writing.

I felt like this was the perfect word to write about today. At such a time as this. It is Good Friday. Sometimes I think I try and feel something just because it is that day. And really here is no forcing feelings. So I chose to slow down in my heart.

Slow down. When I slow down my busy thinking and analyzing thoughts I start to see something. I start to see what I need to be in order to stop controlling. Controlling my life.

I need to be broken. I need brokenness in my spirit so I can let Jesus in. When I am broken it takes the pride away. It takes the fake motives away. It leaves me available. To be used by Jesus. To be molded by him.

When I am broken I also allow Jesus to heal me. In ways that if I hadn't slowed down I would have never known I needs healing in.

Broken. Jesus I sit this weekend in brokenness. I am not in control. I need refreshing. I need obedience. I need you. You see I am being reminded you are all that I need.

Seek first the kingdoms of God and all these things will be added unto you.

End.

My Talents and Gifts

I am learning more and more as I get into my 30's what my talents and gifts are and what my personality is and how to try and live more to what those are and focus on those things, and not be so scattered in my life. I am finding that I am a learner, oh so much a learner, love teaching (not big crowds mind you), encouraging, walking along side in areas I am passionate about and sharing my knowledge with others.

I love assisting people, I love meeting people's needs.  I love it.  I love being sensitive to what others need, and then trying to find a way to meet it.  If it is in the area of things I love, like administrative work, social media and chatting work, writing and finding the perfect phrase or words for something, finding recipes and creating meal plans, or in learning to live within one's means with a budget and actually living it out, then I am in.  Count me in!

I don't have any idea what it will look like when God continues to grow me, but I do know that I am asking God to take it all and guide me.  I am asking for prayer from friends and family so that I have clear direction.  I want to stay in step with God.  Thank you for listening.  I look forward to sharing more and more.



Love to you!

When to Walk Close to God

Before I start writing I will give you the answer to that.  The answer is.  Constantly.  Constantly walk close to God and never think that you can live a moment without completely depending on Him.

I tend to want to stray in my days in life.  I will go through a season in life that is not troublesome at all, there is nothing out of the ordinary happening, nothing that needs my special attention, and in those times I really, really do think that I am strolling along just fine and don't need any help.  I will start thinking thoughts like, "wow all those Bible studies paid off and I am getting life and have it figured out, I know how to live for God now!" I will think "I got this" and that is NOT the case at all.  The more I think that the worse off I am.  The more I walk close to God and cling to Him, the BETTER my life and my days are.  Period.

Why do I want to be disconnected I wonder.  I think it is because of pride and the human nature to be in control.  Living surrendered is not natural I am learning.  Today is a new day.

I am thinking, I really hope someone reads this as I feel like God told me to write it, but I feel like everyone is learning this as they walk with God and doesn't everyone already know this?  In my mind I am thinking, like DUH!?

I sure wish I was perfect.  I sure wish that I could just do this life on my own and know all the answers.  I tend to get in that mentality very often.  I wish I didn't have to try so hard to know what I am supposed to do, and I wish that I could just know it all and live it.  

What would be the point of that, I wonder?

If I already knew everything.  If I already had it all figured out.  Where would passion be?  Where would my heart be?  What would I be filled with?  Those are my thoughts for now.

What to Do When You Have Had Enough

The idea in this devotional and this phrase-do the next thing- has helped saved me from driving myself crazy so many times.  Can you allow that whisper into your ear right now?  Sit still, and let go of your every thought that is bombarding you and your mind and your spirit.  And hear the whisper, do the next thing.

Forget about the to-do list, forget about all the expectations, forget about all the concerns and worries you have in this world, you can't control them anyways, and just do the next thing.  Whisper in your heart to God, what is the next thing you want me to do.  And do it.  Leave it at that.  No questioning.  No doubting.  No beating yourself up.

Where are you at?  What is the next task at hand that you need to do?  Now that you have the answer, just do it.  Rest in Him.  Rest, rest, rest your weary soul.  

Are you at home?  Do the children need attention or something done for them?  Do it.  Does the laundry need to be tended to for a moment?  Do it.  Does your husband need something that you have been rushing by because you were too busy with many concerns?  Do it.  

Are you at work?  What is the task you are putting off because you don't want to put the energy into it?  Do it.  What is the thing the boss has been wanting done?  Do it.  What is the next thing?  

That is it.  The very next thing.  Do it.  

Be blessed today!

Want Help Taking Care of Your Body?

I have a gym membership.  I do.  I have not been to the gym in probably a year.  I have DVD's.  I have used them, inconsistently.  I found fit2b through a blogger friend a few weeks ago and I really like.  It is like having a sweet personal trainer right in your home.  If my kids are around, they can join me.  It is family friendly.

You can check out the website and if you want to try it out along with me, enter the code "myheartandyours" to get your special price of 3 months for $20.  It is usually $10 a month so that is a $10 savings.  That beats any gym price and it is so easily accessible, you don't have to go anywhere.  Some of the starter workouts I have done you can do in your pajamas and you can do barefoot, which is a plus for me!  For some reason I seem to like exercises that really work my body and that don't involve putting my shoes on, giggle!

I will share more about this as I continue to do the wholesome workouts and see the results.  I have before pictures, but of course am not going to post those "just" yet-if ya know what I mean.

I want to continue finding ways to exercise and get fit that I love and that are fun, otherwise I don't want to waste my time.

These exercise are good if you are pregnant, just recovering from having a baby, or anywhere else in your life journey.  I am excited to continue!  Share with me what you think and if you have any questions.  I look forward to sharing more about this with you.

Stay tuned...

What did God do in Your Life This Week-Testimony Tuesday

Love, love, love sharing testimonies.  Hoping that more people will join in with me in sharing so that we can all be encouraged.  I know it isn't easy being vulnerable and I am learning in this area big time.  I tend to hide behind a mask sometimes, but God is so working on this and I have no idea how it will look when that mask is completely gone, but in the  meantime, I will continue to share what He is doing in my life even if I feel like He isn't even here.  I have to believe that He is because His Word says that He is here and never leaves me, period.

So thinking on what to share that God has done in my week this week, I have to really slow down and think on this because I see His interventions and little touches in every day.  This last week I don't know what has been going on in my mind, but lots of frustration and lots of grouchy moods.  I even had to put myself in time out one evening and told my kids mommy needed a time out.  If I had any word for this week and what God has done, it would be Grace.  New Beginnings.  His mercies are new each day.  There may be pain in the night, but joy comes in the morning.

Gluten Free Allergen Friendly Menu Plan Monday

I have been enjoying linking up with Orgjunkie.com and sharing recipes and menu plans with others.  It is nice to have a fresh set of ideas for my family and it is especially nice when I find recipes that are allergy friendly for my family.  Most of my meals I try to cook gluten free, milk and egg free and of course there are no nuts in our home due to peanut/tree nut allergies.  So sharing ideas when you have these things as a challenge is really refreshing.  

1. Fried Rice with ham, broccoli  onions (or anything you want to throw into it)-La Choy Soy Sauce is gluten free, score!
2. Sausage & Peppers over rice.
3. Zatarans Jambalaya with turkey sausage.  (gluten free and probably won't use the other meats)
4. Tacos with ground turkey.
5. Crunchy Pork chops, creamy mashed potatoes and corn.
6. Baked pork chops, fried zucchini, rice.
7. Breakfast for dinner-Pancakes or waffles, bacon, eggs (maybe), smoothies (strawberry or strawberry & banana)

Have you used Cozi?  I am loving that the last month or two for family planning, meal planning as well as grocery lists and all sorts of lists-and more.  I get nothing for saying that, just sharing because it has been an awesome tool for me to use and I never, EVER, thought I would switch to using technology versus paper and pen planning.

Have a great day!

Home Blessing Hour

So have you ever heard of Flylady?  I found her years ago, I can't even remember when.  I have not stuck to reading her information and I have not done everything she says to do.  She is an awesome lady who helps others get organized and clean in their homes, one day, one 15-minute timer setting, at a time.

There is a lot I have learned from her and that is just natural to me today.  What I wanted to talk about today is something I have been working on the past few weeks to see if it is beneficial in helping me maintain a comfortably clean home each week.  I have tried many things, trust me.  Many attempts at systems and plans.

What I had seen happening in my home the past 6-12 months is that I was enjoying the week and being busy working and caring for the family and myself that when the weekend came, I left everything to do as far as cleaning for the weekend.  This was really starting to bother me.  I had no time to relax and enjoy on the weekends.  So I decided I was going to try the home blessing hour and that I was going to do it on a WEEK DAY.  What week day did I choose?  I chose Friday, because it was perfect to get it done before the weekend started.

So today I will share about my experience with the Home Blessing Hour and what I am doing with it.  Basically the Home Blessing Hour is a general weekly cleaning to keep things maintained.  It is not deep cleaning (maybe the first time you do it but if you do it weekly it is not deep cleaning).  It is, like the name of it, an hour long.  You take 6 chores, set a timer for 10 minutes, and do each chore for 10 minutes and when the timer goes off you stop and you are done.

She has six things that she says to do.  The ones that I have been trying to do is are:

1. Cleaning the wood floors and kitchen/bathroom floors on my hands and knees with hot soapy water-just seems cleaner that way and seems to be what works best for me.  
2. Dusting the house-using my Swiffer duster which I love love love.  I used to always want to clear every surface and use a dusting spray to make everything shine, but this left me never wanting to dust. Along comes the Swiffer and it makes dusting so much easier.  My kids love to use it as well and I don't mind as much because they aren't spraying a cleaner, they are just using the Swiffer duster.
3. Vacuum bedrooms where carpet is.
4. Cleaning the glass in the house with Windex.
5. Wipe out the bathtub with cleaner, scrub toilet and wipe down counters and sink.
6. Want to add changing sheets on the beds, but haven't done that in the routine part just yet.

That is all.  Then I do quick pick ups with the families help, laundry and dishes mostly daily and then deep clean as needed when I have extra time.  I know taking an hour on Friday after working all day seems daunting, but hoping it will be rewarding to see the clean house all weekend.

How do you do our cleaning routines?  What have you found that seems to work well for you?  Do share...

52 Weeks Project Update

SO I edited this list to how things are going now.  The latest thing I am doing is the kitchen counter and I tried a Zumba class (not my first) last week with a friend at a local church.  It was fun, but I still don't think dancing is my thing.  I did like how it caused me to get out of my comfort zone a bit and feel vulnerable.  I also want to try and do several sessions of tanning this month, but that may happen in April.  No real point to this other than I haven't done it in years and think it will have my skin to glow a bit--and I do live in Florida so a start to a small sun tan will be nice to go along with the flip-flops!  I need to get intentional for some of these things.

1. Complete Couch to 5k and run in a 5k-Start training January with C25K app  60 day T-Tapp challenge. (did not feel like doing the running, want to rehab my knees and t-tapp is great for that 1/11/13)
2. Complete a mud run or a spartan race-possibly the Gulf Coast Mud Run in November.
3. Go on a family nature walk.
4. Make bags to keep in car to hand out to homeless people-let kids be involved too.
5. Walk 2 miles daily for 30 days straight-March. April.
6. Go 30 days drinking only water-February.
7. Read aloud one book a week with kids.
8. Tan in tanning bed regularly for a month-April.
9. Make my own crab legs (one of hubby's favorite foods!).
10. Try a load of laundry a day for 1 week (can't stretch it longer or I may not even try!)
11. Let one child make dinner each month (starting small here!). 
12. 5 minute workout daily for a month. (January). 
13. Play hide and seek with kids.
14. Get my blog redesigned. (January) 
15. Try a camping trip with the family (despite my dislike of outdoors and bugs lol) even if it is in the backyard.
16. Try the pushup challenge.
17. Travel to a state we have never been to.
18. Go on a cruise, Carnival preferred, but even if we just take a dolphin cruise on the beach.
19. Get our driveway widened-concrete!
20. Ride segways downtown with family.
21. Go to an arts festival.
22. Try rollerblading again.
23. Go on a bowling date with my man.
24. Do the Respect dare.
25. Write an e-book.
26. Do the One bite at a time.
27. Take kids to beach and go kayaking.
28. Take a trip to water park during the summer.
29. Try a Cross Fit class.
30. Try a Zumba class.
31. Try a spin class.
32. Get a massage at a spa.
33. Take a trip with my husband to our favorite getaway spot.
34. Make a memory book for someone.
35. Christmas shop before December. 
36. Take the 52 week money challenge:  Not doing, but started using YNAB which is an amazing budget software program that has helped me save hundreds every month and hopefully more and more going to be changing in this area--thankful. 3/17/13.
37. Finish James Journible and write out entire book of James. Going strong 1/12/13, loving it.
38. Take a 30 Day Walk through the Psalms during summer to be ready for start of new school year. (July)
39. Walk in the Mall to Mall walk with a friend or with my kids (who wants to join me?).
40. Take a retreat/get away with girl friends.
41. Create a whole weeks meal plan with no allergens that all family can eat (breakfast, lunches, snacks and dinner).
42. Go to a concert with my man.
43. Completely reorganize kitchen counter where clutter always piles-this would make for a HAPPY home! (whole new system here with my home manager binder and all-simplify) Got page protectors and tabs to start organizing my home manager binder 3/17/13-supposed to be joining Orgjunkie.com in a 31 days to organizing challenge and the kitchen counter is my goal.
44. Try golfing with my husband.
45. Take a family trip to Georgia and climb Stone Mountain together.
46. Dress up for Halloween.
47. Take a cooking class.
48. Get a professional makeup makeover.
49. Ride the 360 wheel at the beach.
50. Take kids to the circus. Done 1/12/13, had a blast! 
51. Make the bed every day for a week and see how it changes the day.
52. Take the 30 Day Yoga Challenge. *update 1/4/13-DVD purchased, recieved the DVD today 1/12/13

Testimony Tuesday

SO here we are on Tuesday where I want to share testimonies of what God has done in my life this week as well as hear what He has done in yours.  I feel like testimonies and God stories from each person is so powerful and motivates me to continue seeking God more than so many things.  Let me just say too that sometimes we won't feel like sharing our stories like we don't feel worth, or we will question, was that really God that did that in our life?  We can doubt.  But really, when we really think about it, we know deep down for sure that was God.  So when you think of your God story, don't doubt, if you know it was Him deep down, share away.

This week was pretty amazing.  I have struggled with eating and not just how to eat and how to lose weight.  I want freedom.  I don't think God wants me focused on food and a way to eat all the time.  He wants it to be a natural thing, just like going to the bathroom.  In attempts a week or so ago to find a book to turn to again when I got fed up with losing weight or just being over this food struggle I was looking for Truly Fed.  It was nowhere to be found.  Nowhere.  That led me to finding all of these books I had, Christian books, on losing weight and getting right with God and food.  Studies and books.  All laid out on the table.  I took a picture of them.  Then led to throw them all away.  I had to stop depending on books and studies and know that GOD ALONE was who was going to heal me and help me.  I decided I would not use any tools, just God and His Word.  Two days ago I walked by my bookshelf where I had searched high and dry for Truly Fed.  Guess what was staring at me right in the face?  Yes--TRULY FED.  He saved that one, and I could not find it that one day, but got rid of everything, then it appeared.  God showed me this was the tool HE was going to use as I kept my eyes on Him.  It was awesome.  I won't depend on the book, but use just what He wants in it to help me completely break free, I am well on my way.  Thank you Jesus!

This is an amazing cardboard testimony.  It speaks to my heart and makes me smile.  If ever you feel distant or frustrated in your walk--watch one of these and feel your Spirit lift.  Share your story with me and others so we can be refreshed in Him through it.  

 

 

 

Menu Plan Monday

Joining Organizing Junkie in Menu Plan Monday and sharing my meals for the week.  I did all of my grocery shopping at Target this week--can I just say it is a much more peaceful shopping experience there than at Wal-Mart.  Now if I can just find all the food and deals from Wal-Mart over at Target, I will be a forever convert to Target.  I just don't use coupons and never have liked them--so that is why I tend to shop mostly at Wal-Mart.

Anyways, onto the meal plan for the week, think simple.  I have not been in much of a cooking mood lately.

1. Italian Sausage & Bell Peppers over rice.
2. Chex Mix Crunchy Pork Chops (will take pic and share recipe when I make) with steamed sweet corn & mashed potatoes. 
3. Spaghetti (with brown rice noodles) with steamed brocolli.
4. Breakfast for dinner-Bacon, eggs, pancakes & smoothies! 
5. Salmon Nuggets & rice with soy sauce.
6. Baked salmon with rice and salad or fend for yourself.
7. Tacos in crockpot.

Crockpot Taco Meat

Ingredients

1 lb ground beef (or pork or ground turkey)
1 medium onion chopped shopping list
1/8 cup jar jalapenos chopped (I use a few tablespoons of salsa instead)
1/8 tsp salt
1 tbsp minced garlic
1 package taco seasoning
1 cup water

Preparation

add all ingredients to crock pot and cook for 6 hours
then drain and serve (I don't always have to drain this)

Rest-Five Minute Friday

 

 

 

 

Writing for 5 mintues straight-no editing, no stopping, ready, set, GO.

 

Rest.  Is there such thing?  I think it seems like there is no rest sometimes because there is something always to do.  The moment I think I can sit down and rest I can't even rest because I am thinking of what else to do or think about or figure out.  I wonder.  What real rest feels like.  Jesus says to rest in Him.  He is rest.  When I am resting in Him I still have to live.  I get confused sometimes how to rest and stay focused on Jesus and then still live and make decisions every day without messing up.  I guess I shouldn't worry about messing up so much.  I guess I need to rest my mind maybe.  My mind seems busy a lot just whirling around with ideas and to-do lists and projects and a lot of times my mind is thinking about what I need to "figure out." 

 

Really.  Rest.  There is no sense in trying to figure anything out.  Seek God.  Read His Word.  Keep Him in the middle of everything I am doing.  And live.  He will direct my paths.  There is rest in that isn't there?  I believe so.  I want to be in that place where I am living and letting God lead and drive and direct and I don't have to ever "figure out" anything else again.  Thank you Jesus for rest.

Constantly Decluttering

Constantly decluttering.  I don't have a lot to say here planned, but I feel like I need to ramble some to get out the thoughts I am thinking about this.  So bare with me as I ramble...probably will be scattered but that will be okay.

The picture above says a lot doesn't it?  Chaos anyone?  Living in this world we are so bombarded with things every day.  Things that cause us to get off track of where we want our mind and our thoughts and our actions.  One little thing we hear on tv, in the grocery store or on the radio can change the course of our entire day.  One picture on a cover of a magazine in the checkout aisle--that's right, can change the course of our entire day and can change our attitude instantly.  That is why it is so important that we guard our hearts.  

Proverbs 4:23 Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.

I know I have some decluttering projects that need to be done in my house.  I know I have decluttering projects to be done in my car.  I know I have decluttering projects that need to be done in my garage.  I even know I have decluttering projects that are going on in my physical body as I release the excess weight on my body.  But what about the decluttering that needs to be done inside of my mind?  If I don't think about that, then it will never change.  It is NOT a one time thing either.  It is a constant battle.  It is like if you let your guard down even for a second, BAM!!!!!

Our feelings and our thoughts are all up there in our brain and really play into this whole mind clutter thing.  I feel like there is never going to be an end to it and I am probably right.  It is constant.  You wake up in the morning and you are bombarded with feelings saying I don't wanna work today, then you go in the bathroom and you look in the mirror and see things you don't like to see--bam, there goes the attitude for the day.

Another thing is what are we focusing on.  I know for me I tend to want to read a million books and be involved in all sorts of activities at church and at home.  I can't do them all.  Discernment and prayer have to be involved.  If I am jumping all over the place in Bible studies and so scattered that it is not soaking in and I am not applying it to my life, what good is that doing?  So I want to (and I feel I have done this so much already) minmize and simplify even more in what I am taking in.  I feel I need to have less in order to have more quality and God's best.  Bible studies, one with my Life Group at church.  Church services, one so I can soak it all up and see what God is teaching me.  Balance and discernment and simplifying.  It is happening and needs to continue.  God show me your best for my heart and life is my prayer, in Jesus Name Amen.

I don't know quite where I am going with all of these thoughts except for this.  Guard your heart.  Get in God's Word every single day all day long however you can and soak it up.  Cry out to Him and talk to Him all day long and ask Him to help you in everything.  If a icky thought comes to your mind--well then ask God please help me with this thought, take it, it doesn't sit well with me, it doesn't seem right.  We will never be able to relax in Him if we don't fight this battle daily, and even when we are weary and don't feel like we can do it, let's ask God, please help me to do this today because if you don't help me I am going to mess it all up and it ain't going to look pretty.  That's all I feel led to say at the moment.  Fix your eyes on Jesus today.  Time to do some spring cleaning in the mind.

More later...

Why Blog?

The question was posed to me today, "Why blog...what is the purpose for you blogging?"

I had to dig deep to answer this question honestly and my answer was this.

I have so much that I learn and love to share what I learn, but in my everyday life I do not see that many people in person that are willing to listen to all that I have to say or who want me to tell them everything I am learning.  

Wow.  That question shocked me.  I have been questioning whether blogging was something I was really to be doing and what my motive really was.  It is becoming a little clearer that perhaps it is what I am to be doing.  The answer really shows me wanting to share the overflow of my heart.

That brings this scripture to heart.

Luke 6:45 (NLT) A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart.  What you say flows from what is in your heart.

Luke 6:45 (NKJV) A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil.  For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

Said in the same way is this scripture in Matthew:

Matthew 12:34 (NKVJ) Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things?  For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.

Matthew 12:34 (NLT) You brood of snakes!  How could evil men like you speak what is good and right?  For whatever is in your heart determines what you say.

My desire here is that I will be sharing out of the overflow of my heart, (my prayer is that it is all good and not evil), what God is showing and teaching me as I grow more and more.  Learning to walk with Jesus, walking by His Spirit.

More later...

Testimony Tuesday

Sharing testimonies is life changing.  There is no doubt about it.  God uses our stories to bring people to Him.    When someone is so closely connected to Jesus each day and shares their stories with others, they see Jesus in them.  Sometimes words are not even required, it just shows through our lives and our actions.  Our stories and what God is doing in our life is so important to share as He leads so that God can be glorified in us and others can be reconciled and brought to Him.  

So I want to share something God has done in my life this week with you in hopes that it will spark something in your heart and make you smile and know God loves you.  

God knows that I am a control freak-okay recovering control freak.  Especially with parenting.  Ya'll having three children is wonderful, they are all gifts, but when you want to control everything and have it all go a certain way--yeah, that just doesn't happen.  So I tend to just let it all go and not try too hard at all in organizing our days and our time because I get overwhelmed in not making it work the way I think it should or even sometimes I think I am not meeting God's expectations of me as a mom because I can't do it all the way I think it is supposed to be.  Well...enter Grace.  God is teaching me to take one moment at a time and one day at a time and one situation at a time.  He is my biggest fan.  So this week we have had many sweet moments of time where I felt I knew God had invaded that moment and that I had let go of control.  Amazing.  I can't wait for it to be like that constantly throughout a day, that is my goal.  Can you say freedom!

I also want to share with you a testimony video that is so inspiring.  Hearing other people's testimonies changes lives.  Mark Hall is the lead singer of Casting Crowns, and he gives a powerful testimony here.  Sit back and take some time out of your day to hear what he has to say.  Amazing.  

Please take a moment and share a testimony of yours with me.  Something small or big, it doesn't matter, what has God done in your life lately?  

More later...

Menu Plan Monday-Gluten & Milk-Free Style

I do a weekly menu plan on a regular basis so I know what we have for dinners for the following week, taking out a lot of the guess work.  I do not assign a meal to a certain day all of the time, but it is nice knowing I have enough ingredients in the house to have meals for a week.  These next 2 weeks will be a little more fun because we are trying gluten free and milk free for most of us.  So here goes sharing our meals for the week.

1. Sweet Italian Sausage with bell peppers and rice.
2. Crunchy Tacos with my homemade taco seasoning (minus cheese).
3. Poncit (will have to share this recipe as it is delicious-though I am still learning to perfect it).
4. Salmon nuggets (my own created recipe that is a family favorite), rice & sweet peas.
5. Baked Teryaki Salmon (homemade marinade), steamed broccoli, hush-puppies & rice.
6. Breakfast for dinner-gluten free pancakes, bacon, strawberry smoothies & scrambled eggs.
7. Leftovers/fend for yourself.

Check out the recipes and let me know if you have any questions about them.  

I am joining with Organizing Junkie in the Menu Plan Monday.  Check out her website for lots of recipe and meal plan ideas.  You can find her here--

Also found this site and will be sharing there as well.
 

More later...

Salmon Nuggets

This recipe stems from when I was playing around trying to make fish croquet's without egg.  It is super simple, and really good, a family favorite here.

Salmon Nuggets

Ingredients:

• 1 can salmon NOT drained
• 1 cup gluten free corn meal
• salt & pepper to taste  
• Canola oil

Directions:

1. Mix first three ingredients in bowl.
2. Add oil 1-2 inches deep in pan and heat.
3. Form the ingredients into little balls and drop in heated oil-cook until golden brown.  Do not crowd them so they can fry evenly and not get mushy.

Enjoy!  We like to eat these with jasmine rice and a veggie.  Add some soy sauce is pretty good too.

Taco Time

I created my own taco seasoning from searching online a few years ago and leaving out things I didn't like.  I am sure there are some just like this all over the web, but it is a family favorite and I use it in anything that calls for taco seasoning packets.

Taco Seasoning

• 1 tablespoon of chili powder
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne powder
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika
• 2 teaspoons cumin
• 1 teaspoon course salt

There you have it.  Mix it all together and add to anything you are making that calls for taco seasoning packet.  

Enjoy!

2 Weeks-Be Free Challenge

I stumbled across this blog intentional.me several months ago, and she was talking about her new book that was coming out soon.  I also watched a video of them on a morning news channel talking about the book, called Be Free.  I was curious and I got it.  I read it.  I thought it wasn't completely for me.  I put it aside.  Even deleted it from my Kindle reading app.  I kept feeling a nudge that maybe it would be beneficial to try it.  It may help some of the problems we are having in our health at home-asthma, allergies and eczema, going on.

So just this last week I talked with my hubbs about this and really for our little princess who itches often from eczema and thought it would be beneficial to try for 2 weeks eating gluten and milk free ( though I am already gluten free).  What would I be missing if I didn't do it--what if it helped all of her itching like crazy eczema that she struggles with each day.  What if belly aches are no more.  What if my shortness of breath and/or wheeze I get sometimes are no more?  

So we decided I am going to stock up this weekend and we will start tomorrow trying the free challenge.  She mentions several types of foods to eliminate.  I am okay with gluten free.  I find things so satisfying and do not struggle much with it, especially knowing that if I did eat it, I would get so extremely sick it would not even be worth a single bit of it.  

Now the milk...I only think about cheese and the products that I like that have milk in them.  We don't drink milk, and have used Rice Dream Rice Milk for years-and love it.  So I am trying to make lists of foods and meal ideas for all meals of the day that don't have gluten or milk so I can create a gluten free/milk free home for 2 weeks, and longer if we see the benefits.  I also think about eating out, I think about when I am at work and my hubbs will have to find things for my daughter to eat when he is used to being able to feed her whatever she wants-gluten and milk or not.

The soy, I am not going to try yet, as it challenges me to my core.  I already deal with a son gluten free, milk free, egg free, nut free and more, but soy, oh my goodness it is in everything.  Baby steps...but if it is effecting our health badly, I would like to make sure.

So prayers appreciated.  I have some fears, but the possible benefits outweigh the things I am fretting about. Please share with me your experiences if you have gone through anything similar.  I love to know I am not alone in it.  

Have a great day.  More later...

Bible Study

This is the study that I am using right now in my time in the Bible mostly.  I have started several studies during my Hello Morning Challenges, but this is the one I have stuck with the most.  God is using it in my life right now, well His word never returns void so anytime we are in it He uses it and it feeds our Spirit, but I am learning in this study.  It is not set on one specific book, but mostly Job right now.  

I am seeing how all that Job went through, which pales in comparison to any circumstance I am facing, He still was sold out for God.  He had His mind and heart completely set on Him.  I am learning about friendships from reading about the friends that came and tried to help Job.  How they spoke words to Job that could have confused him and not comforted him.  That made me think about my friendships and the words that I use.  

Proverbs 18:21 says, "The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences."

So I thought about my responses to my friends.  I can seem pretty insensitive when I speak to my friends.  What it really comes down to is that I am super tenderhearted (and I am just learning this about myself) and so I hate to see anyone uncomfortable and want to fix it all.  When I cannot fix it all I tend to want to say it will all be okay and that is it.  I am learning that I don't always have to have the right words to say.  I don't always have to say anything at all.  Sometimes my presence and my listening is just enough.  Sometimes our actions can speak louder than words.

My prayer is that I can be more careful with my words.  That I can really pay attention to what is the purpose of my words before they come out of my mouth.  I don't want reap bad consequences for saying something that will not be fruitful or bring life.  I want to be a better friend and not act so quickly in words and seem insensitive, which will hurt them even more.  

That is all for now...I pray I can be a better friend and that I can really not let this slide by  me, but that I can take it to heart and learn from it.  Really apply it to my life.  Pause before speaking and ask God to be my words, all the time, as a habit.  Help me in this Lord, in Jesus Name, Amen

More later...

Testimony Tuesday

Happy Tuesday to you!  What is God doing in your life this Tuesday or lately?  There are so many things I could share I don't know where to start.  This past week I have been praying for help in waking up each morning.  I do participate in Inspired to Action's Hello Mornings challenge so this is something I have been working on for a while.  When I really surrender and ask God for help He does what He did this past week. My goal is to wake up at 5:30 a.m.  I usually have my alarm go off at 5:30 a.m. and then I snooze until 6:30 a.m. and then I have less than an hour to get up and get myself all prepared for the day as well as getting up 3 children and getting them all prepared for the day.  Well this past week I smiled almost every morning as God woke me up gently with sweet things, sounds of birds outside or just a gentle waking where I wasn't so tired, and guess what time He did that...5:25-5:28 a.m.  Always before my alarm.  I love it!  So that is my God story of the week.  Just remember that nothing is too small for God.  He cares about every single detail of our lives, every little one of them, and ya'll He is so incredibly creative.  I pray we fall more in love with You Lord this week than last, reveal yourself to us, in Jesus Name, Amen!

I do have to share though that I wasn't the best in responding to this each morning and I did not get up every single time, but I did get awoken and had a sweet smile.  Progress.  God is working  and He is amazing!

Before, Dare I Share

I am a bit embarrassed to post pictures of my mess. Ugh. But here it is in the beginning. Every few months I clear it out but my little white junk box stays and a week or two later its back to a mess. I want to revamp this whole system and will work on new organizing ways to deal with what piles up on this counter which can be anything from:

• My purse
• Under my purse is the binder that I tried to start organizing everything in.
• My makeup bag
• School papers
• Mail
• Odds and ends
• My white box (which is really like our junk drawer since we didn't have a drawer to make one)
• Pictures (that I just don't know what to do with)
• Menus
• ....and much more

So there we have it.  The beginning of the challenge for March.  I will keep reading Organizing Junkie to find ways to be more organized in this area and I will also be exploring and sharing other websites and ways I learn how to have a better system here.  

More later...

I am a Normal Eater

I am a normal eater.  That is so strange to be in today's world where so many people look to other people and programs to tell them how to eat instead of looking inside and listening to their own bodies.  It has been a journey for me over several years to learn about intuitive eating and listening to my body, and I still have a ways to go, but I finally feel I am on solid ground.  I will not accept any diet mentality.  I have chased many things and people and theories, but I now have a firm foundation.  I will listen to my body and to God who designed it, and continue to learn how to tune more and more into them so that I can grow more and more into the healthy body I am meant to have.

I will take care of myself.  I am learning how important it is to love myself and take care of me.  This is a journey I want to start to shine in.  I don't want to keep hiding thinking there is another way or another person is doing it the "right" way and I need to listen to them.  No.  I want to share more and more of this journey because I feel it will help others BE SET FREE.  Amazing.

I have no food rules.  It is so hard to fight against that and it is daily that I have to throw off thoughts and theories that come into my path and not accept them as truth, but press on and not let them hinder me.

Hebrews 12:1 (NLT) Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up.  And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.

The thing I continually have to throw off is the desire to chase after things like I said that come across my path.

I do have to share that after drinking coke for the first time in a month yesterday I finished my day with many glasses of water that I thoroughly enjoyed.  Interesting.  It was when I let loose the reigns and allowed myself to have coke that I decided it wasn't even what I really wanted.  Once I gave myself the permission to have it, it was no longer a law I was rebelling against.  Amazing.

There is a process of "legalizing" foods that I will go through as do others who start intuitive eating.  The foods that we think are forbidden we tend to gravitate towards.  I am learning that you can choose one food at a time and work on legalizing it.  Until you are free to eat it whenever you want, at every meal if you want. It will lose its control over you.  I have a process to go through, but it is going to be a great freedom journey.

Reminds me of this scripture too.  1 Corinthians 6:12 (NLT) You say, "I am allowed to do anything"--but not everything is good for you.  And even though "I am allowed to do anything," I must not become a slave to anything.

So there we have it.  I won't be a slave to anything.  In Jesus Name, Amen

More later...

My Home Management "Binder"

I have read post and post and stuff all about home management organizers and binders and all the crafty ways you can organize them.  There are many.  I love binders.  But

My new and wonderful Home Management Binder is.........

Cozi!  I love this system.  For all of my 12 years of being a mother, the main way that I kept everything organized was by the wall calendar in the kitchen.  If we had something to do, it had to go on that calendar or it would be forgotten.  Then enter Cozi last month...January 2013.  I had tried to use it before, but after starting to work full time outside of the home and it never seemed to click.  Then started using it again in January and it is wonderful.  I can see it on any computer, on any of our iPhone's app's and it is so convenient.

I use it for:

• Grocery shopping, 
• grocery lists, 
• meal planning, 
• to do lists, 
• wish lists, 
• our Calendar with anything you can think of on it, 
• a little journal you can jot down fun things that you do as a family, 
• and more.  

I even read today that Michelle Duggar, the wonderful mom of 19, uses it with her family and so that encourages me even more.  I wanted to share that with you all as maybe it is something that would make your home life management work even better.  It has really worked for me and I can't wait to utilize it even more. 

More later...

Only Drink Water in February Update

So in my 52 Projects in 52 weeks I wanted to try and drink only water in February.  I had gotten in the habit of drinking coca cola or Milo's sweet tea daily and was drinking more of that than water.  The funny thing is I don't care for any other drink and if I weren't drinking those 2 drinks, I would want water.

So I started February 1st and I went 4 days or so and drank only water.  I went through a lot of craziness those 4 days coming off of the caffiene and the sugar.  I had headaches and I felt groggy and irritable, very irritable.  I wrote about my little update here. 

Then one morning at work I talked myself into drinking a sprite, thinking it would be a good replacement.  Then 10 days after that I had a sweet tea at work and decided I wasn't going to drink Coca cola.  I felt guilty, and wanted to give up altogether, but I didn't.  I did realize how I kind of felt enslaved to the sweet tea at work (I did drink more coca cola at work than tea or anything).  It was like I didn't even want it, but I drank it just because.  I drank it maybe in a sorts like I was trying to sabotoge myself.

So the end result is, I didn't touch Coca Cola the entire month of February.  Today, March 1st I enjoyed 3 glasses of Coca Cola at work and guess what, feel a little blah and have a touch of a headache.  What's up with that?!   

So what did I learn from this little challenge I gave myself?  I learned that I don't think I should abstain from any food or drink or make any rule to do that again, because it was a wrong focus and made me just think how much I couldn't wait until it was over and I really beat myself up because I "messed up" and did not do it the way I had set out to do it.  Maybe God did some work in my heart though as I went through it...right now I feel the urge to go and dump out the 3rd glass of coca cola I have had today and fill it up with WATER!  I am going to guzzle some WATER!  Hmmm...

More later...

31 Days of Organization with Org Junkie! I'm in!

I am going to join in March the 31 Day Organizational Challenge though I am not doing an entire room, I am doing one of the most challenged spots in my home, the kitchen counter--a mess.  That is one of my goals so I will just join the challenge to make it a little more fun. 

I will be posting before pictures soon and will share my progress as I go.  I pray for more order in my home so I pray that this little challenge will spread through my home.  Here goes...just printed my organization calendar!

More later...