Uncategorized
Faithfulness of One
Picture from https://media.licdn.com/mpr/mpr/AAEAAQAAAAAAAAIfAAAAJGFkZDE5ZWI2LTFiMWYtNGRiMS1iNjgzLTQ5MjRkM2RmMWM2Nw.jpg
How many different things do you say yes to? What are those things? What things do you say no to? How do those every day little decisions end up affecting your whole life?
We make yes and no decisions all day long, every day. Life is all about choices. Will you say no to getting out of bed and hit snooze one more time, will you say yes to driving the speed limit, will you say yes to another cup of coffee, will you say no to watching just one more show… Some decisions are methodically thought out over time, others are quick and hasty. Some have instant feedback, others have slow results. Some affect only you, others affect numerous people. But regardless, our lives are filled with decision after decision that determine our steps, actions, and ultimately lives.
But don’t be overwhelmed by this seemingly endless cycle of choices… I can think of a pretty amazing way to make it less of a swamped feeling. God has called us to say yes to Him. Saying yes to Christ, yes to following Him, yes to love, yes to His truth. And the rest of the decisions can just flow all determined by the one overall decision. It’s not always an easy process, but it is a simple solution. And it is not just one way, it is THE way. Yes to Christ is the most important part of any decision. It is the thing we have to remember and cling to. It isn’t about saying no to the other things. It is about saying yes to pursuing Christ, pursuing what the Lord wants, and having everything in your life revolve around that one important decision. And other decisions are decided upon by this yes. Rather than all …
Read MoreFaithful and Consistent
This month we are focused on the theme of FAITHFULNESS. The definition of faithful that struck me the most was these words: steady, loyal, constant.
I thought of how we can easily apply faithfulness to our lives and that is by being CONSISTENT.
Consistent in moving forward and allowing God to work in us and through us with devotions and prayer.
Consistent to see God’s hand working in our daily life by keeping a gratitude journal.
Consistent in our marriage by devoting time to connect and grow together.
Consistent in goal setting and daily actions that move us forward.
Consistent in our health by choosing foods to fuel us, and fun things that move us.
A mindset of consistency motivates me because it is a focus on progress, forward progress, NOT perfection. So embrace the hard days, embrace the crazy times, and know that God is always with you and when you are faithful and steady He will use you for greatness because we were made to THRIVE!
Need help getting started?
Set up a consistent morning routine
Join our Clean Eating challenge
Share with us: What helps you stay consistent?
…
Read MoreHigh Protein Arugula Salad with Raspberry Vinaigrette
This month we are experimenting with new “Clean Eating” recipes. Rachel found an App on her phone called Mealime. The other day she tried an Arugula salad that she loved and so I decided to change it up and add a few things to make it our own. So here is a revised version of the Mealime Arugula salad…….a High Protein Arugula Salad with Raspberry Vinaigrette. The amounts listed make a salad that will serve 8-10. I made ¼ this recipe and it was perfect for 2 people.
Ingredients
8 cups arugula
3 cups spinach
1 avocado cut into small pieces
1 (15 oz) can garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed
1 cup feta cheese crumbles
1 cup pistachios
½-1 cup raw sprouted pumpkin seeds
1 cup quinoa
2 cups chicken broth
1 cup dried golden berries, golden raisins or chopped dried apricots
4 cups fresh raspberries
½ cup white balsamic
¼ cup olive oil
1 Tablespoon honey
Cook 1 cup quinoa in 2 cups chicken broth. Combine in a pot and bring to a boil. Turn down and simmer for 20 minutes until quinoa is soft. Cool until ready to serve salad. Make dressing by putting 1 cup raspberries, ½ cup white balsamic, ¼ cup olive oil and honey into a blender and blend until completely mixed. Chill in refrigerator until ready to toss salad. Shell pistachio nuts and set aside. Cut arugula and spinach up a little bit into bite sized pieces and combine in a large salad bowl. Add avocado, garbanzo beans, feta cheese, cooked and cooled quinoa and stir to combine. Add 3 cups raspberries, pistachios, pumpkin seeds, dried golden berries and gently toss to combine. Pour ½ chilled raspberry vinaigrette dressing on salad and toss to coat. Taste and add remaining dressing as desired.
This delicious …
Read MoreSpiritual Health: Peace and Purpose
What does it mean to be healthy? What kinds of things do you do to be healthy? We pour so much time and effort into healthy living, healthy eating, healthy habits, and healthy thinking. It takes intentional effort. It takes planned out thought. It takes discipline. It takes saying yes to certain things and no to others. In the moment you may be what you think might be sacrificing, but you are trying to make certain choices, change, and change your lifestyle because of the lasting benefit. A good time to focus on this spiritual health, is Easter…
pic from http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/42/07/ef/4207eff36ee1fb3b599b62acd0870dff.jpg…
Read MoreFinding Peace Through Healthy Living
Over the past year and a half I have found a place of peace by making health a priority. Not only have healthy choices had a physical effect of peace, but knowing that I am making positive choices has the effect of mental peace. Our bodies are a precious gift from God and should be taken care of. We should not obsess over food and exercise and outward appearance, but we can and should care about our health.
One way I have found peace through healthy living is with exercise. Mayo clinic lists the top 7 benefits of regular exercise as weight control, combating disease and illness, improving mood, boosting energy, better sleep, improved intimacy, and FUN.
Another way I have found peace through healthy living is in healthy friendships. Jim Rohn states, “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” So choose to spend time with people that support and encourage your healthy habits. You will have accountability AND friendships based on healthy shared interests are fun and likely to last.
One of the most important ways I have found peace in my health is through nutritional cleansing. Nutritional Cleansing provides a solution for environmental impurities we cannot avoid and nutrient deficiencies in our food. Knowing that I am helping my body detoxify itself and nourishing my body as I strive for long term health gives me such peace as I navigate a busy life and learn to be a healthy role model for my family. As a parent, we have so much responsibility in our children’s health. I want to show my girls how to make healthy choices and live the way God designed us – happy and healthy. Feeling great and having energy is such a source of peace and something …
Read MoreAmazed
Are you amazed at the power and the word of God? Do you reflect on that enough? God is amazing. What He did is amazing. What He will do is amazing. His plan is amazing. His power is amazing. His creation is amazing. He moves in amazing ways every day. He is the definition of amazing. He is the only thing that really encompasses the true meaning of the word amazing. Everything else doesn’t even come close to fascination and the marvel we should have of God.
As I listen to this song, I want to live in a state of wonder and awe of Jesus. I ask for incredible things to happen all the time, but am I really looking for them? Do I really believe? Am I seeing the extraordinary in the ordinary? It is all around me, all the time, I just have to choose to see it. God is amazing. His creation is amazing. The Lord is amazing inside of me. Am I living that way? I think the more and more we are amazed and in wonder of who God is the more I can live in a place of who God created me to be in Him.
“Cause you are beautiful in all your ways
King of Kings
You are beautiful in all your ways
Ooooh
Cause you are beautiful in all your ways
Just close your eyes
Just close your eyes, you’ll see him
You are beautiful in all your ways
Open the eyes of our heart to see you God”
Are your eyes open? Can you see God? Look around you. See God in the little things. See God in the big things. Be amazed at His power. Don’t just think its expected or that God is intangible. He is real, He …
Read MoreTurkey Loaf Minis
Growing up, one of our favorite dinners was Turkey Loaf, mashed or baked potatoes, orange glazed carrots and a big green salad I know that many people turn their noses up when they hear about meat loaf of any kind but in our home we loved turkey loaf!!! This recipe is a fun rendition of our original turkey loaf, made into mini loaves and brushed with a secret glaze before baking. Our own Grammie Rozzie tried this rendition and thought it was “blog worthy” so we are sharing it with you today. We had it for dinner tonight and Poppa Rick thought it was scrumptious. Give it a try and you will have your family asking for MORE!!!
Ingredients
1 pound ground turkey
1 egg
½ cup oats
1 small onion chopped fine
⅓ cup broth or milk
¼ cup parsley chopped fine
½-1 teaspoon salt
Glaze
⅓ cup organic ketchup
1-2 Tablespoons brown sugar
2 teaspoons dijon mustard or regular yellow mustard
Directions
Mix all meat loaf ingredients together in a medium sized bowl until mixture is all blended. Line a jelly roll pan with aluminum foil. Shape meat mixture into mini loaves and place on cookie sheet. (For a fun party idea-you can also grease a muffin tin and fill with the meat mixture to make mini turkey loaf cupcakes.) Combine glaze ingredients in a small bowl and mix until blended. Spread a generous amount of glaze on each mini loaf. Place in a preheated 350 degree oven and bake for 45 minutes. Whip up a batch of your favorite mashed potatoes and make a big salad and you have a delicious and very nutritious meal.
Celebrate Your Differences
My three girls are SO different. Yes, they look alike, but they each have beautiful and unique personalities.
I am constantly reminding myself to CELEBRATE their unique gifts, talents, and interests and above to NOT compare–not to their siblings, and not to other kids. I want my kids to know the most important thing in their life is that God loves them and I love them.
In the spirit of celebration, I want to highlight my second little sweetie pie and Birthday Girl, Hanna! She has a tender heart, happy spirit, and is full of joy. She makes every day so fun and silly.
Today I challenge you to celebrate something unique about each of your children or something special and unique about you!
…
Make it your mission
pic from http://futureperfectcoaching.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/what_is_your_mission.jpg
What values do you live by? How do you make decisions? Do you know your why? Who are you really?….. These are all good questions, and I may have a way to help you focus in on an answer… Have you ever thought about creating a personal mission statement? Start here first to discover your why… then continue on with the rest!
Here are the benefits to doing so. The website www.doanwinkel.com has some great info on making a mission statement. They say,
“One of the most powerful methods to cultivate the passion of vision is to create and live by a mission statement, philosophy, or creed. Such statements capture what you want to be and do—what qualities you want to develop, what you want to accomplish, and what contributions you want to make. Clarity on these issues is critical because it affects everything else—the goals you set, the decisions you make, the paradigms you hold, and the ways you spend your time. A personal mission statement based on correct principles becomes a standard for an individual. It becomes a personal constitution, the basis for making life-directing decisions and daily decisions in the midst of the circumstances and emotions that affect your life.”
Wow, do you want to live this way? I sure do. Have clarity, know my decisions, know who I am…
An empowering Mission Statement…
- Represents the deepest and best within you. It comes out of a solid connection with your deep inner life.
- Is the fulfillment of your own unique gifts. It is the expression of your unique capacity to contribute.
- Addresses and integrates the four fundamental human needs and capacities in the physical, social/emotional, mental, and spiritual dimensions.
- Deals with all of the significant roles in your life. It represents a lifetime
American Sukiyaki
Asian food is wonderfully healthy. An authentic Japanese diet is composed of fresh vegetables, lean meats, fish and tofu and rice. When I was growing up, my mom loved to serve international dinners for our family. She created this easy sukiyaki recipe that became a favorite at our home. We named the recipe American Sukiyaki (probably politically incorrect in this day and age) because it had a similarity to the Japanese dish with an American flair. It is so easy to make and really yummy. When you need a quick dinner that gives you an extra dose of iron and beef protein, this is the recipe to try.
Ingredients
1 lb lean top round steak thinly sliced
1 Tablespoon olive oil
2 medium onions thinly sliced
1 garlic clove smashed
1 Tablespoon soy sauce
½ teaspoon sugar or honey
1 (16-20 oz) package of frozen FRENCH CUT STYLE green beans
2 (15 oz) cans stewed tomatoes
1 cup rice cooked according to package (we use Hinode short grain rice for authentic sticky rice)
Brown thinly sliced beef in olive oil on high in a large skillet (I use an electric fry pan on 400 degrees). When browned but not cooked all the way through, add the onions, garlic, soy sauce and sweetener.
Stir until onions start to soften about 2 minutes. Turn to medium (325 degrees for fry pan) and add bag of frozen green beans and stewed tomatoes. Stir once or twice, cover and simmer for 30 minutes. Serve over rice.
- 1 lb