Anniversary Shout out
Here’s shout out to my sisters, and all the girls in my wedding party. This day, and this moment could not have been any sweeter. I will remember it for my whole life. Anniversaries are a time to think about love, meaning of marriage, the fun wedding you had, and just how amazing the special people are in your life. So in honor of our blog, and my sisters, my bridesmaids, and my family… you NEED to watch this.
Aren’t they the best!!!!! Here’s to two years 🙂
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Pumpkin Bread – A Fall Favorite!
As fall gets closer, I’m getting all the pumpkin feels 🙂 This is one of our fall favorites- an original Mom recipe that I now make throughout the autumn season! Mmm just thinking about fall gets me so excited for all the pumpkin deliciousness!
When the fall leaves start changing color and the nights start cooling down, we LOVE to begin our Autumn baking traditions. I absolutely love PUMPKIN everything-pumpkin muffins, pumpkin bread, pumpkin bagels, pumpkin butter, pumpkin soup and even pumpkin yogurt. so this year I decided to try my hand at modifying my favorite pumpkin bread recipe to make a healthier version. …
Read MorePumpkin Oat Scones with Ginger and Goldenberries
Although I hate to admit it….Autumn is coming and the lazy days of summer are over. BUT I seriously do not feel like I had even one lazy day all summer. With two new babies in our family, this summer was anything but LAZY! It is such a miraculous blessing to have 9 grandchildren but the reality for me of being the Gammie I want to be means traveling……I am so grateful for the privilege of being an active part of each one of my grandchildren’s lives but they all live away from where I live so “On the Road Again” is my theme song at this season of life.
The Fall season brings memories of school starting and decorating with colorful leaves and BAKING everything PUMPKIN!!! I am not ready to totally put my summer mindset to rest but I am beginning to get the baking bug. So here is my first experiment with pumpkin this fall season. I chose to add Goldenberries because of their sweet but tangy flavor and their chewy consistency. Here are a few facts about the goldenberries I use. You can find out more by clicking on the picture at the end of this post.
- Our Organic Goldenberries are grown on small family farms in the Andes Mountains where the bountiful rain produces the mouthwatering berries. Each berry ripens on the vine and is succulently sun-dried to retain just the right amount of moisture. Delicious and nutritious, just the way nature intended.
- They’re perfect right out of the bag and can also brighten some of your favorite recipes from smoothies to salads.
- And best of all, Made in Nature’s Organic Goldenberries are rich in fiber and a good source of Vitamin C.
- NON GMO verified, USDA organic, OU Kosher
Pumpkin Oat Scones with Ginger …
Read MoreDon’t Be Afraid to Get Real
I’ve been learning so much the last few years as a mom and in my life about the value of being real. Letting down some of those defenses we put up and allowing ourselves to be a little vulnerable, to let people in, and to allow people to see the REAL us.
That looks different for everyone, but for me, that means showing the good and the bad. Knowing that it’s ok to admit I’m not perfect, in fact far from it.
What has happened through this vulnerability and openness is connection – realizing that MY struggles are others’ struggles. Learning from our mistakes and growing together. Talking through the parenting wins and loses.
Recently I shared on my social media that I was struggling with an injury. I was blown away by so many people who have checked in to see how I’m doing, friends who have told me “I understand how hard this is.” Hearing that concern and knowing I’m not alone in my feelings has given me comfort, and even more than that, CONFIDENCE that I can and will turn this into something positive.
What struggle are you holding on to in your life?
I encourage you to seek God, tell Him about your struggle, and pray about finding a safe place where you can talk with someone about it and get real!
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Spiritually Healthy
picture from http://az616578.vo.msecnd.net/files/2015/12/19/635861380034002826-371393998_yum.jpg
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.
Some people call it dieting, others call it healthy living. But it is all the same thing. It all comes down to changing your actions to change the effect. What should really be focusing on is creating a healthy lifestyle. Because then it isn’t just a fad, the newest trend, or a temporary phase. A changed lifestyle lasts. When you first start a diet you usually cut things out or add things in. Have less dessert throughout the week, make healthier choices at meals, and control your portions. The more established those habits become, the more routine it becomes. It becomes second nature to make healthy choices. It becomes a part of who you are. Usually over time you prefer the good things rather than the instant pleasure of the not so healthy things. Your appetite changes. Your cravings change. And you change.
Often times faith and a spiritual life is seen as something that is regimented and monitored. You have to “do” all these things to feel close to God. There is a continual push to read your Bible, pray, and be surrounded by good people. And we say it is because you feel closer to the Lord through these things, you feel centered on the truth of God, …
Read MoreGreek Style BBQ Chicken
Labor Day in the United States is a public holiday celebrated on the first Monday in September. It honors the American labor movement and the contributions that workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of the country.
We like to have theme dinners in our family. A fun meal to serve at a Labor Day picnic is a Greek style barbeque. I mixed up this marinate and whipped up a big Greek salad, bought some pita bread and hummus and we are ready for a party.
Greek Style BBQ Chicken
4-5 pounds of boneless skinless chicken breasts and thighs
½ cup fresh squeezed lemon juice
1/3 cup olive oil
1 ½ teaspoon oregano
10 leaves fresh basil or 2 teaspoons dried basil
1 teaspoon sea salt
1-2 teaspoon lemon pepper
Mix all ingredients and pour over chicken. Let marinate for 2-3 hours or overnight.
Barbeque until chicken is cooked through.
Serve with a big Greek salad. Another fun option is to shred chicken and make pita sandwiches with hummus, shredded lettuce, tomatoes and avocado.
- 4-5 pounds of boneless skinless chicken breasts and thighs
- ½ cup fresh squeezed lemon juice
- ⅓ cup olive oil
- 1 ½ teaspoon oregano
- 10 leaves fresh basil or 2 teaspoons dried basil
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1-2 teaspoon lemon pepper
- Mix all ingredients and pour over chicken. Let marinate for 2-3 hours
Easy Greens, Happy Mom
I love to eat vegetables. I think they taste great and they make me feel good. But eating the right vegetables in the right amounts can be hard!
That’s one of the reason’s I’m so grateful for these powdered greens. I call them my secret weapon!
WHY I LOVE THEM:
These powdered greens are made from 33 different veggies.
They are convenient and easy to take.
They taste good.
They make me feel amazing.
This busy mom of three doesn’t have to stress about feeding myself and my family well.
Did I mention they taste good? I should say GREAT. YUM!
They taste delicious!
WHAT SETS THEM APART:
The don’t have fillers
They are a balanced blend with the right ratio of nutrients
They are scientifically researched
They have a high nutrient value and can be absorbed quickly by the body
They are a vegetarian source of protein
They are comforting to your stomach
HOW TO USE THEM:
Once a day for a healthy individual. Up to 3 times per day if you have health challenges.
First thing in the morning on an empty stomach mixed with water
Mixed with our favorite electrolyte drink and herbal tonic to improve performance and recovery during workouts
In your protein shake (Rachel’s favorite)
WHO ARE THEY FOR:
Me, you, and your kids too!
Want to know more about “Rachel’s Secret Weapon?” Just mention you want to know more in the comments and we will respond!
Join us in our Fit For Fall Wellness Challenge
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Deep Friendship-Worth the Wait
You are important!
You are significant!
You make a difference!!!
Why do we spend so much of our life having a critical spirit towards ourselves? We all want to be part of a community……..to be invited…we all want to be loved…we all want to belong… But where are we looking for our belonging? Most of us have felt the sting of feeling left out, being rejected, feeling uninvited.
This week I have had the privilege of connecting with some quality women with whom I have been connected for between 25-35 years. We have so many shared memories and an unspoken commitment of loyal friendship and trust. We share the gift of sisterhood in Christ and a deep abiding sense of being bonded together for a purpose larger than ourselves.
Recently I listened to an interview with Lysa TerKeurst and she was sharing about her newest book called Uninvited. I loved her candid open approach and how she discussed things that are on the mind and in the hearts of so many women today.
How many of us have experienced rejection, the feeling of being left out? Why do we spend so much time wishing we would be invited and included? As women, we have a deep desire to be loved and a longing to be wanted.
A few of the comments that Lysa made when she was talking about rejection and feeling Uninvited in the interview rang true to my ears.
Feeling beautiful and experiencing a sense of being noticed and loved needs to come from God not man.
It does not make us feel beautiful when someone is physically present but emotionally absent.
At times we must be willing to actually feel the pain so we can heal the pain.
In my experience, when I have been rejected …
Read MoreLet’s Get REAL
Social media is so prevalent in our daily lives. It makes it easy to portray a certain persona or sense of perfection.
But that’s not REAL.
Real life is messy. Real life has ups and downs.
Pictures are just a snapshot of someone’s journey. Where they are now. You miss where they are coming from and where they are going. Don’t lose that perspective with others, and don’t lose that perspective in your OWN journey.
Here’s a snapshot of mine. I hope it will inspire you to embrace where you are now. See how far you’ve come. Make plans for where you want to be. Enjoy every step!
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There was a time when I wouldn’t eat cheese and ate my salads plain. A salad WITH cheese and dressing? FORGET ABOUT IT. (This particular salad has cheese, dressing, quinoa, pistachios, garbanzo beans, and dried apricots. HELLO yummy!)
I am so grateful EVERY DAY that I learned to shift my thinking. I’m not healthy based on what I take OUT of my diet, I’m healthy because of what I put in, what I FUEL my body with.
No more chasing skinny. I’m chasing muscles and strength. I want my daughters to know that food is fun, really delicious, and serves a purpose. I want them to know that strength is physical and mental. I want them to know that healthy tastes good, and so do cookies.
So here’s some real things about me.
1. I like my body. I’ve weighed much more, and even less, but being happy and feeling AMAZING means more than any number on the scale.
2. I eat chocolate. EVERY. DAY. Lots of it.
3. I want gorgeous strong leg muscles so bad, but I’m working on enjoying the journey.
4. I have really broad shoulders
Famine and Hunger in Malawi-Let’s Do Something!
Last fall, Malawi, Aftica faced a terrible drought causing country wide famine. I wrote a post introducing you all to Gogo Grandmothers….the incredible ministry where I have the privilege to serve. We developed a fundraising project last year called the Joseph Project to help the Gogo and their children through the famine. So many of you were willing to help make a difference and we are so grateful for your generosity.
It’s a Fact . . .
Due to continued drought, the harvest was terrible in Malawi again this year! Our USA director reported last week, “Most Malawians rely on subsistence farming (eating only what they can grow), but the food supply situation is always precarious. 2016 is the second year in a row that they have had a poor harvest because of severe drought, and many areas are already running out of food to sustain their families.”
Malawi News . . .
The “Famine Early Warning System” shows the food crisis beginning in Malawi.
Near Term: Jun. – Sept. 2016 Medium Term: Oct. 2016 – Jan. 2017
Maps show the orange areas that are in a food crisis in Malawi. 3/4 of the gogos and children we work with are in these emergency areas.
Once again we are asking you to get involved, to do something that will make a significant difference in the poorest country in the world!!!
The 2016-2017 Joseph Project
We have miraculously found a source for maize to buy and store for our gogos and the children!
$10.00 will provide 60 pounds of maize to a gogo and the children in her care for a month. Could you and your family help meet this need for a gogo family until her next harvest in April or May 2017.
Over 2,000 gogos and thousands of children …
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