HAPPY NEW YEAR!

After trying to sleep for hours I finally decided to just get up and blog!  Happy 3rd day of 2014!  As, I have been laying in bed my mind as been busy with a lot going through it such as new year's resolutions.  I had not planned on making any, but when you can't sleep you think and God speaks.
 So. . .here they are my three goals for 2014 with objects as well. :)

Goal #1 To Love

"We love Him [Jesus] because He first loved us." 1 John 4:19

" . . .love one another as I have loved you." John 15:12

How do I truly love others?  Grace!  That is how God has shown me love so that is how I can show love.

Objective #1 daily receive God's grace.

Objective #2 daily read God's Word so I am full of His love to share.

Goal #2 To Joy

"Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous; and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!" Psalm 32:11

"You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore." Psalm 16:11

I miss out on so much joy just because I don't stop to recognize the moment.  Every moment is from God and thus joy can be found in it if we look. 

Objective #1 stop and recognize the moment.

Objective #2 give thanks!

Goal #3 To Rest

"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."  Matthew 11:28-30

The cares of the world wear me out!  And stress me out!  The Lord's cares may be tiring as well, but they will bring peace to my soul.

Objective #1 read God's Word so I know His burden.

Objective #2 drop the cares of the world just like Peter, Andrew, John and James (Matthew 4:18-22)did and follow Jesus.

Yummy Chocolate Chunks!!

I just made the yummiest chocolate chips/chunks ever! 

Maybe not ever, but they are really good. 

You can find the recipe here http://thecoconutmama.com/2012/09/homemade-chocolate-chips-soy-free-dairy-free-vegan/.  I used coconut oil and honey.

As, I was breaking apart the frozen chocolate I thought this is just like breaking apart a Hershey bar.  So you could even call this a chocolate bar.  Throw so almonds in and my taste buds are HAPPY!

Month of Birthdays

We have recently concluded a month of birthday celebrations.  Well, actually it was just over three weeks, but who is really counting.

 

Jeffrey's birthday is the end of August, Jackson's is two weeks later and mine is two weeks after his.  Now to celebrate the boys birthdays we do several things: they pick breakfast, they pick dinner (usually eating out) and then a party.

 

 Jeffrey's birthday breakfast was French toast and fruit.

 

 

 He choose to go out to Gringo's for dinner and was super excited about the sugar taco bowl filled with ice cream!  Jeffrey also choose peanut butter Oreos to have at home.  Jackson doesn't like peanut butter so we also bought the mint Oreos.  So many cookie! 

 

 

 The boy's birthday party was a football themed pool party.  Snacks included cheese puffs, goldfish, grapes and raisins.  The cake turned out super yummy!

 

 Jackson choose Toad in a Hole (fried egg in toast--makes me think of Granny Harmon), bacon and fruit for his birthday breakfast.

 

 

Jackson also choose to eat out at Gringo's for his birthday dinner.  We came home for dessert of brownies, blue bell homemade vanilla, whipped cream, homemade chocolate fudge sauce and sprinkles.  It was sooo good!

 

 

Now, for my birthday Mama came and took me to lunch at Cheddar's, we had dinner with friends at Chuy's on my actually birthday, we went out to Salt Grass as a family to celebrate, and a friend took me to lunch at Jason's deli.  The birthday treat I made myself was homemade mounds candy and fudge bombs!

 

So the last month (3 1/2 weeks) have been super yummy, but not good on my tummy.  Also, in this time period we had a pool and pizza party for our 9th grade Sunday School class and I have gone out to eat with ladies from BSF.  For a family that doesn't eat out a lot we sure have lately.  O, and I forgot to mention all the coke I have been drinking :(

 

I must get back to healthy eating.  So this week I cut out coke and have only had two to three gluten meals and all other meals have been "clean".   Next week I plan to be completely gluten free and the following week I will cut out all refined sugar.  It will not be easy, but my tummy will thank me!  And then it will be Halloween and I will tell myself not to eat the boys candy, but I will when they go to bed just like you do.  Don't say you don't because I know I'm not the only one!

 

Go here for the mounds candy recipe http://thecoconutmama.com/2011/10/healthy-homemade-mounds-candy/.  I did not use medjool dates.  HEB only had sunmaid so that is what I bought.  For the chocolate chips I used Hershey dark chocolate chips.  These were a big hit with the whole family next time I will double the recipe.

 

Go here for the fudge bomb recipe http://www.wholefamilystrong.com/2011/10/05/fudge-bombs-recipe-borrowed-from-melissa-at-www-theclothesmakethegirl-com/.  I did not use pecans and I used Hershey dark chocolate cocoa powder.  These weren't as good as the mounds, but the boys loved eating bombs!

 



Tears Again!

Jamie's due date was Aug. 26th three years ago.  This year it was the 1st day of school and Jeffrey started Kinder.  So, I mentally noted the day, but was busy and preoccupied.  Throughout last week I thought of Jamie some, but not much.  Then yesterday it hit me so hard and I am struggling and don't understand why.  Then just moments ago I came across this blog post (thank you Lord!) and feel a little better.  http://tolovehonorandvacuum.com/2008/08/prayer-through-tears/  Maybe you need to read this are know someone it may help

Cooking Camp

Several weeks ago while Jackson attended a day camp Jeffrey and I had cooking camp at home.  Jeffrey choose what to make and Monday morning after dropping Jackson off we headed to HEB.  Once home the cooking began.  The first day was meet with much excitement from Jeffrey.  As the week progressed Jeffrey just wanted me to cook and him to eat :)  Through out the week we made turkey dog nachos, egg and bacon stuffed chicken breast, stuffed banana peppers wrapped in bacon, bacon mac n cheese, and onion rings.  This boy loves his bacon!

 

Enchanted Rock

Last month Josh and I celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary!  We spent the weekend in Fredericksburg while the boys were at Grammie and Granddad's.  One morning we hiked at Enchanted Rock.

 Josh resting on a "rock" chair.

 Two huge rocks on one really huge enchanted rock.  You will see these again.

 Looking down!

 Can't believe we found this up there!

 Remember the two huge rocks...here there are up close.

 View from the top.

View from the top.

 

As we were hiking along Josh says I know the Bible says to take the narrow path, but we are not taking that one (he points to a very little path).  Now, we were already on a narrow path so I said I think this one is good.  We continue on and I ponder taking the narrow path Jesus talks about in the Bible.  Weeks later I still come back to this.  I think we as Christians sometimes make the path more narrow than it has to be.  We make a list of rule and forget about love.  Now I'm not saying to throw out all the rules, but let remember love and mercy and grace along the way.



One warm August evening I jog along taking in my surroundings. 

Ok, wait!  Who am I kidding, it is August in Houston it is HOT!  But doesn't the first sentence bring to mind a pleasant peaceful scene?  Don't we do that especial with social media. . . word things so they are pleasant.  There are nice peaceful moments in my life and I have deep joy and peace in my heart given to me by God.  However, I live in a hot, loud, smelly boy house:)  Anyways back to my jog...

I smell fresh cut grass, feel the mist from a near by sprinkler and enjoy the music of some kind of insect that reminds me of summers in Iola.  I see one lone bird flying, wings flapping hard and then he soars.  As, I come to a gravel path I hear the crunch when my shoes hit and enjoy the sound.  This is a peaceful time for me all alone.

Then I think I'm all alone.  Where are the other joggers, walkers and bikers.  Guess they just aren't as tough as me!  No, just smarter waiting till the sun drops a little more in the sky. 

Jogging down the path alone I think of the bird flying alone and wonder do others feel alone like I do sometimes?  Are you the lone bird flapping and flapping or the lone jogger running and running?    I get so caught up in whatever I am doing that I miss the people around me when they are right there.  I miss God in my rush. 

Jogging I really listen and I hear cars, people a distance off in the park playing Frisbee golf, a biker's tires on gravel.  I am not alone!  When we stop the rush and turn our focus we realize we are not alone. 

So this warm hot August evening I am reminded to slow down and enjoy those around me.