Can I just say something real quick...I know some of you will probably gasp and maybe some of you will never return again...but I've had enough!
All I've seen today on facebook and bloggy land is talk about halloween and fall festival..or trunk or treat (good golly, if only you could have seen my eyes roll with that last one!)
So, here's my deal...
If you choose to let your kids participate in halloween or not, it's no skin off my nose.
But, it's all these silly festivals that drive me UP the WALL!!!!!
Seriously, why is it any different to let your kid dress up as a princess, pirate, or cat and parade around the church parking lot playing games and collecting candy?
Is it somehow ok if it's done on church property? I don't know....and I'm trying really hard Not to judge it...something just doesn't sit right with me about the whole deal.
Either do it or not, but what a confusing message if you finagle it justified by throwing in some Christian-ease.
I know that we are called not to be of this world, but where does the hiding our light under a bushel come in?
Why not instead, be the coolest house on the block? Pass out Big Candy Bars...or glow sticks...be the Light that the neighborhood kids LOVE every day of the year, not just on Oct. 31.
Like I said, I don't know. We have never participated in trunk or treat...and maybe some are great outreach opportunities. Jim grew up without trick or treating and I grew up with it...so we do a mix....hit a few family/friends' houses and then grab pizza. It really isn't a huge deal in our house. We have boundaries, no dark costumes, no blood or guts or zombies here....but they can have fun and be imaginative (they're on a regular basis wearing costumes from years ago in their everyday play).
Whatever you do, stick to your convictions...don't wishwash it into acceptance.
whew....sigh....big breath in...and now I feel better ;)
Monday, October 31, 2011
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Core--azy
I couldn't decide between the above title or Cardi-owwww....both are pretty fitting today!!!
No pics...I'll spare you the sweat drenched shirt routine or the running shoes...just imagine...no don't, just trust me ;)
Two weeks ago, I joined the local fitness center....and have lost my mind!!!
2.5 weeks, 4-5 days a week, 60-90 min of kick your behind cardio and strength training = over 6,000 calories burned!
Can you believe that?!?
I have earned Every Single one!
Elliptical, rowing machine, weights, core circuits......sore muscles is an understatement!!!
I've graduated from walking 2 miles on the treadmill (which is a total waste of time...only burns like 300 cal) to jogging 3 miles on an elliptical (which burns closer to 800 cal!!!!). 2 months ago, I had just hurt my knee and I could barely walk a 45 min mile...now I'm doing 3 in that time (yeah, not fast..but I'll take it!!!)
Funny how now I'm a total calorie snob...not wasting my time sweating on a machine that's not going to pack a punch!!!!
Speaking of punches....ugh, I feel like I've been punched! Yesterday I warmed up on the rowing machine...headed over to worked abs and then did a core circuit (25 sit ups, 25 squats, 25 push ups x 3)...by the time I got to that last set of push ups, I thought that I was going to die!!!! Those last 15 push ups were killer..jello arms, whole body shaking...I am Going To DO it!...muttering "come on, come ON" under my breath...collapsing on the mat..only to look up and see a 20 yr old guy starring! LOL!!! Yeah buddy..that was 75..keep on walking mister ;)
Getting stronger, faster, and just plain liking working out has given me a little head trip...first time that I did 3 miles on the ellip, I wanted to hop off the machine and go straight into Mary Katherine Galleger.....
SUPER STAR!
For those of you that know me...go ahead, chuckle...oh yes I did do it! It's my new mantra, no star stickers on charts...nope...Super Star! Whatever it takes baby, whatever it takes!!!!
No pics...I'll spare you the sweat drenched shirt routine or the running shoes...just imagine...no don't, just trust me ;)
Two weeks ago, I joined the local fitness center....and have lost my mind!!!
2.5 weeks, 4-5 days a week, 60-90 min of kick your behind cardio and strength training = over 6,000 calories burned!
Can you believe that?!?
I have earned Every Single one!
Elliptical, rowing machine, weights, core circuits......sore muscles is an understatement!!!
I've graduated from walking 2 miles on the treadmill (which is a total waste of time...only burns like 300 cal) to jogging 3 miles on an elliptical (which burns closer to 800 cal!!!!). 2 months ago, I had just hurt my knee and I could barely walk a 45 min mile...now I'm doing 3 in that time (yeah, not fast..but I'll take it!!!)
Funny how now I'm a total calorie snob...not wasting my time sweating on a machine that's not going to pack a punch!!!!
Speaking of punches....ugh, I feel like I've been punched! Yesterday I warmed up on the rowing machine...headed over to worked abs and then did a core circuit (25 sit ups, 25 squats, 25 push ups x 3)...by the time I got to that last set of push ups, I thought that I was going to die!!!! Those last 15 push ups were killer..jello arms, whole body shaking...I am Going To DO it!...muttering "come on, come ON" under my breath...collapsing on the mat..only to look up and see a 20 yr old guy starring! LOL!!! Yeah buddy..that was 75..keep on walking mister ;)
Getting stronger, faster, and just plain liking working out has given me a little head trip...first time that I did 3 miles on the ellip, I wanted to hop off the machine and go straight into Mary Katherine Galleger.....
SUPER STAR!
For those of you that know me...go ahead, chuckle...oh yes I did do it! It's my new mantra, no star stickers on charts...nope...Super Star! Whatever it takes baby, whatever it takes!!!!
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Grainy
It's harvest time....the shearing of the land.
Never expect to get anywhere fast.....there's always a tractor and trailer, a semi with a full load, or my favorite...a huge combine with no where to escape.
As I was driving to the gym (yes, I said GYM! but that will have to wait for another post), I was thinking about harvesting and what all it means.
Sure, food...
But God tells us that the harvest is plenty, yet the workers are few....a pretty accurate statement even just considering the percentage of farmers.
Working the land is a hard life...a life of faith....pushing a dead seed into dirt....praying for rain, but not too much.....praying for sun, but not too hot....that little seed is planted with nothing but faith.
How amazing that our own life mirrors these seeds! We put our hopes and our dreams in the fertile soil of our hearts....and eventually they grow and grow....sometimes it's not exactly the crop that we thought we planted, but usually more sweet than imaginable. We plant seeds in others, seeds of hope, peace, healing, faith....like the farmer, we have No control over how these seeds are cared for...if they're watered or weeded....we just sprinkle the seeds with love and then God works his creation into being.
All summer long, we watch our fields grow.....perfect weather for a bountiful harvest....
Some view fall as a sad time, the advancing cold of winner...snow...ice...harsh conditions, yet even then God has a plan.....he created these seasons for a reason...both spiritual and physical.
Embrace the harvest and the impending winter. Rely on God and His purpose for your life in every stage.
As I was driving to the gym (yes, I said GYM! but that will have to wait for another post), I was thinking about harvesting and what all it means.
Sure, food...
But God tells us that the harvest is plenty, yet the workers are few....a pretty accurate statement even just considering the percentage of farmers.
Working the land is a hard life...a life of faith....pushing a dead seed into dirt....praying for rain, but not too much.....praying for sun, but not too hot....that little seed is planted with nothing but faith.
How amazing that our own life mirrors these seeds! We put our hopes and our dreams in the fertile soil of our hearts....and eventually they grow and grow....sometimes it's not exactly the crop that we thought we planted, but usually more sweet than imaginable. We plant seeds in others, seeds of hope, peace, healing, faith....like the farmer, we have No control over how these seeds are cared for...if they're watered or weeded....we just sprinkle the seeds with love and then God works his creation into being.
Some view fall as a sad time, the advancing cold of winner...snow...ice...harsh conditions, yet even then God has a plan.....he created these seasons for a reason...both spiritual and physical.
Embrace the harvest and the impending winter. Rely on God and His purpose for your life in every stage.
Monday, October 17, 2011
Lucky 13
Gosh, I Love this Man!
We obviously were babies when we tied the knot.....doesn't seem real....surely doesn't feel like 13 yrs have passed!
We have grown from two crazy kids into crazy parents and finally into a fairly sane married couple!
It feels good, comfortable...but not. We know when the other isn't really "fine"...we know what those "looks" mean....which is extremely important for this girl who can mask over everything with a shallow smile.
He still surprises me.
He still makes me laugh until I cry.
He still loves me like crazy....and that says a lot, because I'm all types of neurotic!
Happy Anniversary Babe....may these first 13 pale in comparison to the awesomeness we will become in the next 13!
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Reflections
A bit of forewarning here...today's post is going to be about a 110 on the sap scale....proceed at your own risk ;)
A year ago today, in fact probably to the minute, my heart was forever changed. A dream, a love for a an area and its people, was planted in my heart....of course, the dream had already taken hold of Jim. Now that it was in me too, we thought for certain..no we Knew..this was where we would end up....soon! (oh, how these pictures make my heart ache!...I love these mountains!!!)
So, here I sit...having not been moved, but still dreaming, praying, growing so that in His timing we will see the fruition of things that are so great it's unimaginable!!!
Of course, today's sermon at church hit my feelings on the head....maybe even opened the wound a little....but God cannot heal what we don't surrender....so, I surrender these feelings of hurt and doubt...the pain of dreams not yet fulfilled. I see the purpose in us being here for the moment...there is work to be done in us so that we will be whole and strong for His purpose. AND I believe to the core of my being that in order to truly appreciate something, there has to be some sweat and tears put into it!!!
We know that in this world, the good guy doesn't always win. This life is filled with heartache and pain, but we are not made to sit in the muck and never feel the Victory. Keith gave this idea that once we are in Christ, we are hidden in Him---Like the picture below, we are surrounded by God's grace and sovereignty. Yes, bad stuff (the red arrow) comes into our lives, but nothing that hasn't been filtered through God's covering.
There were SO many great verses today, my bulletin is covered in my chicken scratch notes...every blank space filled with nuggets of wisdom.
Romans 8:28 And we know, all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to his purpose. (this means, that yes we will have bad, but God can mix all the bad and blah into the most precious picture)
We also go through junk so that we can be comforted...and then be able to comfort others. (2 Cor 1:3-4) You know that when you're going through a hard patch, it's amazing to feel the comfort of someone who has walked that road before...and made it to the other side!
With my whole heart I believe that there is a greater purpose to these light and momentary struggles. This dream is not one that we sought out, but was placed in us by our loving Father who knows all things....He has the answers, the dates, and the time.
So, I'm resting in that right now. Relying, even when my heart is hurting, He has it all under control. For such a time as this....I will be prepared even in the everyday!
God is good....all the time....God is good!
A year ago today, in fact probably to the minute, my heart was forever changed. A dream, a love for a an area and its people, was planted in my heart....of course, the dream had already taken hold of Jim. Now that it was in me too, we thought for certain..no we Knew..this was where we would end up....soon! (oh, how these pictures make my heart ache!...I love these mountains!!!)
So, here I sit...having not been moved, but still dreaming, praying, growing so that in His timing we will see the fruition of things that are so great it's unimaginable!!!
We know that in this world, the good guy doesn't always win. This life is filled with heartache and pain, but we are not made to sit in the muck and never feel the Victory. Keith gave this idea that once we are in Christ, we are hidden in Him---Like the picture below, we are surrounded by God's grace and sovereignty. Yes, bad stuff (the red arrow) comes into our lives, but nothing that hasn't been filtered through God's covering.
Romans 8:28 And we know, all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to his purpose. (this means, that yes we will have bad, but God can mix all the bad and blah into the most precious picture)
We also go through junk so that we can be comforted...and then be able to comfort others. (2 Cor 1:3-4) You know that when you're going through a hard patch, it's amazing to feel the comfort of someone who has walked that road before...and made it to the other side!
With my whole heart I believe that there is a greater purpose to these light and momentary struggles. This dream is not one that we sought out, but was placed in us by our loving Father who knows all things....He has the answers, the dates, and the time.
So, I'm resting in that right now. Relying, even when my heart is hurting, He has it all under control. For such a time as this....I will be prepared even in the everyday!
God is good....all the time....God is good!
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Cake Anatomy
I scoured the internet for a good scratch yellow cake recipe....lots of different types, but it's soooo hard to find a good one that's not super heavy or really crumby....so...I mixed a couple of recipes and was actually pretty pleased with the results!
Basic Yellow Cake:
4 eggs
1 cup butter, room temp
3 cups cake flour (make your own by subing 2 Tbs corn starch for 2 Tbs of flour per cup)
1 3/4 cup sugar
1 Tbs baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp vanilla
1 1/4 cup buttermilk (make your own by adding a smidge of vinegar to reg milk)
Cream butter and sugar until fluffy, about 3 min. Add eggs one at a time, scrape sides of bowl. Add vanilla.
Sift your flour (if making your own cake flour sift it 4 or 5 times to get the corn starch fully incorporated), baking powder, and salt.
Add flour mixture, alternating with the butter milk...starting and ending with flour.
Pour batter into prepared pans (buttered with parchment paper on the bottom, then buttered on the paper).
Bake 350 for 30 min...Do Not Over Bake!!!
***When using a large sheet cake pan (mine was 15x11), it is adviced to use a heat core deally...which means extra $$$...But, you can do the same thing with one of those flower making nails from wiltons (flat round area where you'd make your flower goes down, straight "nail" part goes up..then pour the batter around it). These make baking a little more even....I also turned my temp down to 325 for the big pan and increased my baking time to like 55 min...just watch it!
First batch of batter made all of Lego Indiana's extra "parts":
My coffee mugs made the perfect lego head shape, the flowered bowl for the hat, and 2 ramikins for the lego hands. The arms in the picture below were the sides leftover from shaping the lego body. It took 2 batches to fill my 15x11 pan.
Crumb coat everything. It will harden up a bit while you make your next batch of frosting.
The easiest way to "frost" with multiple colors on a cake is to preoutline the areas with the tip of your knife. I marked off the pant/shirt line and where I wanted the jaket to be. (the extra height of the foot area was just a scrap piece from the arms)
The head and hands were frosted ivory, the satchel, belt, and headband were the same brown color as the jacket with juuuust a little bit of red thrown in to offset it a bit.
Add the arms and decide that they're freakishly long (after you add the hands of course!)
For the brim of the hat I used a small tortilla, microwaved with the edge over the side of an upside down bowl to give it the curve. Frost and put onto the lego head. Add the hat, frost to cover the seams. Add your extras like headbands and belts. Pipe in details...black for eyes, mouth and pocket/shirt details. The facial hair was just brown dots piped on (don't ask me why, it's just how the lego guy looks!)
For the whip, I braided yarn and made a handle from brown duct tape.
Stab him with an 8 candle and you have instant birthday happiness!!!!!
Basic Yellow Cake:
4 eggs
1 cup butter, room temp
3 cups cake flour (make your own by subing 2 Tbs corn starch for 2 Tbs of flour per cup)
1 3/4 cup sugar
1 Tbs baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp vanilla
1 1/4 cup buttermilk (make your own by adding a smidge of vinegar to reg milk)
Cream butter and sugar until fluffy, about 3 min. Add eggs one at a time, scrape sides of bowl. Add vanilla.
Sift your flour (if making your own cake flour sift it 4 or 5 times to get the corn starch fully incorporated), baking powder, and salt.
Add flour mixture, alternating with the butter milk...starting and ending with flour.
Pour batter into prepared pans (buttered with parchment paper on the bottom, then buttered on the paper).
Bake 350 for 30 min...Do Not Over Bake!!!
***When using a large sheet cake pan (mine was 15x11), it is adviced to use a heat core deally...which means extra $$$...But, you can do the same thing with one of those flower making nails from wiltons (flat round area where you'd make your flower goes down, straight "nail" part goes up..then pour the batter around it). These make baking a little more even....I also turned my temp down to 325 for the big pan and increased my baking time to like 55 min...just watch it!
First batch of batter made all of Lego Indiana's extra "parts":
Add the arms and decide that they're freakishly long (after you add the hands of course!)
Stab him with an 8 candle and you have instant birthday happiness!!!!!
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Are You Ready to Party?
.....I sure wasn't! Even after spending all day Friday getting ready and waking up at 6:30 am Saturday morning.....we still were running like crazies to get everything done on time!
Riley requested Dad's homemade pizza...mmmm mmm mmm!
Lego Indiana Jones was all he wanted....pretty cool, except that it's been forever and a day since the last movie and now everything is considered "collectors"..aka Expensive! Oh well, had to get creative for the cake (I'll post some kind of instructions later)....but I have to say, this is hands down the coolest one yet!
Corey wanted to get Riley something Captain America....and Jamie made him an Indiana Jones "whip" from brown yarn and duck tape.
The mask still hasn't left his face......
Well, maybe for a second when he opened Grandma, Grandpa, Duane and Crystal's present...yeah, they've been playing with it all morning.....Corey cracks me up because he sits there helping Riley put together this set and the whole time he's humming the Indiana Jones theme song...da da dadaaaaa, da da daaaaaa....
We had a full house, but it was a great party! My Aunt Beth and Uncle Dutch were in town from Seattle. Wow, the stories they have of their travels! I could have sat there for days soaking it all in! Jim's little brother David was home on leave for the week before heading off to his new base. Then, right before we had to leave for church, Jim's middle brother John and his family pulled in from St. Louis....we thought that we'd miss them so it was really nice to sneak a few hugs and kiss the baby ;)
Of course, there was lots of cake and ice cream...thankfully all but his head is left today!
Happy Birthday Buddy! Hope that it was one to remeber!
Riley requested Dad's homemade pizza...mmmm mmm mmm!
Lego Indiana Jones was all he wanted....pretty cool, except that it's been forever and a day since the last movie and now everything is considered "collectors"..aka Expensive! Oh well, had to get creative for the cake (I'll post some kind of instructions later)....but I have to say, this is hands down the coolest one yet!
Corey wanted to get Riley something Captain America....and Jamie made him an Indiana Jones "whip" from brown yarn and duck tape.
Well, maybe for a second when he opened Grandma, Grandpa, Duane and Crystal's present...yeah, they've been playing with it all morning.....Corey cracks me up because he sits there helping Riley put together this set and the whole time he's humming the Indiana Jones theme song...da da dadaaaaa, da da daaaaaa....
We had a full house, but it was a great party! My Aunt Beth and Uncle Dutch were in town from Seattle. Wow, the stories they have of their travels! I could have sat there for days soaking it all in! Jim's little brother David was home on leave for the week before heading off to his new base. Then, right before we had to leave for church, Jim's middle brother John and his family pulled in from St. Louis....we thought that we'd miss them so it was really nice to sneak a few hugs and kiss the baby ;)
Happy Birthday Buddy! Hope that it was one to remeber!
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Eight is Super Great!
Happy Birthday Riley!
Now you're completely past even a smidge of being considered a baby, or little guy (even though I keep protesting!)
You still humor me and let me kiss your soft little kisser cheeks :)
You never stop moving...Ever..even in your sleep...
Indiana Jones and John Wayne are about the coolest guys on earth...except for your Dad.
You love math, bikes, and skateboarding.
Sports Sports Sports! If it has a ball then you're gonna play it!
I love the fact that you give your brother's a run for their money....never letting being the youngest hold you back!
You love Jesus....secretly sing worship songs...until you see that I'm smiling and watching ;)
Happy Birthday Little Man!
May this year be a year of growth and firsts and nothing but good things!!!
Love,
Mom xoxo
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Wrapping Up
I thought that I'd do a quick wrap up of the week.....early...because Saturday is Riley's birthday and things will get hectic quick!
Last weekend we went to a fall festival at the camp ground where my grandparents keep their rv. What a blast---games (which Riley cleaned house), hay rides, smores---cool temps, but perfect fall day!
The past 2 days, I've been battling a stomach thing...not really flu, just yuck....maybe my stomach has turned into Seymour....Feed Me (twinkies ;))
Yuck, I hope that whatever it is passes quickly!!!
We just finished chapters 7 and 8 in Made To Crave....the past few weeks have really hit me hard on how we as women actually view ourselves.
We are God's beautiful craftmenship...a crown jewel...princesses......and Satan wants to keep that thought smashed down in the dust!
One of the questions for group was on a scale, place an x
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
my body is flawed my body is a gift
Where would you rate yourself? What if that same mark was placed by someone you loved?
UGH! That would kill me!!!
So, here's the real question: why is it ok for us to have these feelings about ourselves....
I had this revelation that I'm a super cheerleader---I'll encourage you until the cows come home and then some. But....when it comes to myself, I'm a total downer. God brought the word self-loathing to mind the other day. Yep, pretty much sums it up....I can't take a complement without down playing or joking....
Just something else on the list of things that I'm going to have to work through on this journey....Hopefully that question made you think about how you view yourself too.
You are beautiful, the perfect handywork of the perfect creator! God loves you exactly where you are---But--He also loves you too much to leave you where you're at!
Grow in Him, Learn who you are through His eyes, and run with it!!!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
