tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-364225402024-03-18T20:01:27.945-07:00A Blessed JourneyUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger198125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36422540.post-40079588374007537272017-01-19T16:57:00.000-08:002017-01-19T16:57:42.692-08:00Fitness, Teenagers and Stuff<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The holidays were here and gone....we all survived. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">We now have a teenager...a day I couldn't imagine when he was born. He loves being a teenager and we are getting used to the idea. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">In the middle of December we accepted a fitness challenge. I had gained 20 lbs over the last year in school and was feeling gross, unmotivated and tired constantly. I asked John if he wanted to join me and he agreed too. We worked hard and we are now participating an another, longer 30 day challenge with our weight loss totals over 40 lbs combined! I have worked harder in the last several weeks than I have in a LONG time, but it is paying off! Our kids have even been getting involved in our daily workouts and we are all paying closer attention to the foods we eat. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I'm happy to share more specifics about our journey-just drop me a line and I'll message you!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36422540.post-85961607185376055392016-11-09T08:31:00.000-08:002016-11-09T08:31:00.871-08:00Elections, Holidays and Unplugging<span style="background-color: white;">Whew! What a night last night was! In preparation for the election we spent several weeks going over everything from the definition of each party, who the candidates were, what the issues were, the election process, and how the branches of government work. We kept things very light and unbiased on the parentals part. I wanted our kids to form their own opinions about the issues and the candidates. We don't watch a lot of news on television so it was easier to keep them censored from the negative campaign ads and such. At the end of last week we invited some homeschool friends over to our house for an election party. We over-viewed the process as a group, had a little quiz of fun facts and held a mock popular vote- voting booth included! With the exception of two write-ins, the vote was unanimous (I'll keep that part to ourselves :)). Overall, it was a fun time had by all and educational as well!</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">Regardless of your vote and whether or not you woke up excited, upset or indifferent this morning, I know one thing to be true....Jesus is King!</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">Now we can move onto holidays....Praise Jesus. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">We are looking forward to a quiet, simple, no-frills holiday season at home. We have been very blessed with visits from family over the last few months filling up our love tanks with time spent. I pray this will help get us through the holidays away from all of them and help our kids to take advantage of the quality time spent with just the six of us-fingers crossed!</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">I recently was encouraged by a sweet Instagram friend to look into Nature Pal Exchange. I hopped over to their website <a href="http://www.naturepalexchange.com/" target="_blank">here</a> and after a few minutes, promptly signed up! You can look at their <a href="https://www.instagram.com/naturepalexchange/" target="_blank">Instagram</a> and <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/naturepalexchan/?etslf=5542&eq=nature" target="_blank">Pinterest</a> boards as well....just amazing. We will be taking several walks over the next few days and weeks to work on our Christmas box for our exchange. We haven't received our pal assignment yet and the anticipation is killing me. The weather here in ND has been crazy good for being November, like actual fall weather ;)</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">In the spirit of simplifying....I bring up the subject of screens, social media and the like. The whole election campaigns, holiday advertising, ect has made me want to take a shower after a few minutes on Facebook or watching tv. I was sitting in a bible study this week and was overwhelmed by the desire to just unplug. John and talked about how much time we allow our kids to spend watching Netflix on their Kindles, watching shows on tv and playing video games and we realized...yikes...it's way more than we thought. I also looked at myself and how much time I spend perusing Facebook, watching Netflix and the hours we spend after the kids go to bed watching *our* shows we recorded...double yikes. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;">So we made the decision to remove Kindles from our kids hands, shut off Netflix for a while and I told my husband I was considering a long break from the ol'FB. We have enjoyed the last 24 hours spending time playing games, reading more and just being together. I encouraged the kids to take the time and enjoy being together, hoping they will cultivate their relationships not only together but also in Christ. I am hoping John and I will continue to lead by example, reading our bibles everyday and taking matters to prayer before worry and anxiety set in. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">I am prayerful we will have a home full of gratitude, love and peace this holiday season!</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36422540.post-15614429365693251162016-10-18T12:37:00.000-07:002016-10-18T12:37:18.729-07:00Clinging to What???<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">Our lives have been a little shaken-up lately. I am learning though, through those "when it rains it pours seasons", to just hold on to the truth that God is bigger than all my problems- can I get an "AMEN"?! One of our recent trials included our son breaking his arm and then after casting, falling and further injuring it, resulting in a surgery this week to correct it. Although 3/4 of our kids were born early and had adventurous starts in life, this was the first surgery or major injury we have encountered. Twelve years essentially trauma free is a pretty good run, don't you think? Even though the events happened fairly quickly, there was plenty of time for this mama to stew and worry. As a healthcare provider myself, I knew exactly what to expect, but did that stop my mama-brain from going over all the "what-ifs"? Of course not! I instantly became an irrational worrier. I found myself clinging to the only thing I knew to be true...God's word. As I have aged and became more of a "wise" parent (read: old lady), I am learning so much about the importance of seeking truth in His word. I mentioned in my last post about a sweet lady in my bible study who gave us each a copy of Parent-Prayers and let me just tell you...the timing could not have been anymore perfect! Not only was I able to find some peace for myself, but my son was feeling very anxious as well, so we read a few scriptures together and prayed about it the night before. I am so proud of him, he was so brave!</span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">These prayers are so quick, but so relevant. You can keep the "children" in the prayer or insert your child's name, either way, there is sure to be more than a handful of them you can use each day.</span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">Here they are:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">Father, foster saving faith in each of my children and cause them to confess with their mouths that Jesus is Lord and believe with their hearts that you raised Him from the dead (Romans 10:9) Cause them to know they are saved by grace and not by their own works. (Ephesians 2:8-9)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">Lord, contend with the enemy who contends with us and save my children. (Isaiah 49:25b)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">Lord, I pray that all of my children shall be taught by You and great shall be the peace of my children. (Isaiah 54:13)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">Father, just as You have loved Your own Son, You love my children. Please cause them to abide in Your love. (John 15:9)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">Lord, ignite my children to love you with their whole heart, soul, mind, and strength. Grant them hearts to love others as much as they love themselves. (Mark 12:30-31)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">Cause this truth to take up active residence in their bones, Lord: <i>There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. </i>(Romans 8:1)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">Lord, You are for my children and not against them. (Romans 8:31) Make them more than conquerors through you who love them. (Romans 8:37)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">Lord, make my children strong and courageous. Cause them not to be driven by fear or dismay. Be outrageously obvious in Your presence with them wherever they go. (Joshua 1:9)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">Lord, hem my children in. You are behind them and You are in front of them. Hold them tightly in your hand. (Psalm 139:5)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">Lord, my children cannot exceed the bounds of where Your Spirit is willing to go. They cannot flee from your presence. Whether they ascend to the heights or sink to the depths, they are in your hands. Be the light in their darkness. (Psalm 139:7-11)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">When my children walk in the midst of trouble, Lord, preserve their lives. Stretch out Your hand against the wrath of their enemies, and deliver them with Your right hand. (Psalm 138:7)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">Lord, You will fulfill Your purpose for my children. Your steadfast love endures forever. You will not forsake the work of Your hands. (Psalm 138:8)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">Lord, let it be said that my children are blessed in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as You chose them in You before the foundation of the world, that they should be holy and blameless before you…In you they have redemption through Christ’s blood, the forgiveness of their trespasses, according to the riches of Your grace. (Ephesians 1:3-4, 7)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">Lord, stir up kindness and tenderheartedness in my children. Cause them to be forgiving people as they have been forgiven. (Ephesians 4:32)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">Lord, let no one deceive my children in any way. (2 Thessalonians 2:3a)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">Lord, when my children are held captive, cause them to come to their senses and escape the devil’s trap where they have been captured to do his will. (2 Timothy 2:26)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">Lord, according to the example of Christ, increase my children in wisdom and raise them up in favor with You and with man. (Luke 2:52)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">You, O Lord, are a shield around my children. You are their glory and the lifter of their heads. (Psalm 3:3)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">When my children are afraid, help them to put their trust in You. (Psalm 56:3)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">Keep the steps of my children steady according to Your promise, Lord. Let no sin get dominion over them. (Psalm 119:133)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">Father, be glorified in my children by causing their lives to bear much fruit and by proving them to be Christ’s disciples. (John 15:8)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">Cause my children to know the truth and the truth will set them free. (John 8:32)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">God, you are able to make all grace abound to my children, so that in all things at all times and in all ways, they may abound in every good work. (2 Corinthians 9:8)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">Lord, make my children generous people who find tremendous happiness in giving. (2 Corinthians 9:7)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">Grant my children supernatural love for the Scripture and make them men and women of God who are competent and equipped for every good work. (2Timothy 3:16-17)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">God, help my children to see honor and dignity in their sexuality. (1 Thessalonians 4:4)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">Empower them to resist sexual immorality. (1 Corinthians 6:18)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">Cause the love of my children to abound more and more with knowledge and insight so that they can approve what is best. (Philippians 1:9-10)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">Cause my children to be strong in You, Lord, and in the strength of Your might. (Ephesians 6:10)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">Lord, Jesus came that my children may have life and have it abundantly. (John 10:10)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">Father, empower my children to forget the past and press forward to what lies ahead of them in Christ. (Philippians 3:13)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">Father, help my children to do all things without grumbling or questioning, that they may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation among whom they will shine as lights in the world. Cause them to hold fast to the word of life. (Philippians 2:14-16)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">Lord, bring my children out into a broad place. Rescue them because you delight in them. (Psalm 18:19)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">Father, in Jesus’ name, I pray fervently that no weapon forged against my children will ever succeed in doing them harm. (Isaiah 54:17)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">Lord, I pray that my children will stop doubting Christ and believe. (John 20:27) Help their unbelief. (Mark 9:24)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">God, equip my children with divine power to destroy strongholds and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God. (2 Corinthians 10:4, 5)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">Lord, activate the mind of Christ in my children. (1 Corinthians 2:16)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">Lord, when my children are weak, cause the power of Christ to rest upon them. (2 Corinthians 12:9)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">Lord, deliver my children from jealousy and selfishness. (James 3:13-16)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">Father, make my children worthy of your calling and fulfill their every resolve for good and every work of faith by Your power so that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in them. (2 Thessalonians 1:11-12)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">Lord, foster trust in my children toward You and move them by Your Spirit to pour out their hearts to You because You are a refuge for them. (Psalm 62:8)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">Lord, cause my children and me to believe with all our hearts that, when we confess our sins, You are faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us of all our unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">Grant my children the privilege to know You as the Lord, the compassionate and gracious One who is slow to anger and abounding in love and faithfulness. (Exodus 34:6)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">God, guard my children against being weak-willed and susceptible to emotional predators. (2 Timothy 3:5-6)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">Father, deliver my children from strife and pride and make them wise to take advice. (Proverbs 13:10)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">Help my children not have lips of fools. (Proverbs 18:6)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">Lord, cause my children to be skilled in their work. (Proverbs 22:29)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">God, give my children learning and skill in literature and wisdom. (Daniel 1:17)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">Lord, whether my children turn to the right or to the left, grant them ears to hear a voice behind them saying, “This is the way, walk in it.” (Isaiah 30:21)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">Lord, even if my children wander far away and squander what You’ve entrusted to them, draw them home, act on Your great compassion, run to them, embrace and kiss them, and welcome them home. (Luke 15:13, 20)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">Deliver my children from anxiety, Lord, and teach them how to pray. (Philippians 4:6)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">Fill my children with the knowledge of Your will with all spiritual wisdom and understanding so that they may walk in a manner worthy of You, Lord, fully pleasing to You, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. (Colossians 1:9-10)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">Make my children thankful people. (Colossians 3:15b)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">Help my children not grow weary in a good work. Stir up trust within them to know, that, in due season, they will reap if they do not give up. (Galatians 6:9)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">Develop such delight in my children toward You that You can lavishly give them desires of their hearts. (Psalm 37:4)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">Heal my child’s broken heart, Lord, and bind up her/his wounds. (Psalm 147:3)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">Cause my children to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">Raise my children up mighty in faith, fully convinced that You are well able to do what You have promised. (Romans 4:20-21)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">Blessings, </span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">Krystal</span></b>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36422540.post-39396404374941015412016-10-08T16:34:00.000-07:002016-10-08T16:34:02.714-07:00Restful Homeschooling - is it Possible??Whether you are a new homeschooler or a veteran, you know the words "restful" and "homeschool" are not commonly used together in the same sentence. Homeschool moms know there are weeks, maybe even months of planning, prep, research and prayer involved in planning...and there is nothing restful about it! We torture ourselves over which style of homeschool, which subjects and curriculum we should use. I, myself, had just accepted the idea that I would forever spend part of my spring and summer in a state of unrest...planning the perfect school year. But as my fellow homeschoolers know, a few weeks, maybe a few months into the school year, those plans quickly blur and we head into survival mode only to repeat the cycle.<br />
My husband and I decided to homeschool for several reasons, one of the most important was to instill a foundation of faith. We are Jesus-loving-praising-God family-so in a confusing, crazy world, we have chosen to homeschool. I truly believe my role as mom and homeschooler is first to plant the seeds of faith in my children, but how is that acheived when all the other subjects have to be covered as well? I found a good place to start. I have been watching, reading and following Sarah Makenzie at <a href="http://amongstlovelythings.com/" target="_blank">amongstlovelythings.com </a>for the last year or so. Sarah recently came out with a book titled, <a href="http://amongstlovelythings.com/rest/" target="_blank">Teaching From Rest: A Homeschoolers Guide to Unshakeable Peace</a>. This book was life changing for me as a homeschooler! The book is an ebook and right now you can get it for less than $5 through Amazon when you listen with Audible. Go to <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Teaching-Rest-Homeschoolers-Guide-Unshakable/dp/B01LYK611I/ref=mt_audio_download?_encoding=UTF8&me=" target="_blank">here</a> to purchase. Sarah also has a podcast which I love as well. It's so good to hear from other mommas who are in the trenches with you.<br />
On that topic, podcasts. These are seriously my favorite thing right now. I was doing some canning this week and I just popped one side of my headphones in my ear (so I can always hear what the munchkins are up too) and work away in my kitchen or driving down the road with it plugged into my aux port. I find them so encouraging! Here are a few of my favorites: Read-Aloud Revival, Schole Sisters, God Centered Mom and the Happy Hour with Jamie Ivey.<br />
Finally, after a year of being in school full-time myself, homeschooling and working full-time, I have finally reunited with my local mommy friends on occasion. Ladies, our social lives are important in helping each other to encourage one another! I am currently participating in a bible study by Jen Wilken on The Sermon on the Mount. One of the other homeschool veteran moms in my group gave us each a copy of Parent-Prayers Armed with Scripture. It is a list of scripture to help jumpstart your prayer time for your kids. It's excellent! Please let me know with a comment below if you would like a copy and I would be happy to email you the list.<br />
Be encouraged moms! We are all in this together and God has a unique plan for each of your homeschools!!<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36422540.post-86072008524265786392016-09-09T20:04:00.002-07:002016-09-09T20:04:54.269-07:00Homeschooling Thorndikes<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Our journey has changed just a little over the last three years...we are no longer Oregon Thorndikes, we are now what we lovingly refer to ourselves as, the NodakThorndikes. We moved to North Dakota, my husband changed careers and we started homeschooling our children. I may give you all the nitty-gritty details on the road to ND later, but for now, let's talk homeschool.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I'll spare you the "whys" of our choice to homeschool in detail, but for now just know it was all a positive path-no disgruntled parents, no hating the school system or terrible experiences. We were guided through prayer and our faith in God to ultimately choose homeschool for this season of our lives. Please know we regularly re-evaluate and continuously pray over our decision!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Today I thought I would share what curriculum we will be using this year.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We are trying a few new companies this year and I am very excited about it. Now that we are heading into our third year of school, I'm starting to get the hang of customizing our curriculum for each kid. (There are several links below)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/easy_find?Ntt=handwriting+without+tears&N=0&Ntk=keywords&action=Search&Ne=0&event=ESRCQ&nav_search=1&cms=1" target="_blank">Handwriting Without Tears</a>, Cursive (Younger kids) Printing (Older kids)</span><br />
<a href="http://www.growingwithgrammar.com/1gwgProduct_Page.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Growing with Grammer</span></a><br />
<a href="http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/easy_find?Ntt=explode+the+code&N=0&Ntk=keywords&action=Search&Ne=0&event=ESRCQ&nav_search=1&cms=1" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Explode the Code</span></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.christianbook.com/page/homeschool/apologia?active_tab=Homeschool&navcat=sub|Homeschool|Apologia" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Apologia Who is God? What We Believe (Bible)</span></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.christianbook.com/page/homeschool/a-beka?navcat=Homeschool|A-Beka-Book" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A Beka Language 3</span></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/easy_find?Ntt=all+things+fun+and+fascinating&N=0&Ntk=keywords&action=Search&Ne=0&event=ESRCQ&nav_search=1&cms=1" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">IEW All Things Fun and Fascinating-Writing</span></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/easy_find?Ntt=a+reason+for+spelling&N=0&Ntk=keywords&action=Search&Ne=0&event=ESRCQ&nav_search=1&cms=1" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A Reason for Spelling</span></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.christianbook.com/page/homeschool/math/math-u-see?kw=math%20u%20see&mt=e&dv=c&event=PPCSRC&p=1018818&gclid=CjwKEAjwu8m-BRDM8KTcjdj8qy0SJACdjSZpmXvoD0B3Rj4MtkaiAjaiv7359aJsNFi6VY8P0WX3nRoCNuLw_wcB&utm_expid=918535-142.xoYxhIqrSx6qmMGbM34HLw.0&utm_referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Math-U-See</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://readingeggs.com/" target="_blank">Reading Eggs</a>- This is a great tool I am using for both the younger kids. Hosanna struggles with Dyslexia and reading has been difficult for her. Reading Eggs is a website that assesses where the child is via a placement test and then the child plays reading and spelling games. I have a coupon code for a free 4 week trial <a href="http://sites01.marketingstudio.com/etrack.ashx?M=1581.1C22F946-E395-40B0-A6BB-647507299663&L=1072701&URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.readingeggs.com%2fshare" target="_blank">HERE</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Science:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I teach all the kids our Science as a group and then use age-appropriate activities for each of them. We love <a href="http://www.christianbook.com/page/homeschool/apologia?navcat=Homeschool|Science|Apologia" target="_blank">Apologia</a>! We are currently finishing up Zoology Exploring Creation Land Animals of the Sixth Day. We are about two-thirds the way through it and will continue into the next year. Once we finish we will begin Apologia Human Anatomy & Physiology. Jeremiah will begin the Apologia Exploring Creation General Science.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">History is done similarly to science, as we go over it as a group. We will be finishing up our <a href="http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/easy_find?Ntt=notgrass&N=0&Ntk=keywords&action=Search&Ne=0&event=ESRCG&nav_search=1&cms=1" target="_blank">Notgrass America the Beautiful 1000-1877</a>. We will also cover the process of the election and government for September and October. Once we finish up Notgrass we will most likely begin either <a href="http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/easy_find?Ntt=mystery+of+history&N=0&Ntk=keywords&action=Search&Ne=0&event=ESRCQ&nav_search=1&cms=1" target="_blank">Mystery of History</a> or <a href="http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/easy_find?Ntt=story+of+the+world&N=0&Ntk=keywords&action=Search&Ne=0&event=ESRCQ&nav_search=1&cms=1" target="_blank">Story of the World</a> Middle Ages. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I am very excited about our upcoming year! Email me if you want more information.</span><br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36422540.post-58774454282567202142013-06-20T14:59:00.002-07:002013-06-20T14:59:19.185-07:00Summer adventuresJohn and I recently took a long-overdue trip by ourselves...literally...just the two of us. It was AMAZING! We totally love our kids, but it had been over three years since we spent more than 24 hours away from our kids. I think it is healthy and important that we take care of our relationship so that when those precious gems of children are long gone and living their lives, John and I still want to live with each other. So, the kiddos left (a day early) on a camping adventure with Nana & Papa and John and I got on a plane.<br />
Back story- John has traveled tons more than I have, but he had never been to Southern California or really seen the summery side of the Pacific Ocean-Oregon and Washington coasts tend to be cold and blustery most of the time. So what is in Cali, you ask?? Well John has a very close and best friend from his college days, Adam. John and Adam had not been in the same room since Adam's wedding 5 years ago. So I decided that it would be really fun to spend the weekend visiting Adam and his gorgeous wife Gee in LA where they live. Bonus, my Uncle and his family live in the area too, so we took an opportunity to stay with them as well!<br />
It took John a good couple hours once we landed, got the rental car and drove to my family's place to really start to relax. We spent a good day and half with Adam & Gee exploring all the fun in LA and aside from me getting a little ill (junk food not ok on vacay-lesson learned) we had a total blast!<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36422540.post-74429236412729539842013-02-10T00:40:00.000-08:002013-02-10T00:40:19.639-08:00Nice Surprises<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>Gotta love a quick visit from a friend! Our friend Scott and his buddy Rex stopped by on their way through town today. It was great to visit and the kiddos loved playing with Mr. Scott :)</b></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5rTqbfOuS58/URdcK8ExctI/AAAAAAAAGZE/LGQ3NlUbYOY/s1600/IMG_0229.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5rTqbfOuS58/URdcK8ExctI/AAAAAAAAGZE/LGQ3NlUbYOY/s640/IMG_0229.jpg" title="John, Jeremiah, Alison, Hosanna, Sam & Rex" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36422540.post-32035715720203440682012-10-06T23:46:00.001-07:002012-10-06T23:46:55.601-07:00Menu PlanningIn an effort to cutback a little on our monthly spending, as well as help keep me on a schedule of sorts with school and work...I created about a three week menu and shopped for most of it at once. Please keep in mind that fresher ingredients (like Kale) need to be purchased that week or frozen :)<br />
Hopefully this list will help you get an idea of the things we have been eating and loving. I also included the links for the websites where I found them. I try to cook just a little extra for the bigger kiddos lunches the next day as well. Stretching our meals for six into eight is just that...a stretch, but not impossible-thank you Jesus! Some recipes I tweaked for ease...and affordability. Also, I try to use my crockpot as much as possible, if the recipe can be tweaked so I can use the crock-I make it happen.<br />
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<strong>Baked Chicken Thighs and Acorn Squash</strong> - my own recipe <br />
Season chicken with s&p, cut acorn in wedges and season with s&p, garlic and butter. Bake at 375 until done. <br />
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<strong>"Spaghetti" with homemade sauce in the crock pot </strong>- my own recipe<br />
I throw hamburger with s&p, cumin and garlic in the crock on low, add two of the Organic Marinara jars from Safeway in and stir every so often through the day. Sometime during the day (usually lunch time) I pop a Spaghetti Squash halved with butter and s&p in the oven until it starts to soften-just run a fork on the flesh and if it comes apart and looks like spaghetti, its ready-be careful not to over cook. Sometimes this can even be done the day or evening ahead and refrigerated. An hour before dinner, take the "Spaghetti noodles" and mix them into your sauce. Serve with a nice green salad!<br />
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<strong>Indian Chicken -<a href="http://www.easypaleo.com/2011/11/23/food-diary-indian-chicken/" target="_blank">From EasyPaleo</a></strong><br />
This was a definite favorite!<br />
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<strong>Bean-less Chili with Sweet Potato Wedges - <a href="http://everydaypaleo.com/?s=bean-less+chili" target="_blank">From EveryDayPaleo</a></strong><br />
Perfect for the crock-pot! This recipe will last for several meals and can be stretched :)<br />
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<strong>Coconut-Almond Crusted Chicken</strong> - <a href="http://www.easypaleo.com/2012/05/19/food-diary-coconut-almond-crusted-chicken/" target="_blank"><strong>From EasyPaleo</strong></a><br />
This was really good, but it didn't make us jump up and down.<br />
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<strong>Meatballs -</strong><a href="http://paleoonabudget.com/2012/01/05/meatballs-sauce-green-beans-oh-my/" target="_blank"><strong>From PaleoOnABudget</strong></a><strong> </strong><span style="font-size: x-small;">(This website is awesome. She has weekly meal plans so you can see what they are eating and she frequently breaks cost down)</span><br />
My kiddos loved these. I served them on cooked spinach. I think they would really love them even for a snack.<br />
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<strong>Smokey Roast - <a href="http://everydaypaleo.com/2011/05/13/smokey-roast/" target="_blank">From EverydayPaleo</a></strong><br />
Can you say amazing? I put this in the crockpot and by dinner time I could smell it in the driveway when I was coming home.<br />
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<strong>Chicken Soup - <a href="http://paleoonabudget.com/2012/09/21/chicken-soup/" target="_blank">From PaleoOnABudget</a></strong><br />
I had this on the menu and it happen to fall on a day that was fairly chilly outside, so it was perfect. John had come home with two Grouse from his hunting trip the day before, so I just substituted the Grouse for the Chicken. It was awesome!<br />
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<strong>Secret Burgers - <a href="http://www.latestinpaleo.com/blog/2011/5/4/secret-liver-burgers-the-liver-recipe-for-everyone-who-hates.html#disqus_thread" target="_blank">From LatestInPaleo</a></strong><br />
I couldn't get liver at our grocery store, so I just skipped the liver part and we topped our burgers with bacon, sauerkraut, homemade mayo and homemade BBQ sauce(I have my own recipe). I served it with spinach salad.<br />
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<strong>Roasted Brisket with Carrots - <a href="http://www.easypaleo.com/2012/03/24/food-diary-see-what-you-can-do-with-brisket/" target="_blank">From EasyPaleo</a></strong><br />
Ok...so I didn't use brisket for this because it was really expensive when I shopped. So, I got a great deal on a value back of Round Steaks and just used them instead. I stick them in the crockpot and by dinner they were falling apart. Also, I added Sweet Potato wedges with the carrots and roasted them together.<br />
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<strong>Sweet Potato Chili -<a href="http://paleoonabudget.com/2012/08/20/sweet-potato-chili/" target="_blank">From PaleoOnABudget</a></strong><br />
Hands down...our favorite so far! The kids and I couldn't get enough of this chili. One of my tricks, instead of a traditional sour cream topping- I put a can of coconut milk in the fridge the day before or sometimes just when I get it home from the store I pop it in there. Then, when it's chili time, I open the can, pour off the coconut water and all the cream is left. I just scoop a nice round spoonful out and put it on top of the chili...soooo good!!! <br />
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<strong>Cubed Steak with Eggs and Green Beans with Bacon - <a href="http://paleoonabudget.com/2012/09/10/weekly-menu-week-of-9912/" target="_blank">From PaleoOnABudget</a></strong><br />
Instead of the broccoli the recipe calls for I cooked up some frozen green beans and put some crispy bacon on top(I had cooked it earlier and it was left over in the fridge).<br />
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<strong>Chicken and Spinach - <a href="http://paleoonabudget.com/2012/06/29/easy-chicken-spinach/" target="_blank">From PaleoOnABudget</a></strong><br />
This is coming up this week on our menu...it looks good!<br />
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<strong>Kale and Tomato Soup - <a href="http://paleoonabudget.com/2012/02/15/kale-tomatoish-soup/" target="_blank">From PaleoOnABudget</a></strong><br />
This is coming up this week on our menu...it looks good!<br />
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<strong>Pork and Spinach - <a href="http://paleoonabudget.com/2012/07/12/pork-spinach/" target="_blank">From PaleoOnABudget</a></strong><br />
This is coming up this week on our menu...it looks good!<br />
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<strong>Sweet Potato Chicken Salad - </strong><a href="http://paleoonabudget.com/2012/04/19/sweet-potato-chicken-salad-noms/" target="_blank"><strong>From PaleoOnABudget</strong></a><strong> </strong><br />
This is coming up this week on our menu...it looks good!<br />
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Hopefully this helps and you enjoy the food!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36422540.post-29870902636644234092012-09-14T20:35:00.001-07:002012-09-14T20:35:32.911-07:00Rodeo time<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We went to the Pendleton Round-Up this week with the kids. This was the first time we went as a whole family. <br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36422540.post-61290361861859687952012-08-26T22:12:00.002-07:002012-08-26T22:12:24.267-07:00School starts in a little over a week.....YAY! Then will be the beginings of "birthday season" in our home. I can't wait for all the fun and the memories to be made!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36422540.post-39148114305613289412012-05-01T10:18:00.003-07:002012-05-01T10:18:39.276-07:00FOOOODDD!!!<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
We love food in our house. I'm not ashamed. The smell of bacon, steak or fried onions on the grill makes ma salivate. Here is something I am going to have to try this week for sure:</div>
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<a href="http://www.paleotable.com/2011/01/grilled-flank-steak-with-onions-avocado.html">http://www.paleotable.com/2011/01/grilled-flank-steak-with-onions-avocado.html</a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36422540.post-8202330159408321512012-04-19T20:11:00.003-07:002012-04-19T20:35:37.707-07:00GoalsHow many times have you set a goal and given up? I am sure I do it almost daily. I'm gonna get x, y, z done today....fail. I'm not going to get frustrated with the kids today...fail. I'm going to take time for me today....fail. At the end of the day I look back and thank the Lord for getting me through another day and that's when He reminds me that it wasn't a fail, it was a success. I am reminded that He never gives me more than I can handle and that each day is training for better patience, stronger faith and unfailing love and grace. Today was one of those days...it started out fantastic and then boom...fail. I am going to be using a healthy dose of grace tonight, for sure!<br /><br />Now that I have that off my chest...on to my fantastic morning: I was getting ready for a morning at the fire department. As I put my uniform on I realized that I had to use the last hole on my belt. The last time I was able to do that with this belt...I was in high school. Ever since our family made the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Paleo</span> switch, we have only weighed ourselves a couple of times. I had not weighed for at least a month....so I did it. I was shocked. My weight is 3 lbs over what my driver's license says...from high school! I can't believe that I have been eating - a lot- and living life and my body is loving it enough to be <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">efficient</span>. I have never felt better and I NEVER thought getting down to this weight would be this easy....well, it's not easy, but it's worth it!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36422540.post-41387821673817421172012-03-01T08:52:00.004-08:002012-03-01T09:23:45.024-08:00Ridiculousness<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZveRsGUXqdwdBc67N32B8k9F4S8BcD9oXPwau1WfqjBE9sZ0u3Io6zFq2hBmS9oSKD92hzK6EnIjfzPRobc5Wwt1oKmyt3I3tmAHbCtSmnf8-nqaETKyGHkPxfTY1dkjxO-ow/s1600/wierdxmas.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 283px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5714980407655608306" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZveRsGUXqdwdBc67N32B8k9F4S8BcD9oXPwau1WfqjBE9sZ0u3Io6zFq2hBmS9oSKD92hzK6EnIjfzPRobc5Wwt1oKmyt3I3tmAHbCtSmnf8-nqaETKyGHkPxfTY1dkjxO-ow/s400/wierdxmas.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div align="center">(I love this pic...it's what John and I would probably look like if we worked out together!)</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Well I think it's obvious that my blogging skills are lacking. Who has a blog and never posts in it? Oh wait...me! LOL</div><br /><br /><br /><div>Our family has still been going strong on the Paleo lifestyle. We love how we feel and the energy we have to make it through each day. I love that I don't have to have an energy booster or special supplement to get me going each day. Don't get me wrong, I still love my coffee, but if I skip it I can still function.</div><br /><br /><br /><div>John and I decided to step on the scale yesterday just to see where we were. Keep in mind we have a dumb scale that doesn't always like to work properly. Also, we hadn't stepped on the scale in probably two months. Since last March John and I have lost a combined total of ......drumroll please.......90 lbs! John lost approximatly 60lbs and I have lost 30lbs (since October). We are so happy and this has just further confirmed the lifestyle we have chosen to live. </div><br /><br /><br /><div>John is preparing to undergo knee surgery in the near future and I am excited to see how quickly he will heal now that we eat such an anti-inflammatory diet. I am getting a list of anti-inflammatory and healing foods together so we can be ready. </div><br /><br /><br /><div>I decided to cutback on my school hours this next term. Instead of my 20 credits I am currently taking I will have 15 and I will be assisting in my dad's class. I am looking forward to the small, but important slow down. </div><br /><br /><br /><div>I hope everyone is ready for spring...if it ever comes! Happy Spring peeps :)</div><br /><br /><br /><div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36422540.post-77705320970541853992012-01-30T14:26:00.000-08:002012-01-30T14:28:27.497-08:00I can't believe I let two weeks go by without blogging....eh, oh well. :) We celebrated Judah's birthday yesterday. I can't believe he is already 3...where has the time gone??? He is such a cutie and I love every moment of our lives. We celebrated with lunch with my parents and yummy Gluten Free Chocolate cupcakes with a Paleo chocolate frosting....YUM! Hopefully I will post pics asap...but at this rate, who know! LOLUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36422540.post-54163521404079230372012-01-16T20:15:00.000-08:002012-01-16T20:41:50.638-08:00Wowza WeekThis last week was my first week back to school since the holidays. Oh my was it a doozy! I have 20 credits this term and only one of those classes am I really truly concerned about passing...anybody that loves math is welcome to help me with my Math 111 class!! My other classes, for those truly interested, are First Session of Anatomy & Physiology, Writing 121, EMS Rescue & Transportation and the Advanced Emergency Medical Technician(This one is 6 months long!). John has been amazing, as usual, with the running of our home and managing the children while I have been pulling my hair out trying to get used to the new schedule. I was completely unorganized this time around and I didn't even get my books ordered until Wednesday...terrible, I know! The biggest problem I had this term was actually finances. Although I receive a Pell Grant that covers all my tuition and books, plus some, this term posed a challenge. I wanted to take the AEMT course, but it is not a degree-seeking course which means...I have to pay for it. After I applied my leftover financial aid, which was required by the college, I had no money left for books and a small remaining balance for tuition. I was feeling very stressed about the situation, but knew God wanted me to take this course as it had been on my heart. Early in the fall, I learned I was going to qualify for a scholarship from a neighboring community hospital, the amount was only for half the total scholarship, $205. This scholarship had not been applied to my account yet and although it wouldn't cover all my books...every little bit helps. I called the person in charge of the scholarships at the college and left her a voice message....then I went to the car and cried. This was the first time in the last year and half that I was really unsure of how we were going to get me through school. I knew God had it in control though, so I wiped away the tears and went about my morning. An hour or so later I had missed a call and had a voice message...it was from the scholarship people. The woman left me a message saying that she would be applying my scholarship that day and get this...she had looked at my schedule and felt that I needed the entire scholarship of $510 since I had such a full schedule and was so hard working!!! I couldn't believe it, so.....I cried some more. God is so amazing. I was able to pay for all my tuition and my books without spending a dime out-of-pocket!!<br /><br />Here is the next great thing about this story...I found out after I had been awarded the scholarship that it was a memorial scholarship for a dear family friend who had passed away the year before. My husband had known the woman and her family for many years when my father-in-law was in ministry years ago. John and I had later re-connected with the family when we first were married and attended the same church. The woman had been hit by a delivery truck in a horrific accident and survived for some time before passing away. She was a woman who was driven by her faith and family, served her community and was a friend to all. I was overwhelmingly honored when I learned I had received this scholarship. God is SO good.<br /><br />Obviously, I had a somewhat stressful week...so eating was an interesting experience. I had decided at the beginning of the year to do a sugar detox. After about a week, I decided that since I had just started the Paleo thing in early December and detoxed already, the more intense detox was just making more freaked out, especially with all the stresses of school and finances. I bailed on the detox Day 8. I have to say that this hard-working girl HATES not finishing things I start. It makes me bonkers. I am an all or nothing type. So, I have just worked extra hard to stick to the Paleo...which I have to say, has been fairly easy...especially since I got rid of all the non-Paleo items in our home :)<br /><br />The food: Most days we start with eggs, veggies and fruit. I have nuts/seeds for a snack or some dried fruit. Lunches are usually leftovers from the night before-if there are any left! Dinners we have tried lately- Shepard's Pie, Spaghetti, Salmon, Steak, Chicken Thighs and a veggie fry, Spinach salad, Hot wings and potato fries, Turkey &Mashed sweet potatoes.<br /><br />I haven't officially started working out yet. I felt like I wanted to do one thing at a time-first get a handle on how I eat, then incorporate some exercise. I have been craving the need to run. I want to run, I think about it, I dream about it. The problem, the last few times I have set out to do it...the weather or schedule hasn't cooperated!! I have to make it happen soon...but the snow just started falling today. I guess there will always be something to get us distracted or off-course, right? So my goal for the rest of January is to at least go a running a few times! I really want to get myself fit again so I can try to get back into the fire fighting (didn't know I used to be a fire fighter, did you?? lol).<br /><br />Good luck with all your goals this week! I am down close to 20 pounds and at least 2 sizes and this is week 6 of Paleo!!!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36422540.post-3635963600130265262012-01-05T20:54:00.000-08:002012-01-05T21:05:06.107-08:00A day in my lifeI thought I would just do a short run down of what I ate today.<br /><br />Breakfast: 2 eggs, scrammbled with onion and a handfull of spinich, 2 slices bacon, coffee<br /><br />Lunch: Leftover <a href="http://www.bendwellnessdoctor.com/be-well-recipes-1/">Kremer's</a> Cold Killer Soup<br /><br />Dinner: Paleo <a href="http://www.bendwellnessdoctor.com/be-well-recipes-1/">Lasagna</a><br /><br />I didn't snack today because I was feeling like I might be getting a cold AND I have been doing a Sugar Detox which I think is why I felt icky.<br /><br />Here is what the kids had:<br /><br />Breakfast: "Cereal" made of pulsed Almonds and cranberries and topped with Coconut milk.<br />Snack: Banana<br /><br />Lunchbox(older kids): Leftover Soup, Carrot stix with Paleo mayo, trail mix(I made)<br />Little kids: Nitrate free turkey, <a href="http://www.alldayidreamaboutfood.com/2011/09/homemade-gummy-fruit-snacks-healthy.html">fruit gummies </a>, sliced orange, scrambled egg<br /><br />Little kids snack: Almonds and cranberries; later Sliced apple and almond butter.<br /><br />Big Kids After School Snack: Organic Golden Apple<br /><br />Dinner: <a href="http://www.bendwellnessdoctor.com/be-well-recipes-1/">Paleo Lasagna</a><br /><br />Nothing to fancy-schmancy....just real food!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36422540.post-91097460625273599652012-01-03T08:29:00.000-08:002012-01-03T08:54:56.929-08:00What to do about those kids!As I have previously shared, and some may already know, our family is no stranger to a somewhat restrictive diet. We have waivered from time to time how strictly we followed, but nonetheless, it was there. For many years our kids ate little to no wheat, minimal amounts of refined or processed sugar, and rarely drank cow's milk. I used to feel very bad about not letting have the "fun" stuff. But, I came to a realization after this summer: it's not fun. After letting my kids chow down on hot dogs and ice cream, candy or summer desserts, their moods changed almost instantly. They would whine and cry over the stupidest things. They became disobedient and rude. My oldest son, who was 7 at the time, would get emotional and then quickly get a headache in his eyes and a constant place on his head. Shortly after telling me his head was hurting, we are talking 20-30 minutes, he would begin to vomit-for hours. In the last year, this has probably happened at least half a dozen times. He would be so sick sometimes, that he would have to have IV fluids. Looking back, I can specifically remember what led up to each episode- eating the "fun" stuff.<br /><br />We spent some time talking to our kids about how they were feeling. Other than the emotional and behavioral changes, they would also get diarrhea, headaches, and just feel icky. We decided as a family that this wasn't good. The kids agreed and were on board with changing things too.<br /><br />This week I was trying to come up with some good ideas for the kid's lunchboxes. I stumbled upon this <a href="http://www.primalkitchen.blogspot.com/">blog.</a> Not only was their family story great, but they were a Christian family just like ours trying to live not only a healthy spiritual life, but a healthy physical life. Plus, she boldly states that her kitchen is rarely clean...I love that!<br /><br />In her blog, Mrs. Grok has posted over 140 lunchbox posts, which include a picture and list of what she made her two preK girls and sometimes her hubby for lunch. It gave me so many great ideas! Right now we aren't doing dairy, but their family is ok with whole and raw milk cheese and yogurt(I am hoping after another month of cleaning out our bodies we can slowly add this as well). I have taken some of her ideas and tweaked them for my kids the last two days and so far, so good.<br /><br />The biggest thing I have found for our family, is that we may not eat Paleo/Primal by the textbook at all times, but we are pretty darn close and that is just perfect for me! We will learn as we go along and even if we don't do things perfectly, we are still eating better than we ever have in our lives and if you EVER see me in the grocery store and I have anything that resembles a box or jar or can of processed crap....slap me.<br />(There is a link to the above mentioned site on my blog list also. Right over there ---->>)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36422540.post-17872667393134273702012-01-02T16:28:00.000-08:002012-01-02T16:56:30.563-08:00No doubting here...<span style="font-family:georgia;">These last few days have been interesting. I haven't really missed the "bad" foods, I feel great, I am still losing....I am still waiting for the other shoe to drop. Why can't I just be satisfied and call it a success? Because I am woman. I have this ridiculous habit of second-guessing my success at most things. I find myself wondering if I really can achieve my scholastic goals, home goals, relational goals and yes, most <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">definitely</span> my health goals. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">The truth is....I am <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">successful</span>. I am awesome wife and best friend to my husband. I am an amazing mother to my four children. I am a caring and thoughtful friend to those who are close to me. I am a hard-working, Dean's List earning college student. I am a freshman to the world of <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">Paleo</span>, but I have been successful this far. I have not gained one pound, I have not felt worse than before <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">Paleo</span>, I have slept better than before I had kids(a miracle in it's self).</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">I am a beautiful, wonderful, joyful gift and child of God. Only He knows the purpose He has for me, therefore I will continue to seek Him in everything and trust that He has led us down this path for His purpose only. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Isn't it great to know that someone greater and bigger than you are is there to guide you through every step?! </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">Ok</span>...now to the food, because we all know it's about food!</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">In one of my previous posts I talked about our awesome deal on turkeys. Well, we called around to a couple of our friends who had smokers and found out that in their specific smokers, the temperature wouldn't be high enough to kill the bacteria. So on to Plan B, smoke them in our oven. I had some leftover Hickory chips from a smoking project this summer. I soaked the chips in water overnight and then removed the liquid the next morning. I set the oven (ours is gas) to 250 degrees and put the turkey in a roasting pan with a little of the brine liquid and placed it on the rack above the chips in the oven. Every couple hours John or I would baste the turkey with it's juices. After about 5 hours, I checked the temp of the turkey and decided to increase the oven temp to 275 degrees. An hour later, the turkey temp was still not where it needed to be so I bumped the oven up to 300 degrees for one last hour. Finally! The internal temp of the turkey reached 165 degrees.<br />This is the turkey about half way through the process.</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB2ZW95SFDt0cRT2ROiRv8b0jxaT6sGP0Mp3bs7BbMgPeCH11b0dYeqZ8GMZHr4LLC8hobGOSeOkwyQNC8bP8WmG5ceyCVAlteTzHZxqQYuhBtJt9Txy7rHSnIrqkItz_xnLFp/s1600/DSCN3421.JPG"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693197740509230274" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB2ZW95SFDt0cRT2ROiRv8b0jxaT6sGP0Mp3bs7BbMgPeCH11b0dYeqZ8GMZHr4LLC8hobGOSeOkwyQNC8bP8WmG5ceyCVAlteTzHZxqQYuhBtJt9Txy7rHSnIrqkItz_xnLFp/s400/DSCN3421.JPG" /></span></a><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">This is the finished product! Yummy!!</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ13wAcRqYxAw596ITbE-0gM3kZgxo5IblFhubvzJyOxkwZwK6MC3zpu1ZvjD_tKO6WfEHnMTAgTNsnqjVq9aDOYFa9hsZCmr531gh1IkJPByLdwD1A1mLdNoFdWONei3wS81A/s1600/DSCN3424.JPG"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693197744177773410" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ13wAcRqYxAw596ITbE-0gM3kZgxo5IblFhubvzJyOxkwZwK6MC3zpu1ZvjD_tKO6WfEHnMTAgTNsnqjVq9aDOYFa9hsZCmr531gh1IkJPByLdwD1A1mLdNoFdWONei3wS81A/s400/DSCN3424.JPG" /></span></a><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Our lunch yesterday was <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">soooo</span> yummy! We got some all natural Hot Chicken Sausage at the store and made a burger out of it. I took two avocados and a tablespoon of <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">Paleo</span> mayo with some lime and made the guacamole/mayo on top. We had to have some veggies too and since I need to go to the store all I had was some lettuce and mushrooms I sauteed in the drippings from the burger.</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhge4MnZonBBm73h5rtGdKuqJUwIM0XPn6ASbTT6pBrzsuSwee35SMK2ftQrNKCtNvB7VU07NSGeitPmQJcdwp64oZANIN658AICCsXuj-SmTv-Zi4b3sK9lQoCUZkEYR6J-8Ut/s1600/DSCN3409.JPG"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693197733742020562" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhge4MnZonBBm73h5rtGdKuqJUwIM0XPn6ASbTT6pBrzsuSwee35SMK2ftQrNKCtNvB7VU07NSGeitPmQJcdwp64oZANIN658AICCsXuj-SmTv-Zi4b3sK9lQoCUZkEYR6J-8Ut/s400/DSCN3409.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><br />And finally....Sunday morning breakfast was so good-At least that's what the kids said! I decided to <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">fore go</span> the sweet pancakes. I made Applesauce Pancakes and eggs.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error">AppleSauce</span> Pancakes</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">1/2 C applesauce, unsweetened</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">2-3 eggs</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">1/4 C almond meal(adjust for <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">consistency</span>)</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Cinnamon to taste<br /><br /></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyGQVIKkcBYrv_QdFAiOCUinjvRD75zbd32B9HP407VztmF_mkwBQN6pBKpDBnifONDyjJ_ialBgdZ0jqlonoM33Q3AfA1VNcuFd4W47e__32IJMDJI1ze_-flz6w2FT_0OIhW/s1600/DSCN3407.JPG"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693197728478720834" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyGQVIKkcBYrv_QdFAiOCUinjvRD75zbd32B9HP407VztmF_mkwBQN6pBKpDBnifONDyjJ_ialBgdZ0jqlonoM33Q3AfA1VNcuFd4W47e__32IJMDJI1ze_-flz6w2FT_0OIhW/s400/DSCN3407.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><br /></span><br /><br /><div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36422540.post-70957409849805872592011-12-31T18:55:00.000-08:002011-12-31T19:00:30.917-08:00It's a Small World After All People!So over the last few days I have learned of more and more people enjoying a Paleo lifestyle and surviving:) I just learned of an amazing women in the Bend area. She has helped me understand the medical side of some of my children's troubles. Cassie Kremer and her husband, Jason-the Wellness Doctor, have some really great tips and recipes on their website. I have been working on our menu for the week and several of their recipes have made my list. If you live in the Bend area, be sure to visit them. If you don't, then definitly check out the website for the recipes and other tips!!<br /><a href="http://www.bendwellnessdoctor.com/be-well-recipes-1/">http://www.bendwellnessdoctor.com/be-well-recipes-1/</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36422540.post-45789853048413318242011-12-31T14:42:00.000-08:002011-12-31T15:07:54.589-08:00Some foodI thought I would share some of the food we have been eating the last couple days. Keep in mind, I am merely a home cook, so no comments about the lack of perfection! LOL<br /><br />Sweet potato fries cooked in butter and coconut oil<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQz4FyqGhheSGB71Sgnpwukpwp52SgGEw1tOpFkBUyIVpu4c-lLMcJ5fugikwqhgWa2jD7h54o5SIB5e4c0eexr-jvGSUMMphoY5LkClvfnCT7JruP2QYqWKC98ErWDpJuSVxf/s1600/DSCN3384.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692428633161191458" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQz4FyqGhheSGB71Sgnpwukpwp52SgGEw1tOpFkBUyIVpu4c-lLMcJ5fugikwqhgWa2jD7h54o5SIB5e4c0eexr-jvGSUMMphoY5LkClvfnCT7JruP2QYqWKC98ErWDpJuSVxf/s320/DSCN3384.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br />Turkey leftovers and pork sausage. The "dip" is honey with cayenne (thanks Bethany for the idea) my hubby loved this "dip".<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBCcPKkLSWxXCu2GgzQKNMlPdRcoxC0uqduoL4hs_qS8VJPGBjMv6XfFMBKlty5XqCtYBYH9DtsGk1nnrLozXb45JEWpMYb8_9uHZnCS9V1spGEMkoOQVM8hNt4NEs-ZKTYZgt/s1600/DSCN3386.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692428625254386514" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBCcPKkLSWxXCu2GgzQKNMlPdRcoxC0uqduoL4hs_qS8VJPGBjMv6XfFMBKlty5XqCtYBYH9DtsGk1nnrLozXb45JEWpMYb8_9uHZnCS9V1spGEMkoOQVM8hNt4NEs-ZKTYZgt/s320/DSCN3386.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br />This is delicious. It's steamed califlower that I pureed with a smidge of coconut milk and butter. It's sooooo wonderful!! Our whole family loves it!<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTCbOuUbkeE9joF1-lfchSsNDF4qQJbydokmMfApx55zm1fTFCWeDM-8B41yzzo5GFBSb80k_eaUXZUyDbIAQ1k24Zo9yW04MzPXx1uyIMxQhax03zsBoHvo3jVBALA5vehlSa/s1600/DSCN3387.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692428618346593954" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTCbOuUbkeE9joF1-lfchSsNDF4qQJbydokmMfApx55zm1fTFCWeDM-8B41yzzo5GFBSb80k_eaUXZUyDbIAQ1k24Zo9yW04MzPXx1uyIMxQhax03zsBoHvo3jVBALA5vehlSa/s320/DSCN3387.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br />The meat of two of our four turkeys. I roasted these and took the meat off the bone to freeze for later use. I shared our turkey story <a href="http://johnandkrys.blogspot.com/2011/12/great-deals.html">here</a>.</div><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG6eZ6ye1Qdmp6FMDghX3FvKrDhKFylOQ2ASIWHXsrFcNHp6yQKu7dEGVZ_3epvEAHZrCxhjfXkjzY2hnAae5z1rrsahkYfIahIW1BtsFIhyJTGZsomq1P7v8nEE6F8DF8DyE8/s1600/DSCN3390.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692428616159757010" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG6eZ6ye1Qdmp6FMDghX3FvKrDhKFylOQ2ASIWHXsrFcNHp6yQKu7dEGVZ_3epvEAHZrCxhjfXkjzY2hnAae5z1rrsahkYfIahIW1BtsFIhyJTGZsomq1P7v8nEE6F8DF8DyE8/s320/DSCN3390.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br />This is what was left of the two turkeys. I am making more stock from them later this week. For now they are stored in the fridge.</div><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis62u24k0qjzsCNebKhkQKNUf5jA11Ff540Rx_tZ7YRL2MoOQIuARJ1I7zvXXRaksZwr2fhcr4T_GNgD-FvnW6URE97vs7Z3FwPVOz4iSi1t3-tKPRFqP6zgkf8C0BIEmGXMJf/s1600/DSCN3391.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692428173008505874" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis62u24k0qjzsCNebKhkQKNUf5jA11Ff540Rx_tZ7YRL2MoOQIuARJ1I7zvXXRaksZwr2fhcr4T_GNgD-FvnW6URE97vs7Z3FwPVOz4iSi1t3-tKPRFqP6zgkf8C0BIEmGXMJf/s320/DSCN3391.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br />This is the turkey stock I made from the two turkeys that are soaking in brine. Looks so yummy and smelled amazing too.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbw1DU-8faADX9_9AzawLoJ6o3rpeG6qnImxMNFDjBbK5sUUpKrG7opquagtVZknbTVLk1hrvB6XSRZK6Ngvj8V6EMPn-6ZdYQE4YVyVl0h3MfZ1RwAbm6eFSNgE8qntUMTEfd/s1600/DSCN3394.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692428166811899922" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbw1DU-8faADX9_9AzawLoJ6o3rpeG6qnImxMNFDjBbK5sUUpKrG7opquagtVZknbTVLk1hrvB6XSRZK6Ngvj8V6EMPn-6ZdYQE4YVyVl0h3MfZ1RwAbm6eFSNgE8qntUMTEfd/s320/DSCN3394.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br />The finished stock. I let these cool completely and put them in the freezer. Stock is great to add to lots of meals. Plus it is my go-to when I want to make soup if any of us are feeling under the weather. Just add whatever veggies you have they may be on their way to being not so edible and poof! a nutritious delicious soup. I love to toss in kale, celery, carrots, ect.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAt6CSHkC95WOr4co7kWmcGLnn1jzWrp479ogw5t9ZTzkO0S8EMVWHrvok7eeVJEDzfmeGQQ5JvhqsHgkt_1F9cgMsqPtHC9rqpMYlb84qc0kFdEyaujKAKFG7IH5seefkDvlx/s1600/DSCN3399.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692428163711474450" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAt6CSHkC95WOr4co7kWmcGLnn1jzWrp479ogw5t9ZTzkO0S8EMVWHrvok7eeVJEDzfmeGQQ5JvhqsHgkt_1F9cgMsqPtHC9rqpMYlb84qc0kFdEyaujKAKFG7IH5seefkDvlx/s320/DSCN3399.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br />This was breakfast today. I wanted to change up our normal egg breakfast so I got the recipe from Sarah at <a href="http://www.everydaypaleo.com/">http://www.everydaypaleo.com/</a>. I didn't put the sausage into them, but we did have links with it. I also added leftover broccoli from a couple nights ago. The kiddos loved their "orange pancakes", as they called them.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnbFzWD5N8QsaOE_lCnHtLIJLLvbD6w7ehU3q0UA8tbRzlVrLPeHwODtLoX9Dlg3rNRXhSOV5aTzod0-_N16WVmmsQM4VRLDpAc8vj9FDVfoW-3v88xZjmDTXe8GqvwIMelqFS/s1600/DSCN3401.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692428145218875586" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnbFzWD5N8QsaOE_lCnHtLIJLLvbD6w7ehU3q0UA8tbRzlVrLPeHwODtLoX9Dlg3rNRXhSOV5aTzod0-_N16WVmmsQM4VRLDpAc8vj9FDVfoW-3v88xZjmDTXe8GqvwIMelqFS/s320/DSCN3401.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br />This looks so delicious to the eyes. It smelled wonderful too. I put some roasted green and red peppers, celery and some sweet peppers in the pan, added some stock and leftover chicken quarters to warm up. Then I took the chicken out and pureed my "soup", adding some coconut milk to even it out. The verdict, it was awful. It tasted overwhelmingly of green pepper and was extremely bitter. I dumped the soup and the kids at the chicken with some pickles and oranges for lunch instead. I guess every experiment can't be successful, right?!<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizOXUXw306Ah35dRWyO27xRfXc1EUTDsUgyybClVPkuehMoLT0wU2fzvZFXSOJzxGfNZHdACSIEeS0D2Mfl0vu7g-F7pOjESo2Lh2dosoGPNkNaQzW0NBBeXhJFG8HpeFbaQwA/s1600/DSCN3404.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692428143644544322" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizOXUXw306Ah35dRWyO27xRfXc1EUTDsUgyybClVPkuehMoLT0wU2fzvZFXSOJzxGfNZHdACSIEeS0D2Mfl0vu7g-F7pOjESo2Lh2dosoGPNkNaQzW0NBBeXhJFG8HpeFbaQwA/s320/DSCN3404.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>Happy Paleo Cooking! Happy New Year!! Don't forget that you can choose to eat healthy and not feel guilty about turning down the "holiday" food, because you deserve it!!!</div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36422540.post-29339653295567937042011-12-30T13:38:00.000-08:002011-12-30T13:43:39.538-08:00Great dealsJohn and I did some light grocery shopping yesterday. While we were shopping we noticed that the store still had several turkeys left from the holidays at a low price of 58 cents a pound. Now, they weren't organic or even labeled all-natural, but they were MSG and Gluten Free...no extra additives in them.<br /><br />We snatched up four of them with each costing about $6. Four turkeys for $24 is pretty awesome! We decided to pop them in our deep freezer and use them for meals for the next couple months....when can you ever buy meat so inexpensively??!!<br /><br />It was a perfect plan...until, I realized we had left them overnight to defrost on top of the chest freezer...we are going to be baking at least two and hopefully smoking 2 - then we will portion the meat and freeze it for later use.<br /><br />It wasn't a perfect plan....but it will work out regardless :) Go check your grocery stores and stock up!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36422540.post-85977457927738582732011-12-29T01:06:00.000-08:002011-12-29T01:10:44.664-08:00A Good ChallengeTonight I was just looking through some Paleo Challenge sites and came across this site: <a href="http://whole9life.com/2010/10/whole-30-v3/">Whole9Life.</a> It explains Paleo very blatantly, but it's very good.<br />Then I cruised over to this one: <a href="http://www.theclothesmakethegirl.com/wellfed/">TheClothes</a>Make the Girl. She is awesome and she has a FREE sample download of her latest book Well Fed. I quickly downloaded my copy and I already want to try several things.<br />Happy Eating!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36422540.post-35553236578572918312011-12-28T14:30:00.000-08:002011-12-28T15:17:59.473-08:00A New and Fabulous JourneyLike many people we know, John and I have struggled with finding a healthy and easy way to lose weight and keep it off. We have tried some crazy things: the cabbage soup diet when we were first married, the salad only diet, the starvation diet(ugh) and recently we even did the hCg diet. The hCg diet was very difficult. The calories were a mere 500 and the restrictions on the foods you could eat was crazy...don't mix veggies, don't use oils, don't do this don't do that...it was enough to make you go bonkers. But, the results were there, I lost over 24 lbs in 24 days. If you ignored the lack of energy and irritability is caused then it really wasn't so bad...right? The problem was, once I was off the diet, I didn't know what I should or shouldn't eat. I was so hungry by then that I ate more than I probably should have and put the starches and rices back into my diet.<br /><br />At my best, in a matter of six months I had lost a little more than 30 lbs. I was pretty happy. I could fit into my super skinny jeans-which I had never, ever worn and I like the way I looked. The problem, my husband lost his job and with the circumstances surrounding it, I because something I thought I wasn't ....a stress-eater.<br /><br />Let's not forget that during all this time, I was mom to four awesome kiddos, housekeeper and a full-time college student...just to name a few. By the end of the summer and nearly eight months from the time the hubby had lost his job, I was back up 35+ lbs. I couldn't even get my skinny jeans past my thighs at that point. It was sickening.<br />Let me just add in one more minor detail: during those eight months, my husband got a temporary job at a tire shop, he lost 30 lbs in the first month alone...I wanted to strangle him for a)being a man who could lost weight by skipping out on dessert once a week and b)having a job that demanded him to "come running" 12 hours a day for his customers.<br />In the middle of all of this mayhem, we had fallen off our gluten-free wagon and I was noticing some major changes in our oldest son's health. He complained of headaches and body/bone aches almost daily, he was doing sub par in school and he whined constantly-he is almost 8 years old.<br /><br />I started doing research and decided, after realizing this was my fault and sobbing for an hour, that is was time to eliminate the gluten from the kids diet.<br />Two weeks into our return to a GF house, and my son is staring at my husband's large hunk of sourdough bread and butter at the dinner table and declares, "It's not really fair that you and mom get to eat that wheat bread in front of us all the time." Crap.<br /><br />He was totally right. How fair was it that we could wave our crusty, buttery bread in front of their faces every meal? I felt horrible. John and I talked to our son and then talked later and ultimately decided he was right. Besides, what would it hurt for us to go GF too? It could only help us feel better too, right?<br />Well, that was only the beginning of things. I sent out a Facebook request to all my GF friends for some ideas for some new recipes I could try.<br />The response was awesome. I started looking into them and one friend had sent me a link to Everyday Paleo, by Sarah Fragoso. The first thing I thought was, holy cow, that woman is obsessed with herself, she is totally ripped! I ignored the details and moved on.<br /><br />But for about two weeks after that the word Paleo kept popping in my brain. I wanted to know what this Paleo was...how did it work? Did it work? So I read a lot of blogs and information over the next few weeks. Then I decided, ok, I need to hear from a real person if this is really going to work. So, once again, I put it out there on Facebook.<br /><br />I was amazed! There were people I knew who had all positive things to say about it. Then I got connected with an amazing woman, Bethany, who shared her story with me. I was blown away with how at peace I was about this potential change.<br /><br />I shared my findings with John and we prayed about what we should do. I know that may sound crazy to some people, but God is the only way we do things around here. He makes all things possible, so if we were going to be successful at this, it was going to be because it was His will for us.<br /><br />Ultimately, John and I decided that we needed to at least try this Paleo thing for ourselves. I got some very good starting pointers and encouragement from Bethany and we were off!<br /><br />The first thing I did was pray over my kitchen and then clean out anything and everything that was not on the list of Paleo-approved foods. This was one of the scariest things I have ever done. We are not in a great place financially right now, it has been very uncomfortable lately, but God has continued to provide. I took three large boxes of pantry foods down to the church that day and gave them to the homeless ministry.<br /><br />When I came home I opened the cupboard and wanted to cry. There were a couple of cans of organic tomatoes and some dried fruit and nuts....that's it. Then I opened my refrigerator, there were a few apples, oranges and some pickles...maybe a condiment or two. I looked at John and we nervously laughed about our cupboards being bare, but inside I wanted to bawl my eyes out. We hadn't even really started and I was already scared to death!<br /><br />I sucked it up and looked for a list of groceries on the <a href="http://paleodietlifestyle.com/">Paleo</a> Diet Lifestyle site and we went to the store together. Once all the fresh fruit and veggies were in the fridge and the nuts and few canned things were on the shelves I felt better. Now to cook...what to cook?<br /><br />I used the same website for some meal ideas as well as <a href="http://www.paleoparents.com/">Paleo</a>Parents for more good ideas(this one is great for ideas for the kids too). The first week was difficult, but once we got past our cravings for wheat and dairy, ect, we were fine. Plus, the end of the first week I got a phone call from our son's teacher praising him and how well he had done learning a new math concept in class that day. I was so excited, but I found myself thinking-could this be a coincidence? John was claiming it a victory and so I decided to as well...God is the miracle worker, right?!!<br /><br />By the second week I was wearing jeans I hadn't worn in months, sleeping better than I had in months and just feeling better all around. Our youngest daughter has always had dark circles under her eyes and they had begun to fade too. We have all been doing so well and I attribute it to God's wisdom and leading us to Paleo!<br /><br />I am looking forward to sharing more and more about this journey. I am not going to make a new blog right now for it. I think I will share our journey through the holidays and Paleo next...it can be done people!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36422540.post-37760449744315823052011-12-06T10:25:00.001-08:002011-12-06T10:33:57.535-08:00My hero<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0VfqUCRxnTb0at7vBuPjfYCUN5BQgoGGHwxHUmBanKCqRHyGqV2qQOObD-lCBmUdIajnFKUnf-9gLVinJP-N8FB0E6Yz2ttH47eYeEwVDKwbbdyC0oeDtrccdSA258Slk6vvv/s1600/IMAG0096.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 239px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683084112659240834" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0VfqUCRxnTb0at7vBuPjfYCUN5BQgoGGHwxHUmBanKCqRHyGqV2qQOObD-lCBmUdIajnFKUnf-9gLVinJP-N8FB0E6Yz2ttH47eYeEwVDKwbbdyC0oeDtrccdSA258Slk6vvv/s400/IMAG0096.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div>If anyone knows my husband, they know that he is one of the nicest, kindest, gracious men on the planet. I am amazed daily with his commitment to God, family and friends. He is always takes the extra step to do what is right, honest and good. I am so proud to live my life with him, raising our children and being the each other's best friend. I love you John and I am so glad you chose me to be with you forever. XOXOXO</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36422540.post-80389799708467675962011-09-28T20:50:00.000-07:002011-09-28T20:50:16.810-07:00Our madness continues...we are still here, still going to school, still playing, still laughing, still loving our wonderful life! The kids are experiencing all that is new and wonderful about school and new friends. I am drowning in homework and the first week of classes isn't even over yet. But in all of this I know one clear, perfect, amazing thing....God knows. He loves. He lives. He is our rock every second. So we keep moving forward....and thanking Him every second of the way.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0