GREYHAIRED MOMMA

You GOAL, Girl: an update

2012-02-11T17:35:00.000-06:00

So, this morning, I ran my first race.

It was windy.
It was cold.

It was FUN!!

My personal goal was to finish the race, running the entire thing. If I'm honest, that goal wasn't really a goal at all, seeing as how I've been running over 4 miles per run for several weeks now.

So, me being me (too many adjectives/descriptors could be placed here!) I decided that I wanted to finish in under 31:00 minutes. Ten minute miles. Though I'd only run that fast once. A little trickier goal, huh?

I get up this morning, and can hear the wind howling. And begin to rethink the "under 31:00 minutes" idea. The wind along the Gulf of Mexico can be brutal. (Just ask Ivan or Katrina!) And, you never know if that's going to be a headwind, a tailwind (my fave), or a side wind that does you no good at all.

Goal-wise, I was again back at "just finish."

We took off.
Ran.
Ran some more.
Ran while the wind pushed us around.
And took hats off.
And made hair into Medusa wigs.
And we ran some more.

And, for me, it was tough. Tougher than I thought it should/would be. I was confused. I can do 4+ fairly easily, and so I had no idea why it was so hard.
"Did I eat correctly?"
"Am I tired?"
"Where is the stinkin' finish line?"

And then, I saw it...
And the clock above it...

FINISH
28:40

Lemme repeat that just in case you didn't get that:

FINISH
28:40!!

I was running as fast as the wind blows! (You gotta say that with a Forrest Gump accent!)

Goal met, and a new PR!

So now I'm asking myself...
"Can you really have a PR on a "small" race such as this one?" (My answer is a resounding YES!)
"When can I race again?" (Next month: St. Patty's Day race)
"Why didn't I do this sooner?" (Uh, hello? Anyone there? [crickets chirping] I am definitely my hardest critic, the one with the most doubts in myself...)

BEST. COACH. EVER!

Get out there!
Get moving!
It's SO totally worth it!!
And feel free to say about me, "And from then on, wherever she was going, SHE WAS RUNNING!" (again with the Forrest Gump!)

(My goal for this year is to run 4 races. I can see that goal was way, way too low!)

Today: Race #1

2012-02-11T01:00:00.000-06:00

Depravity

2012-02-06T01:00:00.000-06:00

So you've learned a bit about Clean Eating.

You've even tried a recipe or two.

And now you have a question to ask.

So, ask away!

"But don't you feel deprived?"

Deprived? Of what?

Sugar?

White Flour?

30 Lbs?
Hunger?
Binge Eating?

Poor Energy?

Um, no!
No depravity here.

Especially when something like this is on the menu...

Cocoa Banana Buckwheat Bake
adapted from The Edible Perspective

1/4 cup ground raw buckwheat groats (see "thinks" notes at bottom)
1 Tbs. raw buckwheat groats
2 Tbs. milled flax seeds
2 1/2 Tbs. unsweetened cocoa powder
1 Tbs. chia seeds
1/4 tsp. baking powder
1/2 large banana, mashed [~ 1/3 cup]
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1/3 cup unsweetened almond milk
2-3 Tbs. maple syrup
1 egg white

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350*
2. In a medium bowl, mash banana until wet and smooshy. Mix in almond milk, vanilla, maple syrup, and egg white with a fork.
3. Mix in buckwheat flour, groats, cocoa powder, baking powder, milled flax seeds, and chia seeds.
4. Lightly grease a medium ramekin or other oven-safe bakeware. I use coconut oil and it seems to work better than using the oil mister.
5. Pour mixture into ramekin and smooth top.
6. Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
7. Enjoy with your toppings of choice: peanut butter, unsweetened coconut, banana, walnuts, etc.

No, I'm not feeling deprived.
How could I?

Craving Buster Choco-PB-Bana Shake

1 cup almond milk (or other milk of choice: cow, soy, etc.)

1 scoop chocolate protein powder

1 Tbs. Natural PB (check the label -- NO SUGAR!)

5-6 frozen banana slices

crushed ice

Dump it all in your blender and process.

Pour it into a pretty cup, garnish with a straw and suck it down, baby!

The thinks you'll think:
-- What are buckwheat groats/flour? Buckwheat is a gluten free option for many dishes. It is not related to wheat at all, but works like wheat products in baked goods. I found my groats at the local health food store and just use my spice/coffee grinder to grind them to soft powder.

-- The Buckwheat Bake is too much food for me to eat in one sitting. I usually divide mine in half and save half for another meal/snack. Honestly, I think it's better after a couple hours... rewarm in the microwave and enjoy!

Taste and see that the LORD is good;
blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.

Psalm 34:8

Weekly Photo Dump

2012-02-04T01:00:00.000-06:00

I bet you thought I forgot, didn't you?

I actually didn't forget.

I have taken and posted pictures all week (mostly of food.)

However, I'm trying to choose one specific day to edit and upload my photos to the blog.

I'm thinking that will be Saturday.

But since that epiphany came to me in the middle of last week, you had to wait a few extra days.

I hope you find...

... that it was worth...

... the wait!

"There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens"

Ecclesiastes 3:1

Oh, No You Didn't!

2012-02-02T01:00:00.000-06:00

Oh, yes I did!!
Scha-boink!

Saturdays around here are a slow waking, slow moving kinda sort. The kind of slow that just calls for brewing a cup of coffee, making something great to eat, and enjoying it slowly around the table.

Unless, of course, it's these waffles.
Then you'd scarf them right down...

Clean Eating Chocolate Protein Powder Waffles
Makes approximately 12 waffles

1 cup whole wheat pastry flour
3 Tbs. milled flax seeds
4 scoops chocolate whey protein powder
1 whole egg
2 egg whites
1 Tbs. olive oil
2 cups almond milk (or any other milk: cow, soy, etc.)

Instructions:

1. Combine pastry flour and protein powder in a large bowl.
2. Mill your flax seeds and add to dry ingredients.
3. In a small bowl, combine eggs, olive oil, and almond milk.
4. Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients and mix until completely combined.
5. Grease a waffle maker with your oil sprayer/mister
6. Ladle batter onto waffle maker and close.
7. Allow to cook until crispy on the outside.
8. Top with WHATEVER makes your mouth and belly smile -- as long as it's clean!!
9. Enjoy!

Optional Toppings:
chocolate chips (not clean, so only the kiddos eat these, but still tasty-- I'm sure!)
bananas (try warming them in the micro for a few seconds -- brings out their sweetness!)
walnuts (or any other nut)
Natural (no sugar) PB, or another nut butter
Maple Syrup

I actually doubled the batch so that I'd have extras to store in the freezer for our not-so-slow mornings. I mean, really, if I can bring the Slow Saturday feeling to the middle of the week, why wouldn't I?

A couple thinks to think:

-- Why milled flax seeds? Well, your body cannot break down the hard outer shell of the flax seed, so in order to get all those wonderful nutrients (Omega 3s, Calcium, Protein, Lignans -- there's a reason it's called a "Super Food!") from the seeds, you need to mill (or grind in a coffee/spice grinder) them.

-- Why mill your flax seeds yourself? You can buy milled flax seeds, but it's not recommended. As soon as the seeds are milled, they start losing their potency. So, my solution was to just buy a small grinder and do it at home.

-- Protein Powder: There are many, many, many, many types of protein powder on the market. Look for a clean version: one that doesn't have a bunch of additives, words you can't pronounce or don't know, and NO SUGAR. Now, I will admit that my brand of protein powder does have a bit of fructose (fruit sugar) in it. However, I bought a plain powder and found it so unpalatable that I had to mix it with the current type I use. You'll need to decide which protein powder matches up with your personal wellness goals.

Now, go forth and make waffles!

This is why...

2012-01-30T20:28:00.001-06:00

... this is why I get up at 6 am in the 30 degree weather to run...

When I'm running this early, my God is bigger, and my troubles are smaller.

And for that, I'll meet Him very early,

on a very cold day,

and run.

(All photos were taken on my crummy iPhone camera, so please excuse their "noise.")

A Great Day

2012-01-28T17:48:00.003-06:00

Our day started out with this:

Clean Chocolate Waffles -- recipe to be posted soon...

Followed by a hike,

Breathing in a bit of fresh air,

And some sight seeing.

Ah, I like that sight!
Ahem...

The kids watched a dolphin as she fished...

And we spied some other wildlife.

I'd say...

It was a great day!

What is Clean Eating?

2012-01-25T01:00:00.000-06:00

Several times, I've made reference to how I've been eating Clean. And have realized that not only have I not explained what that means, but that some of you are interested in what that means. And so, for the two of you who actually read this blog (!), I thought I'd fill you in...

Clean Eating IS...
1. Eating 5-6 small meals a day.
2. Combining complex carbs (fruit/veggie/grain) with a protein (meat/cheese/nut butter/legumes)
3. Drinking lots of water -- about 10 cups a day.
4. Avoiding processed foods and white sugar, white flour, white rice, etc.
5. Eating things as close to God's creation as possible (not factory created foods)
6. Reading food labels to become aware of ingredients (SO many things have sugar!!)
7. Eating foods with short ingredient lists, all of which must be identifiable (no science-speak!)
8. Enjoying every meal, and every bite -- guilt free!

Clean Eating IS NOT...
1. As hard as your mind is telling you it is.
2. Going to make you into the supermodel you know lurks inside.
3. A get-skinny-quick-plan.
4. An "eliminate a food group" diet.
5. A count each calorie/weigh everything/dole out points eating plan.
6. Bland, boring, or restrictive.
7. A budget breaker.
8. Going to shackle you to the kitchen and your knives, bowls, and pans.

Clean Eating is a way of life, and one that my entire family can embrace and enjoy. While I'm the one who eats clean 90% of the time, my family does eat clean as frequently as I can get them to. They've been harder to convert than converting myself, but they have been very receptive. In fact, our picky eater enjoys most, if not all, of the clean meals I make.

So you might be wondering: What's the point? Why Eat Clean?

I can only report on my personal discoveries since I've changed my eating:

More energy, fewer "I need a nap!" afternoons
Weight is coming of at a steady pace, without needing to restrict my intake of food
NO MORE migraines!!! This is huge for me, and I believe tied to my consumption of Diet Coke, which is no longer on my menu (it's all chemicals and man-made junk)
Variety!! Wow! We've started eating so many new things and they are all so tasty!
Less skin breakouts
Enjoyment of the TRUE flavor of foods
Fewer cravings for sugar or sweet items, and naturally sweet things are sweet enough
Lots of motivation to keep going, keep eating clean, keep moving...

I highly, highly recommend researching more on Clean Eating. I challenge you to try it for a couple months and see if you don't notice a big change in how you feel, and how you look. And then, once you try it, come back here and leave a comment letting me know how much you love it!

For further research (and really great recipes), I'd recommend:

The Gracious Pantry
The Eat Clean Diet Website
Tosca Reno's books
Clean Eating Magazine

Weekly Photo Dump

2012-01-22T20:00:00.000-06:00

You might remember that one of my yearly goals was to take photos each day and to post said photos on this blog weekly.

Well, I sorta accomplished that goal.
I did take pictures.
But I didn't take them daily.

But I am posting what I took (and deemed share-worthy) this week.

So, goal sorta accomplished.
Gonna keep working on daily photos...

My idea behind this goal was that I'd learn more about photography and improve my skills by taking daily photos. And I did accomplish that this week. I did learn something new about photography.

I learned that getting the right lighting for food is hard. I learned that taking photos of food is hard.
Eating the food?
That's easy.

Especially when it's a Strawberry Banana Buckwheat Bake!

I am...

2012-01-21T18:17:00.002-06:00

... a lucky, lucky lady!

Honestly, this is one of the reasons I so love my husband.

No, it's not for his ability to grow hair exactly down the middle of his head.

It's because he's always willing to have fun.

Or be the fun.

Tomato. Tah-mah-to.

Testing 101

2012-01-18T11:04:00.000-06:00

Source: Uploaded by user via Annie on Pinterest

You GOAL, girl!

2012-01-13T01:00:00.000-06:00

First, let me begin by wishing you a Happy New Year! I know, it's not all that new anymore. But the wishes are still heartfelt!

I am not one to set New Year's Resolutions. It has always felt very contrived. Commercial. Fake.

However, this year, I was encouraged to make some goals for myself. Specifically, running goals. (Did I tell you that I've begun running? I actually began in October. And I don't really RUN. I jog. But, I'm still lapping everyone on the couch!)

Where was I?
Ah, yes.
Making yearly goals.
Ahem...

I was also told to share my goals with lots of people. Apparently the more people you tell, the more likely you are to keep your goals. Since the cashier and any customers who would listen at the StuffMart didn't seem as tickled with my goals as I am, I felt I needed to share with a specific group of people. And so, you -- you are my lots of people. And here are my goals for 2012... in no particular order...

2012 Goals

Run four 5K races
Take photographs daily
Post photographs on the blog weekly (see goal #2)
Update/Change/Refresh blog
Make daily Bible time a priority... And do it!
Eat Clean 90% of the time
Learn and practice a new physical activity (biking? swimming?)

So there you have it. My 2012 goals.

I'm counting on you to cheer me on, encourage me, and give me a whole bunch of grief when I'm slacking!! Thankyouverymuch!

Ready, Set, Goal!!

Mystery Trip... Revealed!!

2012-01-11T12:59:00.001-06:00

(This post has been sitting in my draft box for weeks. I wanted to edit all the photos before posting them. But, I'm not going to. Too many photos to share, and I want to get this post up. And then another. And another. So, just enjoy these photos for what they are: memories. And ignore what they are not: art. Thankyouverymuch!)

This year, we decided to start a new Christmas tradition. Instead of giving the kids a ton of presents, we decided to take a Mystery Trip.

We told the kids that we'd use the money that would normally go towards gifts and put it towards a trip.

They seemed excited.

Intrigued.

A bit worried that there would be no gifts on Christmas morning. (Never fear! Their grandparents covered that for them. And, they did also have a bunch of goodies in their stockings come Christmas morn.)

This year's trip?
Drumroll, please...

Legoland...

Where we oohed! and aahed! over all things made of Legos,

rode a bunch of rides,

and walked all over tarnation.

He says that's his "pirate face." Looks very similar to his "grumpy face" to me!

Then, the next day, we moved on to...

Seaworld!

Apparently, at Seaworld, we were so busy taking it all in that I didn't take many pictures.

Maybe I was too busy feeding shrimp to the rays. Boy, those things come at you like torpedoes when they smell food in the water!!

I think my facial expression pretty much says it all -- WHOA!!

We had a great time, and the kids are still talking about it.

In addition to physical pictures, we have mental pictures and many, many memories that we'll cherish for years to come.

The kids actually said this was their most favorite time during our trip -- a HUGE bubble bath in our hotel!!!

Now to plan for next year's Mystery Trip...

I love my church...

2012-01-09T18:41:00.000-06:00

This popped up on our church's newly redesigned webpage today. I love it...

Reasons People Don't Go To Church from Harvest Church on Vimeo.

If you're in my area and would like to come to church, I'd love to have you join me.

I passionately love Jesus Christ, and no, I won't try to shove it down your throat.
But, man! You're missing out!!

Join us...

Christmas Service -- from home!

2011-12-25T05:29:00.001-06:00

Our church, Harvest, has decided to have a live stream service beginning at 7pm EST on Saturday, December 24th and continuing through Christmas Day.

Feel free to pass the link to my blog along so that others can watch the live stream.

May you be blessed by the service and may you enjoy the celebration of the gift of Christ.

"Glory to God in the highest!"

Merry Christmas!

Experience a "taste" of Harvest here: Harvest Christmas Celebration

Healthy -- and MOST Delicious -- Sticky Buns

2011-12-16T01:00:00.000-06:00

The title of this post can be taken in so, so many ways.

I'll just tell you that it is not the name of my new workout video.

The title was intended as a shortened version (read: fit in the title bar) of the name of the recipe I am going to gift you with.

Yes, these treats are a gift.

Trust me.

Once you make these sticky buns (Or do I say cinnamon roll? Is there a difference anyway???) you'll never be the same. Or at least, your pants will never fit the same.

"Whoa! Whoa! Hold your horses there just a minute now missy! You said these were healthy."

Ah, yes. Yes, I did.

And since I am trustworthy and truthful, I'll tell you how I've made these healthy as I show you the recipe. (Yes, show -- it's a photo recipe!!) So, on to the healthy cinnamon rolls/sticky buns...

WAIT! Come back. Healthy doesn't have to taste like dirt. Trust me. These taste nothing AT ALL like dirt. Not that I've eaten a lot of dirt. But, I'll take it from my friend Lucy** who, apparently, as a child used to eat the mud pies she made. Enough mud pies to cause worms. Uh, yum!

I digress. You get my point, right? These do not, I repeat, do not taste like dirt!

On to the healthy cinnamon rolls...

You're gonna need all this stuff in the picture there. It all looks innocent enough. And healthy. Definitely healthy.

You see here? This is the first part of the healthy rolls. I am using Canola Oil instead of one of the less beneficial oils. Healthy, right? It had nothing to do with the fact that I was out of Veggie Oil and only had Canola oil on hand. It had everything to do with my desire to make these cinnamon rolls healthy.

Take said oil and the other healthy ingredient: milk. Wholesome. Nourishing. Full of Calcium. Healthy! You'll also need some sugar. Not 'high fructose corn syrup.' Bad stuff. Well, at least that's what I've been lead to believe. But the corn people are trying to change all that. So, sugar too. Again with the healthy.

Anyway, take the oil, milk and sugar and dump them into the biggest pot you've got. Trust me on this one. You're gonna want a pot with lots of stirring room.

Once you've got all the milk, oil, and sugar in your big pot, then "heat over medium heat, but do not allow to boil. Remove and cool to lukewarm."

Yeah, okay. So maybe if you're some fancy schmancy pastry chef, then the above directions make sense to you. Me? Not so much.

All I know is that yeastie beasties can be finicky. Too hot, and they die (is die the right word???)and my rolls come out flat and dense and yucky. Too cold and they don't grow (is grow the right word???) and, again, my rolls come out flat and dense and yucky. Not yummy. Definitely not delicious.

In order to avoid the flat and dense and yucky roll, I use a very, very scientific way of making sure my milk mixture is heated enough. Wait for it... Wait for it...

Like the tattoo? I was ready for another... Heh, heh, heh!

Ah, yes. It is the hold-your-hand-over-the-liquid-to-test-the-heat maneuver. Pretty clever, huh?

Seriously, I just wait for some little foamy bubbles to appear around the edges. (After I've tested the heat-with-my-hand-manuever. Of course.) Then turn the heat off and allow the mixture to cool to lukewarm. (Again using my hand to test -- dipping my finger in the mixture. Burns? Too hot. Comfortable? Just right!)

Sprinkle the wee yeastie beasties over the lukewarm milk mixture and allow to sit for about a minute.

Then, add 8 cups of flour and stir until just combined. Top with a clean kitchen towel (You didn't know you'd have to do laundry before making these rolls, did you???) and let rise in a warmish part of your kitchen for an hour.

In the meantime, make lunch for your family who has been circling your work area ravenously for the last 20 minutes asking repeatedly, "Are they done yet? Can I have one yet? When are they going to be done?"

I would be disrespectful to my Type A alter ego if I didn't mention that I also use this time to clean up my work area, utensils, measuring cups, and all the other junk I've already used.

After the hour, pull the towel back. TA-DA!

A big, gooey yeasty smelling mass of dough. If you didn't burn your yeastie beasties. But, since you used the highly scientific method that I outline above, you didn't. And you have a nice big pot full of puffy dough.

Add the additional cup of flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Stir well.

At this point, you can either put the dough into a mixing bowl and refrigerate until you're ready to make the rolls (up to 3 days), or you forge ahead.

I'm not ~~patient~~ afraid so I forge ahead. I knew you were waiting.

Break the dough apart into two portions. I put one portion back into the bowl and keep it in the fridge until I'm ready for it.

Put your butter -- oop, oop. Healthy alert! Healthy alert! REAL butter! Very healthy, right? Much better for you than that fake, processed, supposed to be like butter, solid at room temperature, spread junk. All natural. Less processed. Healthy.

Take that healthy butter and get it into a saucepan. Melt it over low heat. You'll need it in a minute.

On a well floured surface, roll out the dough. You obviously want it longer than wider, and rolled to a pretty thin rectangle. However, because ~~I'm anal~~ I have a hard time visualizing measurements accurately, I might have done something crazy like mark my counter. Then again, I might have just rolled blissfully. Not that I have any pictures to prove my attempt at perfection.

Nope. No pictures.

Now you'll need to get ready to create the yummy, delicious, and truly, truly healthy filling for the cinnamon rolls. There are just a few basic ingredients:

Melt the butter, and pour a cup of it over the rolled out dough. Use the back of a spoon or your fingers to spread it all around.

Sprinkle with half of the cinnamon...

...and half of the sugar.

Then begin to roll. This is the hardest/messiest part for me. I have a hard time making the roll nice and tight and so my rolls can be somewhat misshapen. Doesn't seem to make them any less delicious though, so I don't sweat it.

When you roll, do not be alarmed if some of the buttery,sugary, cinnamon-ness oozes out of the roll. That just means you've got enough of that delicious gooeyness in there!

Once rolled, cut into 1 1/2" slices. My slices always smoosh down so my rolls are oval shaped. Again, no worries. Doesn't effect the delicious factor at all!

Drizzle a bit of butter into each pan and then place the rolls.

Don't crowd 'em. Cinnamon rolls like their space. Plus, they'll grow considerably in the oven.

Bake at 350 for about 15 minutes. Take 'em out when they're light brown. Don't over brown the rolls.

While the rolls are baking, make the icing.

Whisk together the powdered sugar, milk, strongly brewed coffee, and melted butter. Add the maple flavoring. Stir until smooth and pourable. You want it thick-ish but still pourable. Add sugar and/or milk to get the desired consistency.

When the rolls come out of the oven, begin to pour the icing over the tops. That is, if you haven't sucked up all of the icing through a straw. Uh, excuse me. Dunno where that thought came from!

Pour the icing all around, making sure to coat each roll.

Then, when they've cooled a bit, wrap them nicely and deliver to those you love.

Or, tear into a pan. I mean, after all, you want to make sure you're delivering quality goods, don't you?? Once you've declared the rolls safe for consumption, then wrap 'em up and deliver them to the neighbors. You don't need to tell them how healthy these little babies are. I mean, seriously, doesn't everyone know that cinnamon rolls are filled with wholesome, natural, nutritious ingredients anyway?

So there you have it. Healthy and delicious ~~sticky buns~~ cinnamon rolls with maple icing.

Happy baking, sweet friends!

Enjoy!

Here's the free printable version of the recipe:

** Names have been changed to protect the innocent. But, Lucy, you KNOW who you are!

*** This recipe was taken from Ree Drummond’s cookbook, The Pioneer Woman Cooks, however I did put my own spin on it. She never, not once, has called these little bites of glory “healthy", nor extolled the virtue of their wholesome ingredients!

Endless Summer

2011-12-14T01:00:00.000-06:00

One of the big perks about living in Florida is that the weather is beach-worthy pretty much all year.
And that's a great thing.

Until it's time to go.
Then?
Then it's not such a great thing...

All he wants for Christmas...

2011-12-10T01:00:00.000-06:00

Best 3 Minutes of the Season!

2011-12-09T01:00:00.000-06:00

I posted this last year, but I so love it that it's back for a replay.

First, click the four arrows heading outward that are in the lower right corner.

Then click the play arrow.

Trust me.

It's worth it!

I did it!

2011-12-07T16:28:00.001-06:00

A while back, I posted a product review as part of an interview process for something called Molly's Home Team.

Guess what?

I made the cut!

I'm so excited! Thank you to those of you who became blog followers as part of my review process. I look forward to telling you more about lots of fun and interesting products!

Oh, and in case you're wondering who Molly is...
I've got the deets for you...

Merry, Merry

2011-11-29T17:55:00.001-06:00

I am looking at all of our Christmas decoration storage bins with a bit of trepidation. And excitement.

I'm thinking we'll go for this look this year:

What do you think?

I think the Sharpie marker arrow just makes the decorations pop, don't you?

Hope you are enjoying your Christmas preparations. Including the preparation of your heart to receive the greatest gift we've ever been offered -- Jesus Christ.

I'm off to unpack the boxes and let the Merry begin...

So Good It'll Make You Wanna Slap Yer Granny!

2011-11-24T01:00:00.000-06:00

I don't know why I had to title the post that, but I just did. A woman I love dearly says that and it makes me smile every time. And this recipe definitely qualifies.

Definitely.

Clean Chicken Taquitos and Fresh Pico De Gallo.

Is your mouth watering just reading the title of the recipe? It should be. Unless it's early in the morning. Then your mouth might not be watering. Your eyes? Yes. Mouth? Maybe not.

So let's pretend it's afternoon and you're asking yourself, "What will I feed the fam?" Well, I've got you covered!

As I mentioned recently, we have begun to eat clean. Well, I'm eating clean. The family is eating clean-ish. But they all loved this one. Except Princess Picky-Pants. She didn't even try it. But her idea of delicious is ravioli from a can. (ICK! Totally not clean. But a treat she does enjoy from time to time, much to my chagrin!)

These were so good that I actually jumped up after dinner AND MADE ANOTHER BATCH. To freeze. Yes, they were that good. I don't know about you, but making a second dinner after cooking and eating the first isn't on my top 10 list of "faves." Neither is cleaning up after cooking, but that's another story...

You'll have to excuse the lack of photos. I was in a cooking frenzy and we ate these before I even thought to shoot a photo or two. And when I tried to shoot photos of the second batch of taquitos, it was too dark in the kitchen. And I think I had every single pan, bowl, and measuring utensil I own on the counters. So, I borrowed some images from Google. I noticed the same photos on several blogs/websites and I'm not sure who to give credit to. If these are your images, I'm sorry I didn't give you proper credit. But your pictures? Yum! These look remarkably like what I made. I love it when that happens.

Okay. Enough chasing rabbits. Let's get to the recipe, shall we?

Taquitos:

(taquito recipe adapted from The Gracious Pantry)

Makes 12 taquitos

12 Clean Corn Tortillas (I used Food for Life brand)

2 lbs. boneless, skinless chicken breast

1 jar Clean salsa

2 Tbs. Onion Powder

1 1/2 Tbs. Garlic Powder

1/2 Tbs. Garlic Salt

Pico De Gallo:

(No ingredient amounts are given because you can make as much or as little of this Pico as you’d like, and you can vary the different ingredients to get the taste you enjoy. Also remember to taste and season to your preference.)

plum tomatoes

yellow onion

fresh cilantro

jalepeno

garlic powder

course salt

lime juice

Directions:

Place chicken breasts and salsa in a crock pot and cook on high for 3 hours or on low for 4-5 hours. (This is called Salsa Chicken in our house and some evenings we eat it straight from the pot like this. But not this night!)
Preheat oven to 400º.
Remove chicken from crock pot and shred. Return to crock pot and stir to incorporate all the salsa juices into the shredded chicken.
Wrap tortillas in a wet paper towel and warm in the microwave until very pliable.
Put chicken in a food processor and add garlic powder, garlic salt, and onion powder. Process until a “dough” is created. If the mixture is too dry, add a bit of the salsa juice from the crock pot.
Take a warm tortilla, add a bit of chicken mixture, and roll.
Place in a well misted (with an oil mister/sprayer) pan.
Continue to stuff and roll until all the tortillas are filled.
Spray rolled tortillas with an oil mister. This is where the crunch will come from!
Bake at 400º for 20 minutes, or until lightly browned and crispy.
Serve with fresh Pico De Gallo. I also served it with the Pico mixed into a mashed avocado as a fresh guacamole.
Enjoy!

Self Portrait

2011-11-20T13:30:00.001-06:00

Seems like I'm always behind the camera and never in front of it. Most self portraits I've tried have come out pretty bad. Too posed. Too uncomfortable looking. Too lame.

Until now...

Note to self: Shooting one's own picture in the side of an uber-shiny fire engine does wonders for one's self esteem. I'm not even going to try to figure out how that bendy metal made me look so tall and thin! And curvy in just the right places. And thin. I'm just gonna take it, smile, and say, "ThankyouVERYmuch, shiny red fire engine! You have made my day!"
Who's the siren now???

Misto -- Product Review

2011-11-16T01:00:00.000-06:00

We have recently begun to eat "clean." That simply means that we are eating and preparing foods (and man, there are a lot of them!) that are as close to God's creation as possible. Fruits, veggies, grains, lean proteins; nothing processed. It's been quite a delicious adventure!

One of the things I knew I'd need to help prepare our clean meals was an oil sprayer. I've seen them in many locations, but I knew I wanted a durable version. So I went to the local housewares store and purchased one. The Mikasa Misto was $9.99 and came in two color choices -- stainless steel, or red. Though I've since seen them online in a rainbow of colors, when at the store, I chose stainless steel.

I have to admit that I was a little skeptical about spraying with oil. I thought there would be too much oil on the food and in the pans I was using. I was wrong! After filling the Misto with a small amount of oil, I re-capped it, and pumped the lid. After about 6 pumps, the lid became resistant, or "firm" as the directions said it would. I knew it was ready. Holding it over my small pan, I pressed the trigger. And was surprised! A fine mist of oil came out of the nozzle and coated the pan. No drips! No gunk on the nozzle!

We have used the Misto in our stovetop pans, on our BBQ grill, on our waffle maker, and to lightly coat veggies before we season them and throw them on the grill. I have been quite happy with the Misto's performance. I'm also happy that I seem to be saving money on olive oil since I am using much less than if I'd poured it directly in the pan. I also like that I know exactly what I am spraying into my pan. No scientific sounding chemicals, preservatives, or whatever else they put in that can! The Misto is very easy to use and the kids have enjoyed spraying with it, as well.

There are a couple things about the Misto that I'm not thrilled with. When the unit has been freshly primed, the first couple seconds of oil that come out seem to be pretty large drops. After those first few seconds, the spray is more like a fine mist, which I prefer. Another thing that I don't care for is that the Misto will only spray for about 8-10 seconds per prime. For us, that means only coating one pan or the waffle iron before a second prime. When using Misto on larger jobs such as the grill or on veggies, I have found that I have to put the lid back on and pump the lid to get the oil primed and ready to spray. Not a huge issue, but something to get used to after using the no-stick-junk-in-a-can.

All in all, I'm quite happy with my purchase of the Misto. In fact, we've started calling him the Mr. Misto around our house. Using less oil, easy to use, and nice to look at. What more could I want?

The Misto can be purchased at many locations including World Market, Bed, Bath and Beyond, and Amazon to name a few. Prices and colors will vary.

This is not a paid product review. I purchased the Misto and have reviewed it as part of an interview process for Molly's Home Team, which is a component of The Old Schoolhouse Magazine. Any opinions expressed are completely mine, and I have not, nor will I, receive compensation for this review.

Another bird...

2011-11-14T01:00:00.000-06:00

I had another opportunity to shoot some family photos at the beach this past weekend.
In addition to getting some great shots of the family, I also had several very cooperative herons.
One of the herons seemed to be stalking the family dog, but that's another story for another day...

Be blessed!

Come, Follow Me

2011-11-10T09:45:00.000-06:00

I recently applied to be a product reviewer -- in other words to review a product, honestly and publicly, on my blog. I passed the first round!

Now on to the second round, writing a review. That will come in a few days. But there is something to be done now.

One of the specifications of "making it" past the second round is to have at least 50 public followers on my blog. As of this writing, I don't yet have that many. But I know you're there. I can see you blog-stalking...

So, would you please be so kind as to go to the right sidebar, scroll down to the Followers section and click on the "Join This Site" tab? I would be so thankful if you'd let me know you're here looking around.

I feel a bit silly asking you to follow me... All I can hear are Jesus' words in the gospels: "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will send you out to fish for people." Mark 1:17

Well, I do follow Him, and I did pray about this opportunity before I applied for the position, and so now, all I can figure is that God is keeping His word. He's sending me out to fish for people.

So, come follow me...

The Part I Like the Least

2011-11-07T01:00:00.000-06:00

This tooth has got to go on record for being the loosest, snaggliest, twistedy, and most stubborn tooth any child has ever attempted to lose!!

BBB -- Another update

2011-11-05T01:00:00.000-05:00

Thanks to all of you who have been praying for our boy!

Earlier this week, we went back to the doctor and found out that the bone has already healed. It healed slightly crooked, but we were told that shouldn't be a problem. The arm is still bruised and very tender, so TheBoy was given a short cast for two weeks.

God is great! By His stripes we are healed...

Weekly Pic(s)

2011-11-03T20:12:00.000-05:00

Playing with my new editing software... This thing should have come with an additional 5 hours to add to your day. I can get lost in it...

Photo of the Week

2011-10-26T09:53:00.002-05:00

Photo of the Week

2011-10-22T01:00:00.000-05:00

I had a really great opportunity pop up last weekend. A friend asked me to take some family photos for her at the beach. I'd never considered taking portraits, as I didn't feel like I was any good at it.

But I took the photos. And I so enjoyed it. Interacting with people while I'm behind the camera is fun! The flowers I usually take pictures of aren't quite so talkative!! I won't say that I talk any less when photographing nature than I do when photographing people, but that's between me and the flowers...

The photo of the week... I'll bet after that intro you're expecting to see a photo of the family, right? Well, no dice. First, I'm still editing photos, and next, I don't feel comfortable about posting pictures of another person's family. Even if I DID take some good pictures of 'em... (honk, honk!)

On my way home from the beach, I saw a perfect photo op. And guess what? You get to see it too:

And because Mr. Heron was being so cooperative, I kept snapping:

So, there you have it. Two photos for the photo of the week journal entry!

Side note: if you're a praying person, would you please pray for me in terms of clear direction from God about my photography? Thankyouverymuch. And, if you're not a praying person and would like to be, email me. I'd love to introduce you to my Jesus!

B3 -- Update #2... and #3

2011-10-20T13:58:00.001-05:00

We went back to the doctor yesterday to have The Big Brave Boy's arm x-rayed in his cast. As you know from BBB's last appointment, we were praying that the bone would not move and that it would be healing well in the lovely, green cast he received last week.

I saw the x-rays today and knew. Knew with the kind of knowing that makes your heart beat a little faster. Knew with the kind of knowing that makes your stomach drop and all peripheral noises fade.

And the doctor confirmed it. The bone was moving. And moving quite a bit by the looks of the x-ray. Be still my pounding heart...

I was not afraid. God brought peace to my heart and comfort to this momma's soul.

"So do not fear, for I am with you;

do not be dismayed, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you and help you;

I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

Isaiah 41:10

And while I was thinking, "Surgery! Metal pins! In my baby!", God comforted me, quieted me, and rebuked me, "Be still and KNOW that I am God."

And that's when the doctor said, "So, we're going to take that cast off, move his arm a bit and re-cast it. After which, we'll see you in two weeks."

Oh, yes. I am once again humbled and reminded: He is God. And I am not.

The BBB chose a blue cast this time. As the corpsman was finishing up, BBB says, "It's too bad you can't mix the colors and have red, white, and blue like the American flag."

(iPhone Photo -- excuse the quality, please!!)

The Naval Hospital: where all your casting dreams come true!!

Update to the update: We were BACK at the Naval Hospital again today because the cast was rubbing in a couple of places. So, we have yet another cast. The third in three days... I feel like we've spent so much time at the Naval Hospital that I ought to add those Corpsmen to my Christmas list!!

Here's to praying that there will be no more updates on The Big Brave Boy for 2 weeks!

B3 Update

2011-10-12T15:33:00.000-05:00

If you visited here late last week or over the weekend, you'll see that The Big Brave Boy had an exciting day on Friday.

Well, today we went to the orthopedic doctor's office. I was expecting them to say it was a minor break and that they'd leave the splint on. I was actually thinking I'd ask them to put a cast on the arm because the splint was getting so dirty and dingy looking after only 4 days.

Well, I didn't have to ask...

Not only did TheBoy get a cast (GREEN!), but he received a full-arm cast! SIGH!! And, we also received the news that since only one of the bones in his forearm is broken that it can be trickier to heal correctly. Apparently the unbroken bone can cause movement in the broken bone at the fracture and cause it not to heal correctly. We now get to visit the Ortho's office on a weekly basis! If the bone is moving inside the cast and not healing correctly, then "other options" will need to be discussed. YIKES!

Please continue to pray for TheBoy. We are praying for God's healing without surgery. We're also praying for patience for TheBoy. He is not too thrilled with the lack of activity, nor the lack of range of motion... Not sure which is a more pressing prayer need at this point!

The good news? God already knows all this. In fact, he prepared me for today with this in my morning Bible quiet time:

"Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ." Philippians 1:27

So, I will conduct myself accordingly: I KNOW that He is Healer. And, by His wounds we are healed. I will not live in the "what if", nor will I be ruled by fear. I will rest in His comfort, His love, His truth...

PS -- In case you're wondering, I DID have my good camera with me. Yep, I was prepared. But, I'm saving those pictures for another day!

OAWP -- Week 2

2011-10-10T01:00:00.000-05:00

Because I'm in the middle of figuring out some new photo editing software (grrr!), both of this week's shots are SOOC (Straight Out of the Camera)...

The Big Brave Boy

2011-10-07T20:42:00.003-05:00

(Alternate Post Title: Why You Should ALWAYS Have Your GOOD Camera With You)...

Our week was ending as the previous six have. With our Co-Op classes.

Our day was ending as all co-op days have --

-- with one minor exception: an unplanned trip to the ER. Zoinks!

TheBoy. Playing soccer. Falling.

Breaking.

His.

Arm!!

When I asked him at the hospital if I could take some pictures with my phone, he reluctantly agreed. (Yes, this is the point when it would have been nice to have my REAL camera with me.)

When we got home tonight, while eating his "I've been a brave boy" ice cream, he said, "Momma, it's good that you took pictures of me. Can you put them on your blog? That way lots of people can know about me."

I was just about to launch into a monologue about being humble, and how famous people don't have perfect lives and blah, blah, blah when he continued, "Yeah, that way they'll see me and can pray for me. And prayers are good."

So, here he is on the blog. And all of you know about him now. At his request (and Momma's), please pray!

Blessings and thanks from The Big Brave Boy.
And his Momma -- who has sprouted a few new Greyhairs after today's ordeal!

(If you didn't get the above minor insinuations that I didn't have my Nikon camera handy when this unplanned trip the ER occurred, then it HOPEFULLY became abundantly clear when you saw my not-great-at-all iPhone photos! Note to self: Nikon camera is like air. Necessary in all areas of life. Carry on your person daily.)

(Oh, and if you think it's less than Mother-of-the-Year of me to have thought, "I wish I had my Nikon" while my boy was dealing with a broken arm, I will defend myself. His sister and dad were in the room too. And, there wasn't much to be done while waiting for the doctor's confirmation and treatment of the break (the X-ray techs had already told us it was broken) other than take photos. And I have taken pictures of all the other momentous events in his life. Why not this one??? Okay. I will stop defending myself now. I need to go and pack my camera in my purse. Who knows when I'll need it next??)

A Dog's Gotta Do What A Dog's Gotta Do...

2011-10-06T01:00:00.000-05:00

When it's raining, and your people won't come out to play,

there's only one thing to do.

Play in the mud puddles.

Not for the fun of the mud.

But for the bath that comes afterwards.

See? I can get my people to play!

Sorta Fall-ish

2011-10-02T01:00:00.000-05:00

Most days, fall still seems a long ways off.

Today, however, coffee was enjoyed on the back porch.
With only a small bit of sweating.

Do I dare say it?

Could fall be just around the corner?

One-A-Week Plan

2011-09-28T01:00:00.000-05:00

Since returning from Idaho, my blog posts have been infrequent.
As if you didn't notice.

Life has been "life-ing" and it seems as if my loafing time (read: picture taking time) has disappeared. And, if I'm honest, I don't feel quite as inspired here to take photos as I did in the Great Northwest. I'm not going to analyze that right now. All I know is that I want to take more photos. And post them.

So, here's my plan: The One-A-Week Plan.

I'm going to post one picture a week. Just one. Seems easy, huh? Heh, heh, heh...

I'm hoping that by setting my personal 'take pictures/post on the blog' bar lower, (just a photo, just once a week) that I will find time to keep shooting. That I will be inspired to find the beauty in the everyday.

Should the day come that my memory card is once again chock-full of photographic goodness, then I will up the stakes. But for now, it's once a week.

And so it goes...

I thought the stark tree kinda described how my blog posts have been in the last ten days...

My Only Worry in the World...

2011-09-18T01:00:00.000-05:00

... is the tide

gonna reach my chair?

I Know It To Be True...

2011-09-02T23:00:00.000-05:00

“God is not a belief to which you give your assent. God becomes a reality whom you know intimately, meet everyday, one whose strength becomes your strength, whose love, your love. Live this life of the presence of God long enough and when someone asks you, “Do you believe there is a God?” you may find yourself answering, “No, I do not believe there is a God. I know there is a God.”
~Ernest Boyer, Jr.

At It Again...

2011-08-31T23:00:00.000-05:00

We've begun our second year of homeschooling.

We are all looking forward to what the year will bring.

We saw blessing after blessing come from our decision to follow in obedience the call we received.

And we know, by faith, that the same will be true this year.

Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

Deuteronomy 6:5-9

Triumph

2011-08-29T01:00:00.001-05:00

I hate to admit it, but I almost fell for it.

I almost bought the lie that Satan was selling.

"You're old. Used up. Useless. OLD!"

I was questioning my self worth, my strength, my beauty, and my marriage.

I did not stop to count the blessings:
-- a heart that beats both strongly and passionately
-- a healthy, complete body that has healed from and triumphed over trauma
-- conception, carriage, and delivery of two healthy babies
-- energy to play and enjoy the abundance I've been given
-- vitality and a passion for this life
-- life itself

Satan is awful like that. He's just prowling around waiting to devour us in a weak time. (1 Peter 5:8)

And so I did the only thing that I can do in such a circumstance. I called out to Him.

"God, my God! I cry out. Your beloved needs you now!"

And because He is faithful, He is present, and because He has never, never forsaken me, He answered.

And helped me to battle the lies from the Father of Lies...

With Truth. Sweet, blissful Truth.

"I created your inmost being. I knit you together in your mother's womb. You are fearfully and wonderfully made. My works are wonderful. And you -- YOU are one of my works." (From Psalm 139:13-14)

I soaked it in. And I realized something. That if His works are wonderful, and if I am one of His works, then that makes me wonderful. Every. Single. Bump. Freckle. Inner-working. Everything.

And nothing -- NOTHING that Satan says can shake that.

The foundation of Truth. The Author of Truth.
God is my victory and He is here!
I WILL bring praise!

I will bring praise
I will bring praise
No weapon formed against me shall remain
I will rejoice
I will declare
GOD IS MY VICTORY AND HE IS HERE!
Lyrics from Desert Song by Amy Grant

Tune in!

2011-08-28T01:00:00.002-05:00

"I love to think of nature as an unlimited broadcasting station through which God speaks to us every hour, if we will only tune in." George Washington Carver

Momma's Still Got It!

2011-08-26T01:00:00.000-05:00

Wanna take a guess at who was more accurate?

Okay. Okay.
He IS a trained Marine, folks.
But, never fear!!
This Greyhaired Momma's still got it!

Agricultural Trivia -- Day 3

2011-08-24T01:00:00.001-05:00

We are back to Idaho Agricultural Trivia. Well, I have one more post. This one has been a long time coming, as there was some dissension in the ranks regarding what today's pictures actually were! (There's still some disagreement, but we're gonna go with what most people believe it to be. And next time, I'm gonna find the farmer and ask him...)

To refresh your memory, come with me back to Day 2:

Did you guess what that was?

If you guessed whole grain oats, you were correct.
I jest. I jest.
It's wheat.
There's a nifty website, The Idaho Wheat Commission, where you can learn lots more.
If you so desire.

On to Day 3's challenge:

Some farmers in Idaho are experimenting with this as an alternative crop.

No, it's not a lower carbohydrate potato.

But let me know if they come out with one of those.

As long as it was tasty, I'd buy it.

About 500 acres of this crop were planted in the Treasure Valley this year, primarily for dairy feed.

Anyone?

Psalm 127:3

2011-08-22T01:00:00.000-05:00

Children are a gift from the Lord;

they are a reward from Him.

More from home...

2011-08-19T01:00:00.002-05:00

While we've returned to FL and are trying to settle in, we've left part of our hearts behind in Idaho. Good thing we still have lots of photos to share! Makes home feel that much closer...

"Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it." Malachai 3:10

A Redneck...

2011-08-17T01:00:00.001-05:00

... and his Grumpa. Driving tractor.

I see a country song in the makin'! Don't you? Call Nashville!

A job well done, son! (And Grumpa!)

Blueberries

2011-08-14T01:00:00.000-05:00

Blueberries as big as the end of your thumb,

Real sky-blue, and heavy, and ready to drum

In the cavernous pail of the first one to come!

And all ripe together, not some of them green,

And some of them ripe! You ought to have seen!

Robert Frost

Magnificent

2011-08-13T01:00:00.000-05:00

His Power

2011-08-12T01:00:00.000-05:00

"For as in a thunderstorm the bright light is seen from one end of the sky to the other, so will the Son of Man be when His time comes." Luke 17:24 (Bible in Basic English)

Leavin'...

2011-08-11T01:00:00.001-05:00

... on a jet plane.

'Cept I KNOW when we'll be back again!!

Words Unnecessary

2011-08-10T01:00:00.000-05:00

Farmer's Prayer

2011-08-09T01:00:00.000-05:00

Lord, bless the land You've given me,
And may I always know
As I tend each crop and creature
You're the One who helps them grow.

Grant me the strength and wisdom
Please protect me from harm,
And thank You
For Your gracious gift-

The blessing of a farm.

Matthew 11:28

2011-08-08T01:00:00.000-05:00

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."

Lean on Him

2011-08-07T01:00:00.000-05:00

Agricultural Trivia -- postponed

2011-08-06T01:00:00.000-05:00

Well, there seems to be some dissension amongst the ranks regarding the photos that were next in the lineup.

It will require more research. And possibly more picture taking. Darn! More picture taking?!?! What I don't do for this blog... Heh, heh, heh...

In the mean time, enjoy a few days of photos. And know that I will be returning from yet another camping trip with a memory card full of great shots to share with you.

Wish me luck...

Agricultural Trivia -- Day 2

2011-08-05T01:00:00.000-05:00

So, what were your guesses for the plants on Day 1?

If you guessed Sugarbeets, you would have been correct. If you didn't guess Sugarbeets, well then you would have been wrong. You can learn more about Idaho Sugarbeets, courtesy of University of Idaho (go, Vandals!!)

So here is today's crop. Do not be dismayed. I've taken it easy on you since Day 1 might have been a bit tricky.

Hint 1: Idaho's 2010 crop was estimated to be worth 542 million dollars.

Hint 2: Idaho ranks fifth for the export of this crop.

Hint 3: This is grown in 42 of the 44 counties of Idaho.

Don't stumble over yourself to post your comment about what this crop is. I know it might take some thinkin' but you're a smart crew. You'll figure it out!

Agricultural Trivia -- Day 1

2011-08-04T01:00:00.002-05:00

Grown on 1.3 million acres by more than 10,000 farmers in the United States and Canada...

This crop provides over half of the sugar we produce in the United States.

Idaho is the #3 producer of these in the US, following Minnesota and North Dakota.

Anyone? Anyone?

The Harvest

2011-08-03T01:00:00.000-05:00

Then He said to His disciples,

“The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.

Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore,

to send out workers into his harvest field.”

Matthew 9:37-38

We are His workers. The Harvest is for Him.

I will be as a farmer, and work diligently.

For Him.

As for me and my household...

2011-08-02T01:00:00.001-05:00

... we will serve the Lord.
Joshua 24:15b

The Biggest Perks...

2011-08-01T01:00:00.000-05:00

of being home

is the chance we get

to love on our family.

And to be loved on in return.

How ever

will we leave???

TheBoy Shot Me!

2011-07-31T01:00:00.000-05:00

Apparently I am not the only one in the family who can find a decent shot from time to time.

If I may say so myself, of course!

I Am My Beloved's...

2011-07-30T01:00:00.000-05:00

... and my Beloved is mine...

You'd think that after 4 deployments, countless detachments and many, many other things that have taken him away from home for long periods of time, I'd be used to being away from him.

However, this has been the longest 3+ weeks ever.
Good thing that ends tonight!
{{Insert Happy Dance here!}}

(For you jokers out there, I'm talking about MY MAN. Not the furry guy. The strapping, handsome, tall drink of water holding the furry guy. Love 'em both, but am ecstatic that my hubby is coming to Idaho today!!! As for the furry guy, I'll have to wait a few more weeks before lovin' on that guy!)

Genesis 9:16

2011-07-29T01:00:00.000-05:00

"Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.”

Awesome God

2011-07-28T01:00:00.000-05:00

Our God

is an awesome God!

He reigns

from heaven above,

with wisdom, power, and love.

Our God is an awesome God!

Psalm 121

2011-07-27T01:00:00.000-05:00

"I lift up my eyes to the mountains—

where does my help come from?

My help comes from the LORD,

the Maker

of heaven and earth."

2011-07-26T01:00:00.000-05:00

Wide Open Spaces

2011-07-25T01:00:00.000-05:00

Somehow,

out here,

God's majesty

is made abundantly clear.

And I am humbled.

'Splorers...

2011-07-24T01:00:00.000-05:00

On the Fifth Day...

2011-07-23T01:00:00.000-05:00

'And God said, “Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: the livestock, the creatures that move along the ground, and the wild animals, each according to its kind.” And it was so.' Genesis 1:24

Finding Fruit

2011-07-22T01:00:00.000-05:00

Patience

Pays

Off...

"But the Fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, PATIENCE, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law." Galatians 5:22-23

Super Model

2011-07-21T01:00:00.000-05:00

If mini-pseudo-cowgirls who've never done any "real" cowgirl stuff had a catalog,

she'd be their top model.

And, I can't say that I'd blame the photographers.

Not. One. Bit.

He Loves Me...

2011-07-20T01:00:00.000-05:00

Does it show??

2011-07-18T01:00:00.000-05:00

We've been quite busy on our trip. Up early, busy all day, down late. Burning the candle at both ends, if you may. We're having a great time, but I'm exhausted at the end of the day. I think it might be showing in my eyes.

What do you think?

If you don't see it in my eyes, does my face look tired? Grumpy a bit?

Think I'll need to get a bit of beauty rest while I'm here...

Oh, How He Loves Us So!

2011-07-16T01:00:00.000-05:00

Irrigation is a good thing...

2011-07-14T01:00:00.001-05:00

Home

2011-07-12T01:00:00.001-05:00

The Earth Sings His Praise...

2011-07-10T23:18:00.000-05:00

Cinnamon & Spice...

2011-07-04T12:00:00.000-05:00

... and everything nice,
that's what little girls are made of.

Except now my little one is becoming a bigger girl. And it's all happening way too fast for this Momma's liking...

Dear Sissy,

How quickly you have grown! It seems as if only yesterday I was holding you for the first time and marveling at the miracle you are. What a blessing and a gift to be your parents!

You fill our home with a lovely generosity, a selfless heart, and a good giggle from time to time.

I love how your personality has blossomed over the last year. Less shy, more outgoing. Definitely sillier!

I love how you think of others before thinking of yourself.

I love how you ask if there is anything you can help me with. Then quickly follow it up with, "Is that a payable chore?"

I love how you are so quick to make something (a card, a small gift) for those you love. And even for those you've just met.

I love how you have grown in courage. You are determined when you set your mind to it!

I love how you are sold-out for Jesus, and live and walk in His truths as easily as you breathe.

I love how quick you are to hug and to be hugged. You have a very loving heart and that is beautiful.

I love how you already know that your true beauty comes from what is in your heart and soul, and not what is easily seen on the outside.

I love being your Momma, and look forward to growing with you as sisters in Christ.

Today, we thank God for you. We pray that we, as parents, may be granted the wisdom, gentleness, and patience to train you up in His ways. We pray that our legacy to you would be a life of grace, mercy, and love. Abundant, overflowing love. We pray that your heart and ears will always remain open to God's direction and that you may follow His lead with courage, passion, and zeal.

Happy 8th Birthday, Punkie. We love you!!

Forever Trust in Who We Are...

2011-07-04T01:00:00.000-05:00

Dear Smoochie,

Today is our thirteenth anniversary. Thirteen! While I’ve had great dreams for our marriage, none could compare to the reality of how our life together has turned out. You’ve made being married easy, enjoyable, and fun.

I am so grateful for you and for our relationship. You are patient and gentle with me, when I’m sure it’s not always easy to do. You have shown me unconditional love throughout the years, even when I’ve not been easy to love. You have shown great strength at my times of weakness and have been consistent, steadfast, and loyal. All these things make you, as my husband, far surpass my dreams.

I will love you forever. I am committed to being the best wife I can be for you. I am so happy that though we chose not to include Him in our wedding ceremony, that God OBVIOUSLY had his hand all over our relationship. And still does. I am even happier that we are now following Jesus, and all that He offers us. What a blessed life we live.

Know that today on our anniversary, and everyday, I thank God for you. You have made my life complete, and fulfilling, and fun. There are times I look around at our life and I think, “Wow! All this -- and eternity too!” We are truly blessed.

I love you. Today and everyday.

My heart to yours...

Gettin' Out There...

2011-07-03T01:00:00.001-05:00

All Creatures Great and Small

2011-07-02T01:00:00.000-05:00

I think Ferris Bueller said it correctly. "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it."

You see that little guy in there? How great is our God? That little creature is about as big as a pencil tip eraser. He was perfectly camouflaged from the veiny leaf-looking wings, to his perfectly crisp-apple green leaf color, to the little reddish eyes that matched the colors of the leaves. This little guy made me so glad I'd stopped to look around. And that I didn't miss it!

This is MY God

2011-06-30T07:19:00.000-05:00

He is the First and Last, the Beginning and the End!

He is the keeper of Creation and the Creator of all!

He is the Architect of the universe and

The Manager of all times.
He always was, He always is, and He always will be...

Unmoved, Unchanged, Undefeated, and never Undone!
He was bruised and brought healing!
He was pierced and eased pain!
He was persecuted and brought freedom!
He was dead and brought life!
He is risen and brings power!
He reigns and brings Peace!

The world can't understand him,
The armies can't defeat Him,
The schools can't explain Him,
The leaders can't ignore Him.
Herod couldn't kill Him,
The Pharisees couldn't confuse Him, and
The people couldn't hold Him!

Nero couldn't crush Him,
Hitler couldn't silence Him,
The New Age can't replace Him, and
Donahue can't explain Him away!

He is light, love, longevity, and Lord.
He is goodness, Kindness, Gentleness, and God.
He is Holy, Righteous, mighty, powerful, and pure.

His ways are right,
His word is eternal,
His will is unchanging, and
His mind is on me.

He is my Redeemer,
He is my Savior,
He is my guide, and
He is my peace!

He is my Joy,
He is my comfort,
He is my Lord, and
He rules my life!

I serve Him because His bond is love,
His burden is light, and
His goal for me is abundant life.

I follow Him because He is the wisdom of the wise,
The power of the powerful,
The ancient of days, the ruler of rulers,
The leader of leaders, the overseer of the over-comers, and
The sovereign Lord of all that was and is and is to come.

And if that seems impressive to you, try this for size.
His goal is a relationship with ME!

He will never leave me,
Never forsake me,
Never mislead me,
Never forget me,
Never overlook me, and
Never cancel my appointment in His appointment book!

When I fall, He lifts me up!
When I fail, He forgives!
When I am weak, He is strong!
When I am lost, He is the way!
When I am afraid, He is my courage!
When I stumble, He steadies me!
When I am hurt, He heals me!
When I am broken, He mends me!
When I am blind, He leads me!
When I am hungry, He feeds me!
When I face trials, He is with me!
When I face persecution, He shields me!
When I face problems, He comforts me!
When I face loss, He provides for me!
When I face Death, He carries me Home!

He is everything for everybody, everywhere,
Every time, and every way.
He is God, He is faithful.
I am His, and He is mine!
My Father in heaven has defeated the father of this world.

So, if you're wondering why I feel so secure, understand this...
He said it and that settles it.
God is in control, I am on His side, and
That means all is well with my soul.

C'mon In...

2011-06-27T01:00:00.000-05:00

...the water's fine!!

The Sound of Freedom

2011-06-25T01:00:00.001-05:00

There are a few perks to being at the base swimming pool early in the morning four times a week.

Daily shows.

Splish, Splash!

2011-06-23T01:00:00.004-05:00

Coupon Binder Board

2011-06-21T01:00:00.000-05:00

"How far is too far?" some might ask.

I'll let you know when I get there.

(Coupon Binder Board idea, instructions, and vinyl courtesy of The Creative Homemaker. Thanks, Heather!)

And then there was light...

2011-06-20T01:00:00.000-05:00

And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. Genesis 1:3

The sun will no more be your light by day, nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you, for the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory. Isaiah 60:19

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 1 Peter 2:9

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12

Candy is MUCH Better than Meat!

2011-06-15T19:32:00.001-05:00

I've felt that, lately, my blog posts have been less than stellar. Not the caliber I aspire to. Few and far between. Less verbal meat for you to chew, if you will. If you've been around here for a while, or you're here often, you know what I mean. I feel like I'm letting you down. And I hate to let you down. So, I'm gonna take a blog post break. A blog post break-ish.

I recently took a photography class that instructed and challenged me and also inspired the purchase of a new lens. Those things coupled together has me hungering to get out and shoot. However, I tend to find many other things to do (jammin'), the day closes and I haven't even turned my camera on. Not the best plan for someone who wants to get better at her hobby.

Here's the blog post break-ish plan: Take photos everyday. Post the photos regularly. Sometimes with a brief thought or rambling, other times the image will speak for itself. I'll just let the blog BE. Light on the verbal meat, and heavy on the eye candy.

So join me! I'm pretty sure some fun, and possibly some mischief will occur! And seriously, don't we all like candy better than meat anyway?

Sista Has Been Jammin'

2011-06-13T19:31:00.000-05:00

Lately I've begun to feel quite domesticated.

Wait! Wait! As I read back over that sentence, I realized that was not what I meant to say. Of course not. I mean I feel quite domestic. As in taking care of things of our home. Proverbs 31 style.
I did NOT mean domesticated. As in sheep. Baa! Or goats. Maa! No. I did not mean domesticated. I meant domestic.

After hearing how easy it was to make, I decided to try my hand at making jam. I picked up some berries (not to be confused with "picked" some berries.) Smashed 'em up, and followed the directions on the pectin package like any good little homemaker would do.

And found that making freezer jam is pretty easy!

And then today, these beauties made their way into some jars.

Am loving me some fresh peach jam.
Homemade.
By the domesticated one!

GREYHAIRED MOMMA

You GOAL, Girl: an update

Today: Race #1

Depravity

Weekly Photo Dump

Oh, No You Didn't!

This is why...

A Great Day

What is Clean Eating?

Weekly Photo Dump

I am...

Testing 101

You GOAL, girl!

Mystery Trip... Revealed!!

I love my church...

Christmas Service -- from home!

Healthy -- and MOST Delicious -- Sticky Buns

Endless Summer

All he wants for Christmas...

Best 3 Minutes of the Season!

I did it!

Merry, Merry

So Good It'll Make You Wanna Slap Yer Granny!

Self Portrait

Misto -- Product Review

Another bird...

Come, Follow Me

The Part I Like the Least

BBB -- Another update

Weekly Pic(s)

Photo of the Week

Photo of the Week

B3 -- Update #2... and #3

B3 Update

OAWP -- Week 2

The Big Brave Boy

A Dog's Gotta Do What A Dog's Gotta Do...

Sorta Fall-ish

One-A-Week Plan

My Only Worry in the World...

I Know It To Be True...

At It Again...

Triumph

Tune in!

Momma's Still Got It!

Agricultural Trivia -- Day 3

Psalm 127:3

More from home...

A Redneck...

Blueberries

Blueberries as big as the end of your thumb,

Magnificent

His Power

Leavin'...

Words Unnecessary

Farmer's Prayer

Matthew 11:28

Lean on Him

Agricultural Trivia -- postponed

Agricultural Trivia -- Day 2

Agricultural Trivia -- Day 1

The Harvest

As for me and my household...

The Biggest Perks...

TheBoy Shot Me!

I Am My Beloved's...

Genesis 9:16

Awesome God

Psalm 121

{{Contented Sigh}}

Wide Open Spaces

'Splorers...

On the Fifth Day...

Finding Fruit

Super Model

He Loves Me...

Does it show??

Oh, How He Loves Us So!

Irrigation is a good thing...

Home