There is freedom!!!

Hi friends!!! I've thought about writing a series of blogs on a topic close to my heart. For some reason I never do. I never seem to make the time. We have definitely shared our story to many, we've spoken at churches and we've helped other couples find help and healing in this area. After a friend's post and many comments later I realized how much people need to hear the truth and testimonies from people who have found freedom.

This blog series is going to be about our marriage, about my husbands past addiction, about how we almost crumbled as husband and wife, about how satan almost won, but didn't and about the ugly truth of porn & unfaithfulness/adultery.

This blog series will start with a shortened version of our testimony. (anyone who knows me knows that if I shared it all it would keep me writing for weeks) :) The second part will be about the lies, sin & evil of the porn industry and unfaithfulness. Last will be how my husband found freedom, how he found wholeness is Jesus and how our marriage was restored.

Stay tuned and please let me know you're reading. :)

I'm not living in the future..

So I decided to blog today. I had a lot of thoughts going through my head. Which is actually the norm. :p Honestly I think my mind is racing even when I'm sleeping. LOL

I started to think about how I and many of us can get so caught up in the future we forget to be present in the here and now. I remember when I started thinking about parenthood and how I could prepare for it. The thing is that sometimes the best preparations happen in the midst of the actual event. I mean sure there's ways to prepare for parenthood. You could try to get less sleep, be okay with changing poopy diapers, watch a family members kid when sick and let them puke all over you etc. ;) (ok, really don't do that)  But there's something about dealing and going through it when you are actually there. I very much like to prepare mentally for events and try to think about how I will be and act in those situations. I've learned sometimes until I was there I could not be completely prepared. Another thing is that God is so good, that he truly gives us his supernatural grace to accomplish what we are doing. But that grace is not there before hand. You also don't have the blessings or good points that go with having a child til you have one. It's like preparing for one of the greatest blessings you could ever receive, but having none of the joys, perks, blessings and grace that you will have in that moment. I call that a recipe for doubt, fear and maybe even becoming so overwhelmed with it that we don't even take the step.

I've also looked back and said "man I could have prepared even more in situations". When I look back at being a parent of one child I think "man, it was so easy with one and I really could have taken better advantage of that time to prepare for baby #2". Then I think back and realize that I was really enjoying and living in the moment of having one child and I don't regret that! I wouldn't change it. It so easy to look back and see how much more we could have done, but truth is I was living in that present moment and I'm grateful for that. There's so much we learn in the midst of our current situations and that's the beauty of being in the here and now and not where others are or you may be in future. I feel there's a lot of happiness that can be missed if I was too concentrated on what was coming. There's beauty in learning things in the midst of them and not from other people's experiences, books or even what we think it might be like.

I sometimes get WAY ahead of myself. It's a good thing to prepare for the future and think ahead. I think the problem is when the future becomes more of our current life than where we are currently. I have been thinking a lot about it with homeschooling too. Kindergarten is not required in NY state. So this year although we've started schooling we don't have to. My thoughts though went like this "but next year I will have to do reports and be super thorough". Today as I was thinking about it and talking to the Lord. I felt like he said you are preparing again for a place you are not at yet and my grace is not there. I was like that's so true. It's not that I'm not going to prepare, but I was beginning to prepare more for the future than enjoying this new journey and place I'm at now. I was getting so caught up in what I have to do in the future that I was starting to not enjoy where I currently am. The fact is this year is the last year it will be this easy with homeschooling and I truly want to embrace where I am and stop fretting about how I'm going to have to be.

My encouragement to you is enjoy where you are, be present in the present and take peace that where ever the future leads you God is already prepared and will be right there to help you and extend his grace to you!

Summer salad with homemade dressing

Made this salad tonight. All 4 of us devoured it. I was out of dressing and I prefer making my own, but was too lazy to make my usual dressing. So I ended up just putting lime juice and extra virgin olive oil and it was perfect.

4 large handfuls of spinach leaves or any lettuce
7 small or 4 large strawberries (sliced thin)
1 med carrot (washed & sliced thin, the skins are really good for you & I leave them on)
half of a large cucumber sliced
Handful of yellow raisins
Small onion (optional)
1/4 cup almonds the small thinly sliced (optional)
 about 4TBSP of feta cheese. ***

dressing: juice from half of a lime and 4TBSP of olive oil. Just enough to get everything nice & moist. ***

I do not usually measure, but just add until it looks good. The measurements are pretty accurate. Next time I think I am going to add some fresh basil.

*** (if you use a less salty cheese than the feta it would be a good idea to add a little salt & pepper to add seasoning. My feta is very salty and therefore the dressing doesn't need seasoning.)

Serves 4 to 5 people. Enjoy!

Pad Thai sauce.

I got the base recipe from a friend and it's super yummy. I have added a few things to it also. We love it though!

6TBSP of peanut butter (real peanut butter with nothing added is best. I get it freshly ground at Wegmans)
6TBSP of soy sauce (preferably low sodium, gluten free and preservative free) Kikkoman brand name
2 cloves fresh minced garlic
3/4 cup water
3 TBSP of maple syrup (you could use another form of sugar/sweetener though)
Juice from 1 1/2 limes and/or lemons. (I like to do half and half)

Spices that I like to add are, a little cayenne pepper & 1tsp of curry powder (curry powder is made up of coriander, red chillies, turmeric, cumin, pepper and fenugreek)

Serve with your favorite veggies and my favorite Thai Kitchen stir fry rice noodles or brown rice.

Makes about 4 to 5 servings

Enjoy!

Homemade whipped cream frosting

Stumbled across some healthy gluten free icing and whip cream/cool whip frosting recipes. Here's the one I used to frost Isaiah cupcakes. It's only 2 ingredients!!

1 cup heavy cream

2TBSP agava nectar

1TBSP of vanilla extract. (optional)

Whip with hand blender until it reaches peak. Fluffy. :)

This recipe was good, but the vanilla was just what it needed for me. :D It Frost about 10 cupcakes, but I made a double batch and saved the rest for my coffee. :D

Latest smoothies

I was looking for more ways to incorporate natural probiotics. I don't like yogurt.. :/ So I've been making smoothies with Keifer or yogurt almost every morning. The kids actually ask for them almost every day and are sad when I tell them today is not a smoothie making day. I also wanted to use mostly in season fruit. So here it is:

1 apple (cored not peeled) the skin has the majority of nutrients.
2 pears (peeled mostly and cored)
Handful of frozen strawberries
1 banana (optional)
1/2 cup Kefir. or yogurt
1/2 cup liquid (we've been using fresh local apple cider or raw milk)
About 2TBSP flax seed.

Blend and enjoy! If too thick just add more liquid. I just dump, so the liquid amounts are estimates.  :)

How to kick a cold

So our family (all 4) came down with an awful cold. We haven't gotten a cold in 9+ months and Aaron almost never gets colds. It was one tough virus. I knocked us all down quit a bit. :( I went to Lori's at first sight of cold after reading my health Bible. :) Isaiah came down with cold first Thursday and then the rest of us by Friday and Isaiah was better by Saturday and the rest of us were better by Sunday. 

Mercedes has a cough still, but that's just due to the fact the girl can not blow her nose and sucks up her snot continually. So for her she had to get better without getting the gunk out...

One easy and quick change we made was NO sugar and VERY little processed foods.

I have a book called Prescription For Nutritional Healing. I recommend everyone have the book especially if you have children. I got it off Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/Prescription-Nutritional-Healing-Fifth-Edition/dp/1583334009

Here's a list of things I bought according to the book and what I did:

Down 8oz of water with 2tbsp of RAW apple cider vinger (BRAGGS brand) and if you are brave enough a sprinkle of cayenne pepper. (this alone will kick the cold) I do this for 1 to 3 days.

Zinc lozenges- make sure they do not contain citric acid, sorbitol or mannitol, because these inhibit absorption.  I bought NATURE'S PLUS
Herbal Actives ImmunActin Zinc Lozenges http://store.lorisnatural.com/store/product/38069/NP-Immunactin-Zinc-60l/ 

Also these zinc lozenges contain: olive leaf,  elderberr, echinacea &  goldenseal. 

Raw garlic- I added this to our foods, ate it raw and for the kids added it to there bath. (They would not eat raw) :)

Vitamin C- For this I juiced oranges and lemon. If you don't have a juicer you can still hand juice some oranges. 

Vitamin D3- We laid out in the sun for at least an hour everyday.

Stayed active- Staying active is really important. 

Eucalyptus and lavender essential oil- we added this to our baths and showers. I also put the eucalyptus in a dish with cut up raw garlic by our beds. Important to only buy 100% pure oils and they are expensive, but worth it to me. :)

Echinacea tea with raw honey

Good nights sleep- At least 8 hours

We continued to take our multivitamins- Natural vitality liquid (Calm multi for kids) and juice plus vitamins. If you are taking cheap vitamins from the store then stop and go buy quality ones. Cheap vitamins can actually do you more harm than good.

The book also mentions sipping on good organic chicken or turkey broth, olive leaf, elderberry, echinacea &  goldenseal. 

 

The zinc lozeges contain most of the above!! :)

Most of the above was from the book. I was really amazed how fast we got over everything. Seems like a lot of work and money, but it wasn't. Being sick longer would have been more work. 

Next up I will tell you how we got rid of double ear infections and pink eye. We got that back in January. :(

 

Energy peanut butter balls!

Most amazing peanut butter balls

• 1 cup organic (dry) oats   (I use old-fashioned oats)
• 1/2 cup organic coconut flakes (shredded and un-sweetened)
• 1 cup organic peanut butter  
• 1/2 cup organic ground flax seed and/or chai seeds
• 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips minis   
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon   (optional)
• 1/3 cup local raw honey
• 1 tsp. organic vanilla
• 1/4 cup raisins  (optional)

To make:
Stir all ingredients together in a medium bowl until thoroughly mixed.  Let chill in the refrigerator for half an hour. Once chilled, roll into balls of whatever size you would like.  (Mine were about 1″ in diameter.)  Store in an airtight container and keep refrigerated for up to 1 week.

I also put nuts and dried fruit in sometimes.

Cops came to the door

So after thee initial shock wore off, I realized just how crazy the whole event was. So I decided to write what the cop must have been thinking verses what really happened.

Cop gets several 911 calls from a young female... He looks into the information they have on the homeowner the calls are coming from. Oh great they have guns... Better get my armor on and get over there fast..

Me: Cedes comes into the room and wakes me up. Baby starts crying.. ugh, I better go get him. I lay back in bed with the kids and try to wake up.

Cop pulls up.. Hmmm, house seems innocent enough. Wait pretty small maybe the wife killed her husband to collect life insurance money.

Me: kids STOP jumping on bed before someone falls of it. We're getting up in 2 mins.

Cop: I better get in there. Where's my gun... Bangs on door. No answer. Bangs again. Still no answer. Oh crap something is definitely wrong. Time to brake down door.

Me: who the heck is knocking at the door that LOUD! Probably the water meter guy, he always knocks LOUD! Well I better check just to make sure. Oh s***! it's the cops! Why in the world is he here. AHHHHH!!! I got to get dressed and quick before he brakes down the door! Oh wait take mouth guard out!!

Cop: Ok, the door is coming down! Oh wait someone's coming. Lady answers. She looks like she's been drinking or drugs and wait what is that blood on her shirt!!

Me: OH man, I can't seem to open my eyes. Oh great I have a huge ketchup stain on my shirt... Looks like blood. He's asking about Cedes falling, wait no, that's a birth mark. Oh good he believed me.

Cop: 2 cute kids she has. Oh just a birth mark. Oh phone is right at child level. Looks at mom who is checking her phone. Sure enough dumb mom leaves phone for kid to call 911. Ok, I'm out of here.

Me: Thank goodness he's leaving... Sit down and calm down. Oh this would be a good FB post.

Thanks for reading. And yes, I wasn't dressed, barely awake, mouth guard wearing and ketchup stained shirt.

Muffins

So after juicing tonight I decided I should  find something to do with all the yummy pulp. So I decided to use the apple, lemon, spinach, carrot and orange pulp to make muffins. I found a recipe online and then altered it a little. If you don't have pulp from juicing you could grate some carrots & apple and throw in some apple sauce too make up for the 4 cups pulp.

So here it is:

Use any combination of fruit pulp you have on hand to make your own muffins. You really can't go wrong!

4 cups of any fruit pulp
1 cup of olive oil (or any kind really)
3 eggs
1 cup of honey
3 cups of whole grain flour
1 tbsp baking soda
1 tsp of nutmeg, cinnamon or spice of choice
1 tsp of vanilla

The next items I mention are completely optional, but completely yummy when added: 

raisins (or any dried fruit)

pecans (or any nut)

Mix the fruit pulp with the honey, eggs, vanilla, oil and mix. Add the dry ingredients. Pour into muffin cups or greased muffin tins. Bake for 40 minutes at 350 degrees.

Working MOM

I want to start off saying this is not meant to condemn, make someone feel inferior or challenge a mom's decision to work outside the home that the Lord told too do so. This blog is my feelings and experience that the Lord has done through my temporary working outside of the home.

So most of you know that my co-worker asked me to come fill in for her while she was in Mexico for 2 months. She asked me about this a year ago and I said yes.

I am working around 20 hours a week. Part time at my old place of employment before having kids. What the Lord has been speaking to me is wonderful. He has changed me, grew me, solidified me and loved me through this time.

First I'll talk about growing me: In this month I have had to change a lot of things, which has been a challenge. God proved to me that I could be a working mom and make it. I definitely thought I couldn't do it. However, it was God who truly has given me the strength to do it and it helps that it's temporary. :0)

Changed me: This time around I feel as I've worked I've done so with my whole heart serving as to the Lord. I feel that this time I have really had the Lord's heart with me as I worked. Working to help and serve others instead of trying to get by with as little effort as possible. I think that's how I worked most of the time before. Not all, but it was my outlook for the majority.

Loved me: The Lord loved me through this time. He has shown himself faithful in so much. I believe it was the Lord that my brother was with us in this season. It made leaving my kids so much easier. :) He has given me a lot more energy and strength for this time. Joe you're the best brother ever and uncle. I am the luckiest sister alive

Finally solidified: In this time he has solidified my desire to be a stay at home mom. This time has shown me that working outside of the home 3 days a week has shifted my focus. Now I am glad the Lord gave me this opportunity, because it came at the perfect time. I wouldn't change my decision at all. What I am saying is that working outside of the home is not what the Lord wants for me or my family permanently. It has become obvious to me that I am unable to serve my husband and my kids in the way God has asked me too and work outside of the home. The Lord has birthed a passion inside of me to take such good care of my family. A passion that he certainly put in me not something I did on my own. I have experienced how slowly my focus has become more about me and my job and less about my family. For this time it's what's necessary, but it's not what the Lord wants for ever to take place in my family. I have had less energy for my husband and kids while working outside of the home. I have less of a desire to cook as healthy. I have had less time to take my kids to fun places. I've had less time to have alone time with the hubby. All this to say I am a better lover to God, my husband and kids when the majority of my time is at home. It's shown me that the desire to be a stay at home mommy is of the Lord. It's shown me that even though being a stay at home mom is harder then working outside of the home it doesn't have to be less rewarding. It doesn't have to feel like a chore. Being a stay at home mom should be the greatest, most enjoyable, most important and most rewarding job I can have. But it takes the Lord to feel all those feelings each day. In my fleshly nature it's easy to only see the difficult, time consuming, constantly draining and selfless job it can be at times. But with the Lord's help I can see the former each and everyday I choose too.

I hope this encourages you, challenges you and inspires you. Thanks for listening. :D

About a book...

So, I'm reading a book and it's really good! My MIL gave it to me. I thought I would share a little of it. It's called "The Way They Learn"-how to discover and teach to your child's strengths. I'm enjoying reading about myself just as much about my kids personalities. Ok, so here's a little in chapter one.

Perception: The way we take in information.

Concrete- This quality lets register information directly through our five senses: sight, smell touch, taste and hearing. When we are using our concrete abilities, we are dealing with what is here and now-the tangible, the obvious. We are not looking for hidden meanings or trying to make relationships between ideas or concepts. The keys phrase simply stated is "It is what it is"

Abstract: This quality allows us to visualize, to conceive ideas, to understand or believe what we can't actually see. When we are using this abstract quality, we are using our intuition, our intellect, our imagination: We are looking beyond what is to the more subtle implications. The key phrase for abstract is "It's not always what it seems."

Although everyone uses both concrete and abstract perceptual abilities every day, each person is more comfortable using one over the other. This becomes his or her dominant ability. 



Now on to ORDERING: The way we use the information we perceive.
Once we've taken the information in, we all use two methods or ordering what we know. Accordering to Gregorc, the two ordering abilities are sequential and random.

SEQUENTIAL: A sequential method of ordering allowing our minds to organize information in a linear step-by-step manner. When using sequential ability, we are following a logical train of thought, a conventional approach to dealing with information. Those who have strong sequential ordering abilities may prefer to have a plan and follow it, rather than relying on impulse. Their key phrase is "Follow the steps"

RANDOM: Random ordering lets our minds organize information by chunks and with no particular sequence. When we are using our random ability, we may often be able to skip steps in a procedure and still produce the desire result. We might even start in the middle or begin at the end and work backwards. Those with a strong random way of ordering information may seem impulsive or more spontaneous. It appears as if they do not have a plan. Their key phrase is "Just get it done"

So everyone you can pick one of the first 2 and then one of the second 2 and that gives you your learning styles. And this is to help you find your child's too.

Here's a little brake down of the 4 different combinations. Look for yours.

Concrete Sequential (CS): Hardworking, conventional, accurate, stable, dependable, consistent, factual and organized.

Abstract Random (AR) sensitive, compassionate, perceptive, imaginative, idealistic, sentimental, spontaneous and flexible.

Abstract Sequential (AS): analytical, objective, knowledgeable, thorough, structured, logical, deliberate and systematic

Concrete Random (CR): quick, intuitive, curious, realistic, creative, innovative, instinctive and adventurous. 

Now that we have all the info to figure us out I want to share a story from the book. The hysterical thing about the story is that this same situation happened to me and the hubby just two weeks ago. I was dying laughing while reading.

I (Kathy am a strong CR) Now onto the story. "One year it was almost Christmas, and my (AR) sister Sandee, one of her small children, and I were Christmas shopping in a department store. When we got to the escalator with the stroller, Sandee noticed a sign that said, "no strollers allowed on the escalator." While she was reading the sign, I was busy loading the stroller onto the moving stairway. Sandee was horrified. "The sign says no strollers on escalator!" she cried. I looked at her. "Oh are the stroller police going to get us?" I asked sarcastically. " Sandee, this sign is for people who don't know how safely put  a stroller on an escalator. "Since I do know it doesn't apply to me." For me it was simply a guide line.

OK, this exact story happened to us 2 weeks ago. Because I had both husband and brother who are rule keepers they won and we took the elevator. But I tell you I didn't like it. LOL. Everything about (CR) seems to fit me and my daughter for that matter. I with out a doubt understand this everyday. We both are strong willed and butt heads a lot. HA! Sure does make an interesting family unit here. :)


Please read, laugh and post what you are. Thanks!  :D

A sneak peek of why we transitioned into a Messianic congregation

I know many are interested in why we talk about so much Jewish stuff and now attend a Jewish congregation. So I'm going to try to explain.  :)

So it started about 3 and a half years ago. Now that we look back we can see how the Lord was starting to birth into us a passion for the Jewish roots of our faith. I will tell you about some of the situation's that happened. The first thing that happened 3 1/2 years ago. I was attending a Bible study and there was a lady in my class that would always have this intensely deep understanding of the Word of God. It would always leave me thinking "I want to know what the lady does". You could tell she had a Jewish background by what she said. I don't know her background for sure, because in that class we couldn't tell our denomination etc, because they didn't want any negativity because someone had a different background. 2nd thing that happened was out of no where my husband starting teaching himself  Hebrew and had a passion to learn the original language of the Bible. 3rd thing that happened is we were trying to get a membership to the YMCA and ended up at the JCC (Jewish Community Center). It really happened randomly. There's at least 3 other stories, but I'll share just one more. We had ask around to find a class we could take to learn Hebrew and the Jewish roots of our faith. My grandmother told us she knew of a Messianic church up in Rochester. So we looked it up and then soon forgot all about it. So then God made a louder statement. He sent my brother to that church and he came home that weekend and brought the church pamphlet home to us. It was the congregation we had look up online.

So we saw there was a Jewish class on Tues night taught by the Rabbi. We decided to check it out. Almost immediately we knew we were where God wanted us to be.  The Rabbi invited us to check out their service on Saturday. We thought we just want to come to this class, but we could check it out, because it wouldn't interfere with our church service at Elim on Sunday. Anyway we went to the service and knew right away we would have to attend there. So we decided to attend there and our current church, but it began to be too much. I know that I just didn't want to give up Elim. It was hard since we LOVED our church and had so much of who we were come from what that church poured into us. But we knew God was leading us in a new direction. So we told the pastor we had to go and now attend Shema Yisrael and our working on becoming members there.

It's amazing how God worked this out. I would never had chosen this path on my own, but am so happy we are here. God is teaching us his word in such amazing power. I feel like we are in Bible college going to Shema. The people are amazing! We felt like we were joined into a family right away. I so much enjoy seeing how the old testament God is the same in the new testament. I enjoy learning a deeper understanding of the Bible by understanding the Jewishness of the Bible.  I enjoy seeing how God fulfilled the Law on the times and season's most Holidays (festivals) are celebrated in the old testament and Jewish people still celebrate. I've enjoyed learning the VERY customs of God's people in the Bible. What a joy! I've enjoyed partaking in the Jewish festivals not in a religious ritual but in the richness of why God told them to do them in the first place!

I hope to continue to tell of what God is doing in our lives through our messianic congregation on here. Thanks for listening. Shalom to you all!

Being content

It's been a little while since I wrote on here, so I figured it's about time. :D

Today I felt God reminding me of a time in my life where he wanted me to be content. I couldn't stop thinking about it, so I decided I should write a blog about it.

Back when we were newly weds....  I was working a job that I had no desire to be at. I had been there a while and I was ready for something different. I remember thinking I need to write up my resume and start apply for different jobs. After I put my resume together I heard the Lord tell me not to put in any job applications. Not only that, but then he said I want you to be content where you are! Ugg. Not what I wanted to hear. I don't know that I needed to be happy about the job, but I did know I needed to be content.

Content means- satisfied with what one is or has; not wanting more or anything else.2.British . agreeing; assenting.

What God was telling me was to stay put, be satisfied and don't go looking for more. At the time I didn't know that in obeying he would bring the job I needed right to me. :) So I listened and I didn't look elsewhere and I tried to stay content where I was. About 3 months later a guy came up to me and offered me a job. He said he appreciated how hard I worked and how I was always so friendly. I was laughing inside, but I didn't feel that was how I acted. He offered me a job I didn't have many qualifications for, but it was mine if I wanted it. :D

See sometimes God wants us to be faithful with little, just so he can bless us with much! If I had not listened I might have gotten another job, but it wouldn't have been the job God wanted to bless me with. By submitting to God not only was I blessed with a job (that I loved) but it gave God all the glory! By God doing it I didn't even have to lift a finger, but God spoke to a man (that wasn't even a Christian) to come and offer me a job. In this I received even more faith, trust, love and blessing. 

We can make decisions on our own and we can chose to do things our way. But choosing God and choosing his way ALWAYS turns out better. Because of it I have another testimony to share. I have more faith. Obeying isn't always easy and we don't always have the answers to why, but he's faithful. I know he has a better way then anything I could imagine. 

Trust, Obey, be faithful, be content in what Christ has given you and in turn that's loving Christ. :D

Cookie cutter!

If you came here looking for a good cookie cutter recipe you were wrong, but shouldn't be disappointed. :D

So I was going to post on my facebook wall what a great hubby I have for getting up with the kids and cooking a fabulous breakfast for all.... Then I thought but that's not the true heart of the matter. So I decided to write a blog.

The true heart of the matter is that my husband truly loves me the way that Christ loved the church. Christ didn't love people how he wanted to be loved, or the way someone told him how they loved their spouse, but he loved each individual in their unique way and circumstances. If they were blind he healed them, if they needed food he fed them, and because we needed a sacrifice to cleanse us of our sins he died.

See if I said that my husband needs me to clean, cook and take care of our children and stopped there then I would miss the unique way in how he desires to be loved. The Bible says to respect your husband and that's what I need to do. But if I only respected him and never looked at anything else I wouldn't be a very good wife and if my husband only loved me and didn't respect me then he would be missing the picture. Each one of us have different talents, personalities, gifts, desires and family backgrounds. If we look at people and say there's only one way to be a good wife, mother, Christian and friend we wouldn't be doing our best. 

If on a day that my husband comes home and just needs a nap I come running with all the "man jobs" he needs to do then I wouldn't be acting in love. And if my husband came home and I was a exhausted, sleep deprived and in need of a brake he demanded I needed to do my list of "wifely duties" then that would not be acting in love.

We're a team and each team member needs different things done on different days. Sometimes my hubby cooks, sometimes I take out the trash, sometimes I'm the one to say the prayers at night, at some point I worked a job outside of the home and my husband enjoys to sew. We are different and bring different talents to the table. I know women who love to work on cars. I know men who love to cook. 

All this to say. Don't let someone or some book tell you how to love your spouse, kids, family and friends. Don't get me wrong books and advice are great. I have favorite books. But if we don't ask God to reveal to us how to love him, our kids and our family we might just miss the mark. I love the fact that Christ gives me strength when I'm weak, wisdom when I need it, love when I'm feeling un-loved, direction when I'm directionless, and the ability to love others in a way I am incapable on my own. Be Christ to your husband. Seek to love in the way he needs to be loved on that day, that hour or that week. Allow your husband to love you and too take over your "duties" when you need it. Be each others help meet. Love each other without limitations. Be Christ where ever you are!

Lunch @ the Blowers

Thought today's lunch should be shared. We made cold chicken noodle pasta.

Ingredients:

One bag of noodles (I used brown rice noodles-they are gluten free & delish)
2 cans of organic chicken (this or already cooked & shredded chicken)
Peas (I used frozen)
Olives
onions
Dried organic black beans (or canned)
Dried organic garbanzo beans (or canned)
carrots (cut in tiny pieces)
Mayonnaise
Seasonings (use your favorite ones)


Cook noodles as directed, soak beans over night then cook, drain everything and mix together with mayonnaise and seasonings. Then enjoy!  :D

Who are you living for?

So these thoughts have been swirling around in my head lately. Sometimes I myself can get caught up in thinking, acting, dressing and eating to please man rather than God. Now don't get me wrong we should consider our brother and sisters in Christ in what we do, but they cannot be the only one or the one. Sometimes I find myself running around in circles thinking will the offend this person or that person and honestly this can drive one crazy.... First of all we cant make decisions based on what if's, because that list could go on and on.

I think if I simply ask my father God if something is okay and allow him to speak to me about what's okay I will be a lot better off. Because people are all different with all their own opinions and I can't base what I do on other peoples opinions. I must ask God and allow him to show me how to look, live, eat and be.

Who's approval are we looking for anyway? It must be God's! Don't get me wrong I love to hear people's opinions and God uses his people to speak and teach us also. I must know God's opinion first therefore when someone speaks out of jealousy, fear, anger or bitterness I can rely on God to combat those lies.

God shows us how to live each and every aspect of life. He teaches us how to live through his word, through his voice and through the example of himself when he lived here on earth. When in doubt search his word, pray and seek his voice. I desire to hear his voice as clear as I hear my husband speak to me. When we stand before the Lord, the opinions of all the billions of people in the world will count for nothing. Only God's opinion will matter in that day.

Jesus I ask that everyone who reads this would get to know your voice better and may it be as clear to them as there own earthly father's voice. Amen

Here is a little bit of of John Maxwell's words and scriptures to meditate on. Isaiah was one of the most powerful models in the Bible. The book that bears his name describes his consistent lifestyle, his uncompromising convictions and his clear vision that drove him to continue speaking out despite the unfaithfulness of his people. Isaiah led with integrity. Integrity means "oneness" the quality of purity and consistency. Isaiah's convictions teach us about avoiding ungodly compromise. He and his contemporary Micah, both raised the bar for the people by holding to GOD'S standards with unswerving determination.

Matt 6:1 Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them Otherwise you have no reward from your father in heaven.

Colossians 3:22-23  Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters

Galatians 1:10 Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ. 

Matthew 6:25-27 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?  Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life

John 4:34 "my food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

                                                                                                                                             

Granola recipe

Several people have asked for this recipe. I've made a lot of modifications, but still want to try to get rid of the need to put any oil in it, but for right now I do put the oil in.

Pre heat oven *350

5 cups organic rolled oats
2 cups of your favorite nuts (I use walnuts & almonds)
1 cup wheat germ
1 cup coconut
1 cup flax seed   (you don't have to add this, but adds nutrients)
1 TBSP cinnamon

Mix all ingredients above and then place on greased cookie sheets.

1 cup raisins
1 cup cranberries

Add the above after it's cooked.

3/4 cup oil (I use olive or coconut oil)
1 cup raw local honey

Heat oil, honey & vanilla in pan until blended. (5 mins) Then drizzle all over granola and bake for 20 minutes in the preheated oven, until the oats and nuts are toasted. Immediately after it comes out of the oven, stir in the raisins and dried cranberries.


You can find almost all the above ingredients in the bulk foods isle in your grocery store. Stays good for about 2 weeks, but it wont be around that long I'm sure! :) This is a great alternative to boxed cereals which are not really healthy.

What about you?

Since I only have about one comment on my blogs and I know there's more of you that read my blogs than that I decided to turn it around to you... So I want to hear from you! I would love for you to post a few topics that you are passionate about. Please let me hear from you! :D

Do I think...

Do I think because I breastfeed, cloth diaper, eat mostly raw & organic and such that I am better person than you? Absolutly not!!!

Do I think that breast is BEST for ALL babies?. Yes. Do I understand that every women has her own set of circumstances? Yes. Do I think that a none breast fed baby is less loved by their mother if she chooses not too? Nope

Do I think cloth diapering is the best for our family? Yes. Do I think that it's best for all families? NO. Do I believe a mom loves the earth & baby less if she uses disposable diapers? NO. (I also use on occasion)

Do I think that eating a mostly raw & organic diet is best for people? Yes. Do I know that not everyone can? Yes.

Do I eat meat? Yes! Do I try to avoid non-organic meat and feel that all should? Yes. Do I think everyone can? No. Do I think your less of a person because you eat a McDonalds burger? NO. (I do on occasion too)  :/

Do I think it's best for everyone to eat less meat and processed foods? Yes. Do I think your a bad or unintelligent person if you don't. Nope.

What I do think.... I believe as a wife, mother and christian I have a responsibility to share what God and my life have taught me. I believe that growing, changing and learning should be apart of my life and yours. I desire to learn and teach others what I have learned. I think that if I'm passionate about certain things that I have a responsibility to share them. Does my passion come off Know it all, rude, pushy, better than you? Maybe. Is that my heart? Nope. I desire to serve God and do what I think he would want me to do for myself & family. In all that I do I strive for excellence.

Thanks for hearing my heart!