Here's my picture:
And here's her picture:
Thanks for voting!
Showing posts with label Alabama Baptist Children's Homes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Alabama Baptist Children's Homes. Show all posts
Thursday, August 9, 2012
Photo Battle
Today I am participating in a photo battle. I know that this sounds rough and tough, but it's really just a simple challenge between another Alabama Baptist Children's Homes employee and me.
Here's my picture:
And here's her picture:
If you'd like to vote, go to the ABCH Facebook page and "like" the photo that you think represents Education & Back-to-School the best!
Thanks for voting!
Here's my picture:
And here's her picture:
Thanks for voting!
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Watch It! : A Where I'm Going Update
So, remember how I've always battled my weight and how I identified a couple of months ago that it's a mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual battle that I've had to deal with? Well, that's still extremely true.
When I was going into ninth grade, my mom joined Weight Watchers and lost a good bit of weight. Since she's the one who bought the groceries and made dinner each night, I learned a lot about the program and I lost some weight as well. Since then, I've tried Weight Watchers a couple of times, but I always have a terrible attitude toward it for some reason.
I think that I've identified that Weight Watchers is a strict program that actually works if you do it right, which is true. I think that in the past I've always blamed the program for my weight gain/battle rather than myself and my lack of self-control.
Over the last couple of years, a couple of people in my life (including my dad) have done WW and had some pretty significant success from it. Over the last few years, I've attributed the fact that WW doesn't take sugars/carbs into consideration as my reason for not getting back on the program.
Obviously, things have evolved from 2004 and now WW does take sugars/carbs into consideration. Even though I knew this, I've still used the same excuse for the last year or so.
Last Thursday while we were at camp, we were going around telling everyone (who asked) that our wedding is "three months from tomorrow [Friday]". Then at lunch, someone who I've worked with there told me that a whole group of girls that work for the organization are doing WW together and if I ever wanted to do it and needed a support group, I could join them.
I don't know what really was the exact straw that broke the camel's back, but something did. I could just feel the door opening for me and God pushing me through it. I could feel Him telling me that this is a weapon I can use in this spiritual battle that I have been fighting for the last 15 years. And it just so happens that the sign up fee for a three month WW online subscription was waved through the weekend.
I asked Jason for this thoughts, and he obviously said he thought it was a good idea if it's something I feel like I need to do (he's the best). So, starting this past Sunday, I'm a Weight Watchers online member :)
I have to admit that it's been a tough couple of days, especially while we were traveling home 8.5 hours. Anytime I start something like this its hard, and it even becomes emotional for me because this is a mental/emotional/physical/spiritual thing. Over the past couple of days, I've doubted, I've wanted to eat my feelings (and I did until I finally stopped myself), and I've been ashamed.
I was ashamed that I'm not happy with myself three months before my wedding. As each month goes by, I want to feel more like I'm closer to looking/feeling the way I would like to look/feel on September 22nd, but so far I haven't. I'm ashamed that I'm having to start something new so close to that day; so ashamed that I almost didn't write this post today.
But I realize that I need prayer and support. This blog has served as an avenue for me to receive just that. It's also served as accountability for me over the last few months, and I'm definitely a stronger person because of all of you reading this thing.
So, as I embark on this little adventure over the next three months, I am hoping that you'll keep me in your thoughts and prayers. If you find good WW recipes, send them my way! And if you've had a WW success story (or know one), send that my way as well!
When I was going into ninth grade, my mom joined Weight Watchers and lost a good bit of weight. Since she's the one who bought the groceries and made dinner each night, I learned a lot about the program and I lost some weight as well. Since then, I've tried Weight Watchers a couple of times, but I always have a terrible attitude toward it for some reason.
I think that I've identified that Weight Watchers is a strict program that actually works if you do it right, which is true. I think that in the past I've always blamed the program for my weight gain/battle rather than myself and my lack of self-control.
Over the last couple of years, a couple of people in my life (including my dad) have done WW and had some pretty significant success from it. Over the last few years, I've attributed the fact that WW doesn't take sugars/carbs into consideration as my reason for not getting back on the program.
Obviously, things have evolved from 2004 and now WW does take sugars/carbs into consideration. Even though I knew this, I've still used the same excuse for the last year or so.
Last Thursday while we were at camp, we were going around telling everyone (who asked) that our wedding is "three months from tomorrow [Friday]". Then at lunch, someone who I've worked with there told me that a whole group of girls that work for the organization are doing WW together and if I ever wanted to do it and needed a support group, I could join them.
I don't know what really was the exact straw that broke the camel's back, but something did. I could just feel the door opening for me and God pushing me through it. I could feel Him telling me that this is a weapon I can use in this spiritual battle that I have been fighting for the last 15 years. And it just so happens that the sign up fee for a three month WW online subscription was waved through the weekend.
I asked Jason for this thoughts, and he obviously said he thought it was a good idea if it's something I feel like I need to do (he's the best). So, starting this past Sunday, I'm a Weight Watchers online member :)
I was ashamed that I'm not happy with myself three months before my wedding. As each month goes by, I want to feel more like I'm closer to looking/feeling the way I would like to look/feel on September 22nd, but so far I haven't. I'm ashamed that I'm having to start something new so close to that day; so ashamed that I almost didn't write this post today.
But I realize that I need prayer and support. This blog has served as an avenue for me to receive just that. It's also served as accountability for me over the last few months, and I'm definitely a stronger person because of all of you reading this thing.
So, as I embark on this little adventure over the next three months, I am hoping that you'll keep me in your thoughts and prayers. If you find good WW recipes, send them my way! And if you've had a WW success story (or know one), send that my way as well!
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Asheville Wedding Weekend Recap
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| Source |
I appreciate all of the prayers from last week for Rock the Block. We had such a wonderful time sharing Jesus with all of those little kiddos. As I mentioned last week, Jason and I taught the lesson on Wednesday. It went really well, but those kids definitely kept me on my toes. Great responses were given and good questions were asked. What else could we have asked for?
We also had a guest "speaker" that day. Jude (age 11) came to share his testimony and lead the group in worship. Jude's dad, Jim, is the owner of Steel City Pops and a friend from our church. He surprised us all and broke out an awesome stash of pops for the whole Rock the Block group!
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| Jim handing out popsicles. |
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| The lake at Shocco Springs |
When we got to Atlanta, we didn't waste any time...we went straight to IKEA (a.k.a. one of my favorite places). Jason said that since we'd both worked really hard all day, we could spend up to $100! We came out with some really great ideas, a couple items, and we only spent $50!
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| What I would like our kitchen to look like someday. |
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| What I would like our bed to look like...we bought the curtain and curtain rod! |
Friday morning we hit the ground running. We were on the road by 9:00 (Atlanta time...so 8:00 to us) after a brief search for a Dunkin Donuts (COFFEE).
I drove most of the way to Asheville, NC, which actually ended up being really fun. I don't know why, but sometimes I just really really enjoy driving and then other times I hate it. I'm weird, I know...
We arrived in Asheville and went straight to Men's Wearhouse to pick up Jason's tux for the wedding. We had to hang around that area for a little while because they had the wrong size pants for Jason (try six sizes too big)...but that was okay with us. After we were done there, we drove around Asheville a little bit and snuck into a Sheraton to use their public restrooms to change for the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner (hey, at least it was clean...that's all I've got to say about that). We attempted going to the Biltmore...but after seeing the $60/person price tag, we decided we'd come back when we could make a day out of it (we only had about an hour and a half).
The rehearsal and rehearsal dinner were fun and beautiful. It was great for Jason and I to see a lot of friends.
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| Jason and the groom. |
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| Sarah and Cameron practicing their "I do". |
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| Jason and I at the rehearsal dinner. |
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| Samford groomsmen picture with the groom. |
Saturday was the big day! Jason met up with the groomsmen at the mall in Asheville, which was 100% okay with me since that meant I got to shop! I found some great deals on what I'm calling "cruise clothes" (basically shorts, shirts, and dresses for our honeymoon cruise). I got Jason some "cruise clothes" too! His swim shorts ripped last time we were in Destin, so I found some on sale while I was shopping. They are the "Speedo" brand, but they're just normal board shorts. You should have seen Jason's face when he heard I bought him "Speedo" swim shorts :) I also got a pair of sandals for $3...how can you beat that? You just can't.
It was time for the wedding! I'll just sum up the whole thing with a couple of bullet points:
- Sarah looked incredibly beautiful
- Cameron is a super blessed guy
- Jason looked awesome in his tux (even if it was a little big on him)
- The food was good
- The friends were great
- I'm overly excited for The Free's!
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| Red burlap boutonnieres for the guys. |
Monday, Jason and I went to our first pre-marital counseling session. I was really excited about beginning this phase of our engagement, and it definitely lived up its expectation. We really loved it and are so thankful for Pathway's Professional Counseling and their services in providing Christian counseling to Alabama. I can't wait to go back next week!
And with all of that said...GUESS WHAT?
Only 87 days until I'm Mrs. Morales!
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Scatterbrained
Good morning friends! I just want to warn you that I'm probably going to be a little bit all over the place today. I have a couple of things I'd like to say, but none of them really have a direct focus.
So, here we go...
Eating Better
Remember a few weeks ago when I went to the doctor, got blood work done, and he put me on a diet? Well, I told you that I'd share that plan with you. I think it is time.
Here are the basics:
This is the breakout of what I am allowed to eat each day.
According to the plan that the doctor gave me, I try to disperse between my calories, carbs, fats, and proteins like this -
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Usually, I eat a snack either in the morning or the afternoon. It's usually another Dannon Light & Fit yogurt, or sometimes a 0% Greek Yogurt with a dash of cinnamon.
Out to Eat
Jason and I have been SUPER busy lately. Lots of traveling, lots of friends/family in town. We have been eating out a whole lot, and I honestly don't know when that will change. I've had to really discipline myself in what I order though. Jason's tendency is to find something he likes on a menu and sticks with it. My nature is to try everything on a menu at least once. I've got to hand it to him, in this scenario, he's right. It's better to stick with items that you know will be healthier choices rather than jump around and try new things just for the sake of eating something new.
Remember that if you're going out to eat, you don't have to get off your healthy lifestyle plan. Lean steaks are good to order with a veggie on the side. Fish is a great "night out" option as well. Say no to the rolls that are brought to the table, and always opt for a vinaigrette dressing on the side and steamed/grilled veggies as your side dish.
Here's my go-to meals for "out to eat" meals:
Japanese: Forgo the rice and add double veggies
Mexican: Fajita, no tortillas
Thai: Salad; chicken with brown rice (only eat half of the rice serving)
Italian: Salad?
BBQ: Salad or veggie sampler; sandwich with sauce and bun on the side
American chain restaurant (like Chili's): Fajita, fish, grilled chicken (look for their lower calorie options, usually they're marked)
Greek: Chicken with salad (dressing on side) and veggies
Rock the Block
Yesterday was day #2 of Rock the Block. Jason and I were in charge of games and we had a blast. Jason was Simon and kept a pretty consistent game of Simon says going on throughout all of the games (I'm not really sure how he did that, but it happened).
We played one game called "Mummy" and I got completely wrapped in toilet paper. I got a little bit claustrophobic, but it was for the greater good, so I toughed it out.
Tonight, Jason and I are in charge of the lesson. We are teaching on Romans 3:11 and John 1:29. We would seriously appreciate all of your prayers. We hope that the kid's (and hopefully parents) lives are changed through this week of Rock the Block.
4 Day Meals
As I said yesterday, Sunday Jason and I went grocery shopping. I bought enough food for dinner for four days. Since we have Rock the Block this week, I decided that we needed some easy-to-reheat meals for Sunday-Wednesday. So far, it's worked out well.
For Sunday/Tuesday I made BBQ Chicken Biscuits and Chicken Poppy Seed Casserole was (is) on the menu for Monday/Wednesday.
Chicken Poppy Seed Casserole:
Ingredients:
Camp of Champions
Tomorrow Jason and I are headed to Shocco Springs for the Alabama Baptist Children's Homes Camp of Champions. Jason will be shooting a video and I'll be helping out with some general activities as well as shooting so photos.
We are so excited about getting to do this together. Our dream is to someday built a client base to where we can do this type of thing full-time to make a living. We love the ministry that the Children's Homes has and we love being a part of orphan care to advance the Kingdom.
Weekend Wedding
On Friday, Jason and I will head to North Carolina. Jason will be a groomsmen in a friend's wedding. We are so excited to celebrate this special day with our friends Cameron and Sarah, and we are praying for them as they begin their marriage. We are also very excited to have a little mini-vacay this weekend to a place that we've never been together! I'm hoping that Jason will love it so much that we can go back next year (fingers crossed).
That being said, this could be my last rambling for the week. I'm sure that I'll have access to internet, but I'm going to just enjoy myself and I'll post about all of our upcoming weekend activities next week. I'm so excited for these FUN TIMES!
"no one understands; no one seeks for God." - Romans 3:11
"The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, 'Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!'" - John 1:29
So, here we go...
Eating Better
Remember a few weeks ago when I went to the doctor, got blood work done, and he put me on a diet? Well, I told you that I'd share that plan with you. I think it is time.
Here are the basics:
According to the plan that the doctor gave me, I try to disperse between my calories, carbs, fats, and proteins like this -
Breakfast
- Lots of protein (eggs of some sort, which also has some fat in it)
- Little bit of carbs (fruit, yogurt, or skim milk)
- Lots of protein (usually from 99% fat free turkey of some sort)
- Little bit of carbs (fruit, yogurt, cheese)
- Green vegetable (salad, green beans, celery, etc.)
Dinner
- Lots of protein (lean chicken, lower fat ground turkey, grilled fish, or a very extra lean red meat)
- Lots of veggies
- Just a few carbs (sauces, cheese, MAYBE a piece of whole wheat bread, MAYBE a tiny bit of whole wheat pasta, fruit)
- Fats (just in random foods that I'm already eating)
Usually, I eat a snack either in the morning or the afternoon. It's usually another Dannon Light & Fit yogurt, or sometimes a 0% Greek Yogurt with a dash of cinnamon.
Out to Eat
Jason and I have been SUPER busy lately. Lots of traveling, lots of friends/family in town. We have been eating out a whole lot, and I honestly don't know when that will change. I've had to really discipline myself in what I order though. Jason's tendency is to find something he likes on a menu and sticks with it. My nature is to try everything on a menu at least once. I've got to hand it to him, in this scenario, he's right. It's better to stick with items that you know will be healthier choices rather than jump around and try new things just for the sake of eating something new.
Remember that if you're going out to eat, you don't have to get off your healthy lifestyle plan. Lean steaks are good to order with a veggie on the side. Fish is a great "night out" option as well. Say no to the rolls that are brought to the table, and always opt for a vinaigrette dressing on the side and steamed/grilled veggies as your side dish.
Here's my go-to meals for "out to eat" meals:
Japanese: Forgo the rice and add double veggies
Mexican: Fajita, no tortillas
Thai: Salad; chicken with brown rice (only eat half of the rice serving)
Italian: Salad?
BBQ: Salad or veggie sampler; sandwich with sauce and bun on the side
American chain restaurant (like Chili's): Fajita, fish, grilled chicken (look for their lower calorie options, usually they're marked)
Greek: Chicken with salad (dressing on side) and veggies
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| Fajita from Moe's Southwest Grill |
Rock the Block
Yesterday was day #2 of Rock the Block. Jason and I were in charge of games and we had a blast. Jason was Simon and kept a pretty consistent game of Simon says going on throughout all of the games (I'm not really sure how he did that, but it happened).
We played one game called "Mummy" and I got completely wrapped in toilet paper. I got a little bit claustrophobic, but it was for the greater good, so I toughed it out.
Tonight, Jason and I are in charge of the lesson. We are teaching on Romans 3:11 and John 1:29. We would seriously appreciate all of your prayers. We hope that the kid's (and hopefully parents) lives are changed through this week of Rock the Block.
4 Day Meals
As I said yesterday, Sunday Jason and I went grocery shopping. I bought enough food for dinner for four days. Since we have Rock the Block this week, I decided that we needed some easy-to-reheat meals for Sunday-Wednesday. So far, it's worked out well.
For Sunday/Tuesday I made BBQ Chicken Biscuits and Chicken Poppy Seed Casserole was (is) on the menu for Monday/Wednesday.
Chicken Poppy Seed Casserole:
Ingredients:
- 5 cups chicken breasts, cooked and cubed
- 1 cup fat-free sour cream
- 2 cans condensed cream of chicken soup (98% fat free)
- 2 cups crushed Reduced-fat Ritz crackers (about 1 1/2 rolls of crackers)
- 1/2 cup melted butter
- 1 T poppy seeds
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Saute raw chicken breasts with salt and pepper until done. Let chicken cool slightly and place cubed chicken in a 9X13 casserole dish.
- Stir together the condensed soup and sour cream. Pour over the chicken.
- In a separate bowl, stir together the crushed crackers, poppy seeds and melted butter. Sprinkle over the chicken and sauce.
- Bake for 30 minutes in the preheated oven, until the top of the casserole is browned and the sauce is bubbly. Serve plain or over rice
Camp of Champions
Tomorrow Jason and I are headed to Shocco Springs for the Alabama Baptist Children's Homes Camp of Champions. Jason will be shooting a video and I'll be helping out with some general activities as well as shooting so photos.
We are so excited about getting to do this together. Our dream is to someday built a client base to where we can do this type of thing full-time to make a living. We love the ministry that the Children's Homes has and we love being a part of orphan care to advance the Kingdom.
Weekend Wedding
On Friday, Jason and I will head to North Carolina. Jason will be a groomsmen in a friend's wedding. We are so excited to celebrate this special day with our friends Cameron and Sarah, and we are praying for them as they begin their marriage. We are also very excited to have a little mini-vacay this weekend to a place that we've never been together! I'm hoping that Jason will love it so much that we can go back next year (fingers crossed).
That being said, this could be my last rambling for the week. I'm sure that I'll have access to internet, but I'm going to just enjoy myself and I'll post about all of our upcoming weekend activities next week. I'm so excited for these FUN TIMES!
"no one understands; no one seeks for God." - Romans 3:11
"The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, 'Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!'" - John 1:29
Monday, May 14, 2012
In Case You've Caught the Mondays
Happy Monday everyone!
After two posts on Friday, I decided to take the weekend off from blogging. But don't worry, I have plenty to share today!
I will catch you up on my weekend really quickly (meh, kind of quickly).
Friday, I left work a little early because Jason and I had friends in town.
When I arrived home, a birthday/wedding present was waiting for me.
At first it was a mystery, and then on Saturday my sisters called and told me that the gift was from them! I love it (and so does Jason)!
We took our friends to New York Pizza, which was really fun. Jason and I just hung out for the rest of the evening.
Saturday was a busy day. We started out at the 5K Walk for Foster Care. I took us to the wrong park...oops! But once we got there, we had a great time. The weather was perfect and it was nice to start the day out early.
From there, we attempted to run some errands, but it honestly didn't happen. Everything we needed to do was closed. So...we went to lunch.
We hit up Stix by the Galleria thinking that they had a lunch menu, but they didn't. I got the teriyaki chicken with double veggies and no rice. I'm slowly but surely learning how to spell teriyaki (even though it's showing up as misspelled on my computer right now...uh oh).
Saturday was my sweet little neighbor's 87th birthday. Jason and I bought him a cupcake, card, plant, and balloon and left it for him Saturday morning. I ran into him as I was coming home from the grocery store on Saturday though and he said he didn't have dinner plans.
I was making dinner for Jason and myself, so I took some over to him.
Then...he told Jason that I need to go into the catering business.
Not sure what to think about that!
Anyway, here's what I made for dinner:
Once again, Jason and I ate together but separately. His dinner wasn't unhealthy, but I really wanted some frozen yogurt Saturday night, so I decided to use the remainder of the turkey from last week to make a sandwich.
I adapted the recipe for Jason's ziti bake from a recipe I found on Dashing Dish.
Three Cheese Ziti Bake (or, Three Cheese Pasta Bake):
Ingredients
I had a blast cooking Saturday night, as you can see. Usually, I'm alone on Saturday nights, so I either just make something quick for myself or go out to dinner with friends. Have I mentioned lately how much I love having Jason home?!?
After dinner, Jason and I went to go see The Avengers...finally!! We are huge fans of the Edge Theater in Crestwood. We started going there when Sharing Spree sold tickets for less than $2. We bought tons of them...and unfortunately they're all used up/expired now. We still have coupons and Sharing Spree deals that are $5 for $10 worth of tickets or concessions. So, for two tickets and a popcorn, Jason paid the difference of $2 for us to see an incredible movie!! That's what I call a deal!
I loved everything about Saturday night. The food, the company, the movie, the price...absolutely everything...except for the kid who sat behind us in the movie and coughed, sneezed, and sniffled the ENTIRE 2.5 hour long movie! By the end of it, I felt like I needed to wash my hands for 15 minutes straight...or maybe take a shower.
Sunday was a normal Sunday for me. Jason went back to volunteering at church working the lights during all three services. I taught my 8th grade girls small group. We went home for lunch, ate leftovers, and watched Property Virgins. Then we went to the Summit to look for some colorful jeans for Jessica and we hit up Target on our way back to church. Church was great, our pastor and his wife are pregnant with their 4th child! We're so excited for them!
After church we went to Maki Fresh where I ordered a salmon salad. It was great, but I'm usually not all the way full after eating that. That shouldn't be the case for a salad that costs almost $10 from a counter-service restaurant. Oh well...
After church, Jason and I went home and read. We've never done that before and I'm not sure why. We both enjoy reading. So, we sat on my couch, Jason with book in hand and me with my Kindle. We read for about and hour...and then I fell asleep on the couch. Have I mentioned that Jason and I are glad we're done with school? I don't have the stamina to read like I had to in college anymore!
So, that about sums up my weekend. This morning I got up and went for a run around my apartment complex for about 30 minutes. I saw Jason's Asian next door neighbor doing tai chi or something in the parking lot.
GOAL: Get a picture of that for tomorrow's blog!
Also, isn't always more fun to get ready for a Monday with new things?
QUESTION: Do you prefer a busy weekend or a laid back weekend at home?
Enough rambling for this Monday morning. Let us turn our focus to prayer...
Prayer Focus for the Day: May is National Foster Care Mother. Yesterday, the Alabama Baptist Children's Homes held their annual day of prayer. Will you join with me in praying for the fatherless both domestically and internationally? Here is a printable 40 day prayer guide: http://www.pearpod.com/oc/downloads/40DaysofPrayer.pdf
After two posts on Friday, I decided to take the weekend off from blogging. But don't worry, I have plenty to share today!
I will catch you up on my weekend really quickly (meh, kind of quickly).
Friday, I left work a little early because Jason and I had friends in town.
When I arrived home, a birthday/wedding present was waiting for me.
We took our friends to New York Pizza, which was really fun. Jason and I just hung out for the rest of the evening.
Saturday was a busy day. We started out at the 5K Walk for Foster Care. I took us to the wrong park...oops! But once we got there, we had a great time. The weather was perfect and it was nice to start the day out early.
From there, we attempted to run some errands, but it honestly didn't happen. Everything we needed to do was closed. So...we went to lunch.
We hit up Stix by the Galleria thinking that they had a lunch menu, but they didn't. I got the teriyaki chicken with double veggies and no rice. I'm slowly but surely learning how to spell teriyaki (even though it's showing up as misspelled on my computer right now...uh oh).
Saturday was my sweet little neighbor's 87th birthday. Jason and I bought him a cupcake, card, plant, and balloon and left it for him Saturday morning. I ran into him as I was coming home from the grocery store on Saturday though and he said he didn't have dinner plans.
I was making dinner for Jason and myself, so I took some over to him.
Then...he told Jason that I need to go into the catering business.
Not sure what to think about that!
Anyway, here's what I made for dinner:
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| Jason's dinner is on top - Ziti Bake - and my sandwich and salad is below. |
Once again, Jason and I ate together but separately. His dinner wasn't unhealthy, but I really wanted some frozen yogurt Saturday night, so I decided to use the remainder of the turkey from last week to make a sandwich.
I adapted the recipe for Jason's ziti bake from a recipe I found on Dashing Dish.
Three Cheese Ziti Bake (or, Three Cheese Pasta Bake):
Ingredients
- 3 c. cooked whole wheat penne pasta
- 1 c. fresh spinach leaves
- 1 lb. lean ground turkey
- 1.5 jars three cheese marinara sauce
- 2 oz. 1/3 less fat cream cheese, softened
- 1 c. shredded mozzarella
- 1 tsp. basil
- 1 tsp. oregano
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
- 1/4 c. Parmesan cheese
- Preheat oven to 375. Spray a large casserole dish with non-stick cooking spray. Cook pasta according to package directions.
- Meanwhile cook ground turkey in a large nonstick skillet, until meat is cooked through, (no longer pink). Stir in cream cheese, crushed tomatoes, spinach, and spices and turn off heat. When pasta is done, pour into a colander to drain. Add pasta to sauce mixture.
- Pour everything into prepared casserole dish, and sprinkle mozzarella over the pasta. Cover casserole dish with foil. Bake for 15 minutes, remove foil, and bake an additional 5-7 minutes, or until mozzarella is melted.
I had a blast cooking Saturday night, as you can see. Usually, I'm alone on Saturday nights, so I either just make something quick for myself or go out to dinner with friends. Have I mentioned lately how much I love having Jason home?!?
After dinner, Jason and I went to go see The Avengers...finally!! We are huge fans of the Edge Theater in Crestwood. We started going there when Sharing Spree sold tickets for less than $2. We bought tons of them...and unfortunately they're all used up/expired now. We still have coupons and Sharing Spree deals that are $5 for $10 worth of tickets or concessions. So, for two tickets and a popcorn, Jason paid the difference of $2 for us to see an incredible movie!! That's what I call a deal!
I loved everything about Saturday night. The food, the company, the movie, the price...absolutely everything...except for the kid who sat behind us in the movie and coughed, sneezed, and sniffled the ENTIRE 2.5 hour long movie! By the end of it, I felt like I needed to wash my hands for 15 minutes straight...or maybe take a shower.
Sunday was a normal Sunday for me. Jason went back to volunteering at church working the lights during all three services. I taught my 8th grade girls small group. We went home for lunch, ate leftovers, and watched Property Virgins. Then we went to the Summit to look for some colorful jeans for Jessica and we hit up Target on our way back to church. Church was great, our pastor and his wife are pregnant with their 4th child! We're so excited for them!
After church we went to Maki Fresh where I ordered a salmon salad. It was great, but I'm usually not all the way full after eating that. That shouldn't be the case for a salad that costs almost $10 from a counter-service restaurant. Oh well...
So, that about sums up my weekend. This morning I got up and went for a run around my apartment complex for about 30 minutes. I saw Jason's Asian next door neighbor doing tai chi or something in the parking lot.
GOAL: Get a picture of that for tomorrow's blog!
Also, isn't always more fun to get ready for a Monday with new things?
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| New matching red and black lunch box and tumbler. |
Enough rambling for this Monday morning. Let us turn our focus to prayer...
Prayer Focus for the Day: May is National Foster Care Mother. Yesterday, the Alabama Baptist Children's Homes held their annual day of prayer. Will you join with me in praying for the fatherless both domestically and internationally? Here is a printable 40 day prayer guide: http://www.pearpod.com/oc/downloads/40DaysofPrayer.pdf
Friday, May 11, 2012
Who's Ready for the Weekend?
First of all, before we get into my eats of the day and other random activities, I have a slight public service announcement.
As you all know, I'm very passionate about orphan care, adoption, and foster care. May is National Foster Care Month.
This Saturday, May 12th, there will be a 5K walk at Veteran's Park in Hoover. I'll be there taking pictures and just hanging out from 9:30 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. The walk is only $30. Come hang out for a good cause! If you'd like more information, go to the website. Here is some more information here as well:
Yesterday morning I wasn't super hungry. I just kept with the usual coffee until about 10:00. Then I decided I was getting a bit hungry. I've been waiting for the perfect morning to make "Oats in a Jar" (idea from Itty Bits...I'm telling you, she's my fav).
Oats in a Jar:
Ingredients
When I got home, Jason made himself a little snack-a-roo and I made myself "brinner" (breakfast for dinner). I truly love breakfast foods.
I made eggs (using Egg Beaters egg whites), whole wheat cinnamon and Stevia toast, and a banana/blueberry smoothie.
Here is the smoothie recipe -
Banana/Blueberry Smoothie:
Ingredients
When we left Samford we headed to meet up with some of my friends from college (it was kind of ironic since we'd just been on campus). One of my friends was in town from Texas to visit her fiance. I was happy to see everyone. Unfortunate, Jason and I both had to be up early this morning, so we were the lame ones who left early.
I think that about sums up yesterday. Today is Friday...which means splurge day!!!! I believe my sweet man is taking me on a date tonight :)
Happy Friday everyone!
Let the weekend ramblings begin.
As you all know, I'm very passionate about orphan care, adoption, and foster care. May is National Foster Care Month.
This Saturday, May 12th, there will be a 5K walk at Veteran's Park in Hoover. I'll be there taking pictures and just hanging out from 9:30 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. The walk is only $30. Come hang out for a good cause! If you'd like more information, go to the website. Here is some more information here as well:
Oats in a Jar:
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp. (about) Smucker's Natural Peanut Butter (creamy)
- 1/2 c. Quaker multigrain hot cereal
- 1 c. water
- Sweetener to taste
- When your peanut butter jar is almost empty (about 2 tbsp. left), set it aside and wait until breakfast.
- Pour oats (or hot cereal) in a regular bowl and add water. Heat for 2 minutes or according to the directions given.
- When oats are cooked, add in sweetener to taste. Stir well.
- Pour oats directly into peanut butter jar and mix well.
- Let cool and thicken up...and then it's time to enjoy!
When I got home, Jason made himself a little snack-a-roo and I made myself "brinner" (breakfast for dinner). I truly love breakfast foods.
I made eggs (using Egg Beaters egg whites), whole wheat cinnamon and Stevia toast, and a banana/blueberry smoothie.
Here is the smoothie recipe -
Banana/Blueberry Smoothie:
Ingredients
- 2 ripe bananas
- 1/2 c. fresh blueberries
- 1 c. Silk unsweetened vanilla almond milk
- Ice
- Pour milk into the blender
- Cut up banana and add to blender
- Pour in blueberries to the blender
- Add ice.
- Blend well.
When we left Samford we headed to meet up with some of my friends from college (it was kind of ironic since we'd just been on campus). One of my friends was in town from Texas to visit her fiance. I was happy to see everyone. Unfortunate, Jason and I both had to be up early this morning, so we were the lame ones who left early.
I think that about sums up yesterday. Today is Friday...which means splurge day!!!! I believe my sweet man is taking me on a date tonight :)
Happy Friday everyone!
Let the weekend ramblings begin.
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Day 6: Downhill Slope ... & Cake
Well, here we are with just one day left of the modified GM's cleanse. I feel like it's been an uphill climb for the last six days, and now I'm on the downhill slope.
This morning I got up and cut up the biggest cucumber I've ever seen. I packed a snack box full of cucumbers, celery, and veggie hummus. With snacks and herbal tea in hand, I headed off to work.
Although I'm not a musician and I only sing sort of well in the shower, music is a big part of my life. It can honestly completely change my mood. It wakes me up on the five hour drive to Destin that I've recently been making frequently. It gives me strength to push through a good workout. It allows me to pour out my heart to God with words that I am not clever enough to come up with, but that I truly desire to express. It taps into emotions that I'm feeling, whether I'm mad or sad or hurt or excited. And honestly, it sets the tone for my day.
I'm a big fan of shuffle. There are very rare occasions when I select a specific artist or album that I want to listen to, especially on my drive to work. It's kind of like a little surprise every three or four minutes, and it just makes life more interesting. Whenever I get a "good shuffle" in the morning, I know I'm going to have a good day. This morning was one of those times.
I have time for about four songs on my way to work. And these four songs just made my day brighter. Jason has been gone for eight days, and I really miss him. I was overly excited that our song (Goodnight Moon by Go Radio) came on right as I was turning onto the exit for work. I try not to listen to that song a lot because I don't want it to get it old, but today was definitely a day I decided to sing along!
When I got to work I headed downstairs to fix my water and prepare my cucumber for breakfast.
It's strange how I've always boxed in certain foods as "breakfast foods" and I get so upset when I'm out of boiled eggs, oats, cottage cheese, or yogurt (my usual rotation of breakfast options). Usually when this happens, I just throw in the towel and head to McDonald's for an Egg McMuffin. Now, due to these veggie days, I know that I can eat healthy at breakfast even I only have lunch/dinner foods around. Now the Egg McMuffin can be something I choose to get on a day that I'm wanting to treat myself to something a little less healthy, rather than get it out of "necessity".
Over the last six days, I've had to withstand a lot of temptation. There's been an invite to Pinkberry, which is probably my favorite yogurt shop. I've had 64 K-Cups delivered to my apartment. My roomie and her fiancé made chocolate chip cookies one night. My roomie and her fiancé made curry one night. My roomie and her fiancé made Mexican food one night (okay, basically I live with someone not doing a cleanse, which is okay, but it's been hard). We went to Rojo yesterday for lunch. Each of those things have come and gone though. If I just got through that meal, it was over and I'd made it through. Then, we had a wedding shower at work. The leftover cake has been sitting in the kitchen and it's literally torture. Today this happened:
I've always identified with this little guy, but thanks to self-control that can literally only be from God, I have not even tasted the cake!
I just love that. That literally describes my relationship with "dieting" and food perfectly.
Today for lunch I met up with two friends from the Children's Homes. We decided to go to Moe's because they have Thank You Thursday. I'd never heard of such a thing, but I quickly learned that it means you can buy one meal and get the second for $2.99 and you get two large drinks. Awesome deal! I opted for the Alfredo Garcia Streaker, which means a chicken fajita with no tortillas. I went without cheese and only got veggies.
Needless to say, real food tastes amazing. But it was also super high in calories. Probably not the smartest idea for a cleanse, but I'd only had 25 calories so far today. I'd say with the taste, price, and fellowship, it was totally worth it! It's also awesome that I was able to meet friends for lunch without going off the cleanse.
As soon as I got home from work I hit the ground running heating up leftover chicken and squash and making my soup. Let's just say I had to run the dishwasher and our entire dish drying rack is now full.
Here's my dinner:
Dinner:
About 6 oz. leftover crockpot chicken
About 4 c. leftover zucchini and yellow squash
Salsa
I also got tired of the Hunger Games cup and I found this lovely cup in the back of my cabinet. Roll Tide.
So, here are a few shots of the process of making the soup:
And here's the finished product:
Soup Recipe:
1 Head of cabbage
1 Onions chopped
Celery chopped (I used my leftovers from veggie days)
2 Cans plain diced tomatoes, no salt added
2 Packets Lipton Beefy Onion Soup mix
9 c. Water
Bring to a boil and stir frequently.
After dinner I headed to the Summit to meet a friend I was buying a Kindle from. I'm so excited to finally have some sort of digital reader.
Last, but certainly not least, it was time to pack! I'm leaving from work to go straight to Destin tomorrow. I had to store my soup and pack an ice chest to take fruit home.
I'm not used to packing food, so I hope this all goes well. It has to sit all day tomorrow at work and the 4.5 hour trip home.
As much as I'm ready for this cleanse to be over, I have to admit that I'm a little nervous about not having the strict food restrictions. I'm hoping and praying that I have an easy transition out of the cleanse and a seamless move into a healthier lifestyle.
Here is my calorie count for the day:
And now it's time to quit rambling and go pack my clothes...LET THE COUNTDOWN BEGIN!
This morning I got up and cut up the biggest cucumber I've ever seen. I packed a snack box full of cucumbers, celery, and veggie hummus. With snacks and herbal tea in hand, I headed off to work.
Although I'm not a musician and I only sing sort of well in the shower, music is a big part of my life. It can honestly completely change my mood. It wakes me up on the five hour drive to Destin that I've recently been making frequently. It gives me strength to push through a good workout. It allows me to pour out my heart to God with words that I am not clever enough to come up with, but that I truly desire to express. It taps into emotions that I'm feeling, whether I'm mad or sad or hurt or excited. And honestly, it sets the tone for my day.
I'm a big fan of shuffle. There are very rare occasions when I select a specific artist or album that I want to listen to, especially on my drive to work. It's kind of like a little surprise every three or four minutes, and it just makes life more interesting. Whenever I get a "good shuffle" in the morning, I know I'm going to have a good day. This morning was one of those times.
 |
| Can you guess what time I have to be at work? |
When I got to work I headed downstairs to fix my water and prepare my cucumber for breakfast.
 |
| Nothing exciting...just cucumbers. |
Over the last six days, I've had to withstand a lot of temptation. There's been an invite to Pinkberry, which is probably my favorite yogurt shop. I've had 64 K-Cups delivered to my apartment. My roomie and her fiancé made chocolate chip cookies one night. My roomie and her fiancé made curry one night. My roomie and her fiancé made Mexican food one night (okay, basically I live with someone not doing a cleanse, which is okay, but it's been hard). We went to Rojo yesterday for lunch. Each of those things have come and gone though. If I just got through that meal, it was over and I'd made it through. Then, we had a wedding shower at work. The leftover cake has been sitting in the kitchen and it's literally torture. Today this happened:
 |
| The first thing that went through my mind was Matthew 6:23. Maybe a little dramatic, but it was such a temptation...all..day...long. |
 |
| Source |
Today for lunch I met up with two friends from the Children's Homes. We decided to go to Moe's because they have Thank You Thursday. I'd never heard of such a thing, but I quickly learned that it means you can buy one meal and get the second for $2.99 and you get two large drinks. Awesome deal! I opted for the Alfredo Garcia Streaker, which means a chicken fajita with no tortillas. I went without cheese and only got veggies.
 |
| Fajita chicken + grilled onioins + green peppers + cucumbers + pico de gallo + shredded lettuce + corn pico = delicious! |
As soon as I got home from work I hit the ground running heating up leftover chicken and squash and making my soup. Let's just say I had to run the dishwasher and our entire dish drying rack is now full.
Here's my dinner:
Dinner:
About 6 oz. leftover crockpot chicken
About 4 c. leftover zucchini and yellow squash
Salsa
I also got tired of the Hunger Games cup and I found this lovely cup in the back of my cabinet. Roll Tide.
So, here are a few shots of the process of making the soup:
 |
| Cabbage, chopped onions, Lipton Beefy Onion soup mix, celery, diced tomatoes |
And here's the finished product:
Soup Recipe:
1 Head of cabbage
1 Onions chopped
Celery chopped (I used my leftovers from veggie days)
2 Cans plain diced tomatoes, no salt added
2 Packets Lipton Beefy Onion Soup mix
9 c. Water
Bring to a boil and stir frequently.
After dinner I headed to the Summit to meet a friend I was buying a Kindle from. I'm so excited to finally have some sort of digital reader.
Last, but certainly not least, it was time to pack! I'm leaving from work to go straight to Destin tomorrow. I had to store my soup and pack an ice chest to take fruit home.
 |
| Fruit on the left, soup on the right. What's up road trip? |
As much as I'm ready for this cleanse to be over, I have to admit that I'm a little nervous about not having the strict food restrictions. I'm hoping and praying that I have an easy transition out of the cleanse and a seamless move into a healthier lifestyle.
Here is my calorie count for the day:
And now it's time to quit rambling and go pack my clothes...LET THE COUNTDOWN BEGIN!
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Serving the Father to the Fatherless - Part One
Disclaimer: I've been thinking about writing this post for a long time so I have a lot to say about this topic and I'm going to have to write it in sections.
I have had a heart for orphans for a really long time. In fact, I can remember talking to a friend in Starbucks the summer in between high school and college about how someday I would love to adopt. That summer I was a lost 18-year-old who didn't really know what I wanted out of life. Almost daily I was faced with the question of what I wanted; did I want Jesus or did I want the pleasures the world had to offer me? About 90% of the time, I chose the world because it just seemed a lot easier and more comfortable. But yet, I had this longing to be a mother to a child who did not have a mother, and I had this desire to adopt and care for a child that was not my own. This was a very biblical picture of grace for someone who didn't even crack open her bible open other than maybe on Sunday and maybe the week of Christmas and Easter.
Fast forward two years...
June 9, 2009 I finally committed my life to Christ. I finally decided to quit running, let go, die to myself, and live my life for Jesus. I was about to embark on my junior year of college and I was working over 40 hours a week while I was at home for the summer. One job was an internship that was great experience, but I didn't enjoy it like I wanted to, and the other was in the restaurant industry. I was saving up to study abroad for a few weeks over JanTerm, so basically everything I made went into savings, and by the end of the summer I was still short a few hundred dollars. When I returned to Samford for my junior year, I began searching for another internship. This time I wanted something totally different from what I'd done over the summer. I wanted to work for a nonprofit. I wanted to write. I wanted to make a difference in someones life. BUT, I needed to make money to for JanTerm. So I applied for a paid internship at the Alabama Baptist Children's Homes...what a blessing that turned out to be.
Working for the Children's Homes, or ABCH, opened my eyes to the need for people to step up and become a foster parent. There is such a need, in Alabama, in Jefferson County, and in Birmingham for people just to love kids who don't have anyone else. Before I worked at ABCH, I knew that there were kids out there who needed a roof over their head, someone to love them and care for them, and someone to share Jesus' love with them, but it wasn't very real to me; it wasn't tangible. Interning at the Children's Homes made such an impact on my life. I could literally see that there are children out there who need love, care, attention, and salvation.
I was blessed to be able to write stories about how God had used the Children's Homes to lift someone out of their darkest days (see Susan's Homecoming). I was able to write about how people were giving of their money and of their life for this cause (see Edith Snider, Lifelong Ambassador). I spoke with people about how this ministry has provided hope for them and even created an interest for the next generation (see LifePrints Cultivates Interest, Appreciation in Heart of Young Fan and Grace Through Restitution) and most importantly how people had come to know Christ through this ministry (see Salvation Story). Since beginning my internship in the Fall of 2009, I have been working pretty consistently with the Children's Homes.
In June of this year I was honored to attend Camp of Champions, which is the annual camp that ABCH holds for all of the kids in care. ABCH employees put on a VBS-ish curriculum for a couple of days while house parents and foster parents meet. They also get to swim, play paintball, watch movies, and just have fun together and share in the community of Christ that has been fostered through this ministry. My job was to take pictures that will be a lifelong reminder of God's sovereignty for these families and the ABCH ministry(see photos here and read Children’s Homes ministers to children, parents through Camp of Champions). I was humbled to witness the amount of love that God has provided to these children.
As I got into my car to drive back to Birmingham from camp, I was reignited with this longing to provide that same love to a child, or children, someday. I've been given so much, and not just material possessions and financial stability. I've been given love, grace, forgiveness, and a multitude of joy. I have to share it. We, God's church, have to share it.
I have had a heart for orphans for a really long time. In fact, I can remember talking to a friend in Starbucks the summer in between high school and college about how someday I would love to adopt. That summer I was a lost 18-year-old who didn't really know what I wanted out of life. Almost daily I was faced with the question of what I wanted; did I want Jesus or did I want the pleasures the world had to offer me? About 90% of the time, I chose the world because it just seemed a lot easier and more comfortable. But yet, I had this longing to be a mother to a child who did not have a mother, and I had this desire to adopt and care for a child that was not my own. This was a very biblical picture of grace for someone who didn't even crack open her bible open other than maybe on Sunday and maybe the week of Christmas and Easter.
Fast forward two years...
June 9, 2009 I finally committed my life to Christ. I finally decided to quit running, let go, die to myself, and live my life for Jesus. I was about to embark on my junior year of college and I was working over 40 hours a week while I was at home for the summer. One job was an internship that was great experience, but I didn't enjoy it like I wanted to, and the other was in the restaurant industry. I was saving up to study abroad for a few weeks over JanTerm, so basically everything I made went into savings, and by the end of the summer I was still short a few hundred dollars. When I returned to Samford for my junior year, I began searching for another internship. This time I wanted something totally different from what I'd done over the summer. I wanted to work for a nonprofit. I wanted to write. I wanted to make a difference in someones life. BUT, I needed to make money to for JanTerm. So I applied for a paid internship at the Alabama Baptist Children's Homes...what a blessing that turned out to be.
Working for the Children's Homes, or ABCH, opened my eyes to the need for people to step up and become a foster parent. There is such a need, in Alabama, in Jefferson County, and in Birmingham for people just to love kids who don't have anyone else. Before I worked at ABCH, I knew that there were kids out there who needed a roof over their head, someone to love them and care for them, and someone to share Jesus' love with them, but it wasn't very real to me; it wasn't tangible. Interning at the Children's Homes made such an impact on my life. I could literally see that there are children out there who need love, care, attention, and salvation.
I was blessed to be able to write stories about how God had used the Children's Homes to lift someone out of their darkest days (see Susan's Homecoming). I was able to write about how people were giving of their money and of their life for this cause (see Edith Snider, Lifelong Ambassador). I spoke with people about how this ministry has provided hope for them and even created an interest for the next generation (see LifePrints Cultivates Interest, Appreciation in Heart of Young Fan and Grace Through Restitution) and most importantly how people had come to know Christ through this ministry (see Salvation Story). Since beginning my internship in the Fall of 2009, I have been working pretty consistently with the Children's Homes.
In June of this year I was honored to attend Camp of Champions, which is the annual camp that ABCH holds for all of the kids in care. ABCH employees put on a VBS-ish curriculum for a couple of days while house parents and foster parents meet. They also get to swim, play paintball, watch movies, and just have fun together and share in the community of Christ that has been fostered through this ministry. My job was to take pictures that will be a lifelong reminder of God's sovereignty for these families and the ABCH ministry(see photos here and read Children’s Homes ministers to children, parents through Camp of Champions). I was humbled to witness the amount of love that God has provided to these children.
As I got into my car to drive back to Birmingham from camp, I was reignited with this longing to provide that same love to a child, or children, someday. I've been given so much, and not just material possessions and financial stability. I've been given love, grace, forgiveness, and a multitude of joy. I have to share it. We, God's church, have to share it.
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