Let the new month begin – and I’m two for two in sticking with the budget. This week I’m trying to cook more healthy and less meat. Going hard after this until the half I’m running here in ATL on Thanksgiving Day. Then, maybe celebrate with a favorite piece of pie!
Butternut Squash caprese salad
Green Smoothies
Chicken Tender Farm Salad
Butternut Squash and Apple Hash
Pumpkin Ravioli with a Pumpkin Alfredo Sauce (ravioli thanks to TJ – sauce, I’ll see what works)
One of the most important parts about being married is receiving constant encouragement in your marriage. Whether its reading books, listening to sermons, asking questions of your spouse, dating your spouse, or being with couples who have been in marriage longer than you – or even coming alongside couples who haven’t been married as long – marriage encouragement is a MUST!
This past weekend I got to shoot at a beautiful location in Buckhead (in Atlanta), and be encouraged in my marriage. Similar to a regular wedding ceremony, there was a music, vows, family, a “sermon” – but no unity candle for which I was glad! 🙂
The joys for me: knowing this was where the groom proposed and this vow renewal was his idea (15 years of marriage – good man), how they incorporated their girls into the ceremony, how the bride and groom gave the charge to other couples there, and how laid back the bride was. That usually doesn’t happen at a wedding.
The most important thought for me was “Marriage is a long vision” Meaning – think long term for your marriage, don’t get so disgruntled with the here and now. This too shall pass. Marriage is for a lifetime.
Photographer: kcreatives photography
Location: the duck pond – buckhead, atlanta, georgia
Bride’s Makeup: Woo Skincare
I love reading to my boys. It is definitely one of the highlights of being a mommy. I love the fun pictures and the cute rhymes. I also love it when the books I’m reading with our boys teaches them good theology. It is never too early to start teaching them good theology.
Two things I definitely want to teach the boys early on (we are already doing so) is Jesus is everything and they need him because they are sinners.
I get to review books and usually I love them – but even if I don’t love everything about them – I want to introduce them to you, give you some wisdom hopefully in how you can read the books to your kids (whether you agree wholeheartedly or not), and tell you what I do like about them. Tommy Nelson is great about sending me books each month in exchange for a review (and all thoughts are my own) and also giving a copy to one reader!
Lysa Terkeust, of Proverbs 31 and the Best Yes fame, put out her children’s book (ideal of young school age) Win or Lose, I love You. It is a book about woodland farm animals and some best friends. I love her use of imagination – I definitely want to instill imagination and creativity in my boys. It teaches some good encouragement to how to deal with competitiveness and greed and self-centeredness among friends – which I see in my boys already. I love the verses that Lysa encourages parents to read over and instill in their kids.
Here is my problem with this book – and there really is only one, but its a big one: Coyote doesn’t get his way and smashes all the pies. His response to Lulu (one of the main characters) is “I’m the worst animal in the forest.” Lulu said “Coyote, you behaved badly, but you aren’t bad.” ALERT! FALSE THEOLOGY!! This is when, if you choose to get this book with all its great other qualities, you can teach your children about what the Bible says.
Human beings aren’t born good.
Romans 5:12-14
Romans 5:19
Psalm 51:5
Romans 3:9-23
Here’s the good thing: if we know the problem – and there is an answer – then the Gospel can become clear to our children. If we always tell our children that they aren’t bad (inherently, they aren’t born good), then why would they ever need a Savior?
Question: how do you teach your kids theology?
As a parent, I love both of my boys, but I long to see lasting change in their behavior and heart. But, I’ve realized in a very short period of time that I can’t change their hearts – only God can.
One of the ways that God changes hearts is by the Word of God. And it is very important as parents who love the Lord to help instill in our children a love for the Word. I know they won’t love the Word unless God saves them, but we can work on creating moments where they Word gets in them and the Word works in their hearts.
Tommy Nelson just put out a new study Bible for kids (8-12) and I think its awesome. They gave me this Bible as a part of Tommy Nelson Mommies and are giving you a chance to win won too! It is in the NKJV and that is readable and understandable while still sticking to the languages pretty well. It has bold colors and a style that pre-teens will like Easy thumb tabs built in to the pages so the books are easy to find. Has application points that are geared toward pre-teens. Has further study points throughout the Bible that will help kids learn more about God’s will for their lives.
The Bible is living and active and life-changing. Get it into your kids’ lives and hearts.
If you would like to win won, comment with your favorite verse that you like to pour into your pre-teens, or kids of any age.
I think its been almost 2 weeks since I blogged. We’ve had family in town and then traveled to see friends – and I have a hectic 3 and 2 year old – that says a lot right now.
But, here it is the end of the month and it is the second month in a row I’ve stayed on budget!!! I’m so excited! I’ve even come under budget this month!
Spaghetti Squash Carbonara (even though I’ve heard bacon can cause cancer)
Roasted Pork Tenderloin
Creamy mac and cheese
Greens and smoothies
Chili and Sweet potatoes
Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls (easy treat for Halloween morning from Trader Joes)
I’ll be posting some of these recipes if they turn out!
What are you cooking this week?
Ok – I know this blog post is a little late, but thanks for still wanting to see what we are cooking this week. My in-laws are here this week and friends from out of state and its my son’s birthday (today!) so we are busy over here. Doesn’t stop me from cooking though!
Made this enchilada soup and it was good – will be great for leftovers this week – and it is SO EASY!
Bought some persimmons at TJ this week and grilled a TBone tonight – give me a good piece of meat and I can make a darn good steak!
These whoopie pies are going down in the morning
This chocolate cake is happening for my little’s birthday party with family on Thursday
My little little turned 2 today – at 830 this morning. He is full on with all of life – from his runs and hugs and drinking his juice to his temper tantrums.
So, I did a praynames for him a few weeks ago. Here is what is surrounding that given name of his:
Father
we take great delight in the wonderful son you gave us in young Sebastian.
We cling to the truth that you have made him in your image for your great glory.
As we watch him grow and jump and lead and love – I pray that you will take and use them to
bring glory to your great name in all the world.
We desire above all else for you to receive forever glory from his life.
I trust you that you will save him and give him a new heart of flesh – one that beats for you and you alone.
He desires closeness and companionship. I pray that he would grow in his friendship with you
through the Word, worship, and prayer.
I pray that he would develop close friendships with others who delight in you.
Yes Lord, I trust that you will develop his natural abilities and leadership into traits
that are used to shine Jesus in all the world.
And that one day he would be an exemplary husband and daddy
who shows the grace of Christ to his wife, his littles, his neighbors, and the world
for your great name!
Amen.
Little S – I love you. I’m glad you are ours. I pray that God would grip your heart little man. Happy 2nd!
Transformation Tuesday isn’t just about the scale. Its also about changing your body and your mind. There is much change that has to happen in your body to be able to practice yoga well. And in your mind. And I’m not there on either level. The pictures above are 2 years apart and about 60 lbs.
I started practicing yoga about 7 years and then took a break when I was pregnant and gained a ton of weight and could hardly do a cat pose to save my life. But, since I started back in my healthy journey and have lost quite a bit of weight, I want to change my body as well. Two dvds I really love in yoga world is JM’s Cardio Yoga and Bob’s Weight Loss Yoga. Both in their upper levels kick my tail!
I can tell a total difference. Sometimes I think I’m working out a muscle group well – then do some yoga and totally feel it the next day. I must not be working out as hard as I thought. But, I also like having a variance in exercising. I do like how I can tell which side of my body needs more stretching out or which side I’m more balanced on.
I did a post years ago that I thought I would re-post some of on here. I think this tells how I can practice yoga and be a Gospel-centered believer. As a friend said, we need to be vigilant on ideas that might fight against Christianity and the Spirit within us – but at the same time fight against legalism as well. This hopefully is a balance of the two.
First, to set everyone on the same terms, I pulled up our trusty friends at Merriem-Webster to find out the definition. This is what it said:
1. Yoga: a Hindu theistic philosophy teaching the suppression of all activity of body, mind, and will in order that the self may realize its distinction from them and attain liberation.
2. yoga: a system of exercises for attaining bodily or mental control and well-being.
I completely agree with the first definition of big Y Yoga and do not practice little y yoga for the purpose of big Y Yoga. You can separate the two. Of course Scripture tells us to fill our minds with things of the Spirit, Col 3.1-3 and Phil 4.8 and all through Psalm 119. This is what I like to do when practicing these exercises, or I listen to praise music, or I focus on what I am doing so I don’t fall over.
I think you can. How can putting your foot on the inside of the opposite thigh (tree pose) be an evil or cult or false-religion thing? How can stretching out your hips by laying forward in a pigeon pose be evil or anti-God? I think the movements, exercises, or little y yoga is actually good for us because it is allowing our bodies, or my body, to be healthier, to move better.
God created our bodies. He created them to move. When I practice yoga, and move my body in the ways that God has intended my bodies to be: healthy, mobile, active – then yes, I am using my body as God created me to – to bring Him glory. I can thank Him and praise Him for making my body to move, to be active, to be healthy, so I can do things that will bring glory to the only God of the universe, the great Creator. Why must an unbelieving false religion have hold and rites on this exercises and poses?
I don’t practice yoga poses to make me more acceptable to Christ. His blood bought my salvation and redeemed my life. I can freely choose to do yoga because of the freedom Christ has given me. There is nothing evil in the poses themselves. What we do with our minds and hearts while practicing these poses (or running, doing aerobics, walking, swimming, biking, hiking, surfing, etc) is important.
If I truly thought that practicing the exercises in yoga was hindering my walk with Christ, I would stop. But, I do yoga poses for the same reason I hike, bike, run or walk or lift weights: to make my body better. This is something the church seldom touches on, because we live with such obesity and gluttony and laziness. But, I don’t think there is a need to knock out these exercises.
Two words in closing:
1. If you are in a predominately Hindu culture, seeking to live out Christ, no, I would not recommend practicing yoga, even the poses, because of what it might convey to the folks you are trying to reach with the gospel.
2. This, just like many other issues in Scripture that aren’t blatant black or white, comes down to Christian liberty and the “weaker-brother” principle. So…here is my personal conclusion. I can practice this in my own home and not announce it on facebook. My roommate is not bothered by my practicing these yoga moves. I can practice it with one or two others who know my stance on the subject and don’t have a problem with it. Should I go to a studio and practice it, no…because I do not know who I might offend, or who I might lead to believe that I am practicing Big Y Yoga.
A cat’s pose and triangle pose and tree pose definitely help my core and sense of balance. And help my jeans fit better!
Happy Sunday to all of you out there. This morning as my mister and I were standing in church together (doesn’t happen often in between serving in nursery, my mister leading worship, or my misters work schedule, or sick kids) I was sobbing because of hearing how the grieving process for a couple who lost their teenage daughter still continues.
Then I sent my mister a text later in the service after he had gone to work saying that I long for the day that the tears are replaced with laughter and smiles and our lives are marked more by grace than what has happened in our lives.
So, as I’ve already cried, shared nuggets and a frosty with my little misters, and practiced some yoga – here are some happy links – things that make me smile!
Since it is pumpkin season and my little little is turning 2 this Tuesday – we are so doing this to celebrate!
This friend always makes me smile. She made me smile in high school and her lovely blog including these DIY spectaculars make me smile today – and remembering back to seeing my first aspens with her 5 years ago.
Since my phone is attached to me almost at all times and because of my love for photography and capturing every moment so I can remember the moment – think I need to memorize these
These pretty calendars really make me wish I had some talent.
The bag of chopped up butternut squash I get weekly at my Trader Joes always makes me smile and so does a good mac and cheese.
Just because I love kale in salads and its healthy for me and I want to use up all the squash because its fall and I need to combat birthday cake this week…
I have no doubt that these cookies would make me smile because of the butterscotch chips – but then I wouldn’t smile when I looked at the scale after I ate half the batch.
In a digital world, we are capable of hearing anyone speak from anywhere in the world anytime we care to.
But, I feel there is more to the “talk” when its live. I remember the first time I heard Louie Giglio, John Piper, and David Platt live. I remember hearing pastors week in and week out – those who were not only brilliant but also passionate and engaging and pastoral.
I can tell you that sitting with a friend, talking while sipping on chai, is much better than communicating via text (though if that’s all you have its awesome).
Also, when my husband travels for his work and we have to rely on calls, texts, or emails – it is a joy to hear him say hello in person when he returns.
Some people in the Bible got to have audible conversations with God. They also had people called prophets who were mouthpieces for God – communicating truth to the hearers.
David knew, as he was confessing his sin to a holy and just God – that the Creator would be justified in whatever he said, even if he chose not to respond. Truth that would be fitting to the situation.
Today, we have the voice of God in written form. It may not be quite the same as hearing God audibly, but the Word is living, active and purely true. We can stake our life on it. We can accept it. We need to cherish it. And I know I need to know it and love it more. And I will eagerly look forward to the day when I hear the voice of God – live in his presence.
Psalm 51:4
Others: 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Psalm 19