My Favorite Me
MFM: Week 41, Day 1
Week 41, Day 1 (-16 pounds)
Heart: This weekend was one of the most amazing moments I’ve experienced as a mom! Tim, Banayner and I went on a trip so they could compete in Spartan races! It was Tim’s second (he did one last October) and Banayner’s first! Tim completed the Spartan Super (9.5 miles, 28 obstacles) and it was brutal! The obstacles were far worse than last year- so much more intense and disgusting. But he did an amazing job! I’m so proud! He’s got another Spartan race in two weeks, followed by his first triathlon two weeks after that! He’s such an inspiration to the kids and I!
Banayner’s race was a Spartan kids’ race. Half a mile and about 10 obstacles. They had to jump walls, do low crawls, climb nets, trudge through water, it was awesome! As he was getting ready, they announced that parents could run with kids if they wanted. Banayner looked at his dad, who had just finished his race 15 minutes earlier, realized that Daddy wasn’t going to do it with him, took a deep breath, and put on his game face! When they said “Go!” he took off like he’d been doing it for years! I figured he’d get to the first “icky” or “hard” obstacle and look back at us to decide if it was really worth doing, but the kid didn’t so much as flinch! He just did it! In fact, as he passed us in a few different spots, he didn’t even notice we were there cheering him on because he was so focused! As soon as he finished, he got his medal, ran over to me and said, “Even when they were hard, Mom, I just did ‘em!” He’s already planning his next one!
I can’t even begin to describe the pride and emotion I felt watching him rise to this challenge. He was so brave, so confident, such a big kid! I watched my little boy head out there and come back a Spartan! I am one proud Momma!
Soul: Last week, at my class the professor said something that really stuck with me. He said, “Sometimes God calls us to things that are unexpected and even unwanted.” We’d just begun the gospel of Luke and were going through the birth of Jesus. As we read about Mary, he said that she neither expected nor wanted what God asked of her. It occurred to me that sometimes I think that the only things God will call me to are things I’m good at, things I enjoy, and things I’m gifted in. That the trick is to find the special gifts God’s given me, and that’s where I’ll find His call for my life. But the thing God called Mary to- bearing and raising His son, that was not convenient for her. I doubt she would have chosen that calling, I doubt she enjoyed the judgement that followed her through her entire life. And, as a mom, I can’t even imagine the pain and anguish she experienced watching Him die. God’s call on her life was certainly not enjoyable, convenient, or desired. Yet, she heard the call and she obeyed. Maybe I need to do less searching and more listening?
Strength: This morning was rough. I woke up wanting pancakes. I thought through my breakfast options: protein shake, scramble, omelet, fruit and nut parfait… but I really wanted pancakes. So, in an effort to prevent myself from just grabbing eggo waffles, I went ahead and found an almond meal pancake recipe. Every recipe I’ve found so far has been a flop, so I was a little nervous. But I wanted them that bad. These pancakes were delicious!!! They use almond meal, eggs, and applesauce for the base. I topped them with blueberries and honey- it was perfect! So yummy and so easy!
Whisk together 2 eggs. Mix in 1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce and ½ Tbsp honey. Finally, stir in ½ tsp baking powder and ¼ cup almond meal. Pour approx. 3 Tbsp for each pancake on griddle (on LOW/MED heat) and let cook for 5 minutes. Carefully flip over and cook for an additional 4-5 minutes.
MFM: Week 40, Day 1
Week 40, Day 1 (-15 pounds)
Heart: I haven’t had much time for sewing or gift-making lately. Our schedule is crazy right now, and will be for a couple of months. But, I’m finding myself surprisingly at peace with the chaos. I think that being home with my kiddos is one of the biggest factors! I don’t feel like I’m missing out on time with them, so I’m alright. I can get my laundry and housekeeping done during the day and our crazy evenings and weekends are free to be crazy! I hope we don’t have to keep this up long-term, but for now, we’re definitely making it work!
Soul: The Good Friday service at our church this year was awesome! It was so emotional for me, but also extremely profound! I’ve heard the Easter story over and over for years, but this year our Pastor spoke on Barabbas. I know about Barabbas. He’s the murderer the crowds chose to have released instead of Jesus. I feel like the general feel about that situation is that the people were idiots. Had they just made the wise choice, had they not been swayed by the religious elite, had they just chosen to free Jesus, He wouldn’t have had to suffer. But that perspective almost implies that it was all based on chance, and I don’t believe that it was. I believe that God knew exactly what would happen. In fact, our Pastor suggested that more than just knowing, perhaps God wanted it to happen that way.
Maybe God wanted us to see a man who deserved to be crucified, a man who deserved what was coming to him, walk free. Maybe God wanted us to see Jesus literally take the place of a man who was rightfully to be beaten, mocked, and hung on a cross. We don’t see Jesus trying to argue for His own defense. Maybe because He loved Barabbas enough to let him walk away, to literally take his place. Maybe rather than imagine that I was simply some random person on God’s list of “Who I love”, I need to realize that I am a Barabbas. I deserve to pay the penalty for the mistakes that I’ve made. And Jesus steps in, without so much as a word, and they unlock my chains and haul Him off to pay my penalty.
How often do we describe the mercy of Jesus using financial examples? “Imagine you had a great debt to pay and Jesus just showed up and paid it.” That’s how we try to explain the love of our God!? That doesn’t even begin to touch the depth of the sacrifice He made for us! Imagine you’re standing on a stage, convicted of and sentenced for the stupid things you’ve done in your life. Imagine they pull Jesus up on stage next you, a man who’s done nothing but love and heal people. Imagine they walk over, unlock your chains and put them on Him. They strip Him of His clothes, they mock Him, they beat Him… all the things that are supposed to be happening to you, and you just stand there and watch this man take it for you. He doesn’t say stop, He doesn’t ask you to make it right, He just loves you so much He’s taking it all for you. Wouldn’t you want to make it stop?! Wouldn’t you be screaming, chasing after Him, trying to convince them that He doesn’t deserve it?! Wouldn’t you be humiliated in shame and fear as the crowd watched this man pay your penalty?! But He just wants you to let Him take it. He just wants you to live your life. When it was over, and He had paid your debt, wouldn’t you spend the rest of your life telling everyone who would listen?! Wouldn’t that become your life mission?! To make sure that everyone knew exactly what this man did for you, so that you could be free?!
If you have a few minutes, you should check out this video. It’s absolutely incredible!
Strength: Well, I’m down 15 pounds and I feel great! I love this new eating plan! It’s getting easier the longer I do it as I’m getting more familiar with my options for meals and snacks. I even made it through Easter dinner! Holidays are one of the first places I drop a diet because I have this inner voice that begins to panic. “What if I never celebrate another Easter?! Do I really want to spend this one without a dinner roll?” “Do I really want my kids to remember our holidays as yucky because Mom was on another diet?” But, I was surprised to find that I actually quite enjoyed our Easter dinner, I didn’t even mind the lack of a roll on my plate. And, because I brought several of the dishes, my plate was loaded with food! Turkey, roasted veggies, deviled eggs, fruit, raw veggies, etc. No one even noticed that I didn’t take a roll! The kiddos loved the meal, they weren’t even fazed! I even made dessert (a raw earl grey lemon cheesecake) so we could all have dessert together! It’s amazing how silly our fears can be once we face them, but how scary they can be if let them have control.
MFM: Week 39, Day 4
Week 39, Day 4 (-14 pounds)
Heart: It’s Easter week! We had a service at church on Tuesday during which we did a lectio divina (Divine Reading) of the Easter story. Our Pastor read through the Scripture a total of 8 times, during which we tried to place ourselves in the shoes of various people and perspectives in an attempt to feel what they felt. I think the goal was to experience an emotional connection with the story and it was absolutely unreal! It was an incredible experience!
We’ve got a Good Friday service tomorrow and then an Easter service on Sunday. As we’ve been preparing to celebrate this week: planning the dinner and talking about egg hunts, the image of Easter has been heavy on my heart. I don’t want my kids to think of eggs and the Easter Bunny at Easter. I want them to think of the resurrection of Christ, the most incredible gift they will ever receive. So, I borrowed another idea from my friend over at Bitty Bits Blog and made our Easter egg hunt a reminder of the resurrection story. They will have eggs with candy and such, but mixed in will be eggs containing little items and Scripture that tells the story of Easter. They’ll put up with it for a few years since they’re young, roll their eyes in years to come as they get older, and God-willing, it’ll be stored in their heart as adults.
Soul: In my reading this morning, I was reading about Paul and Silas’ journey to Thessalonica, Berea, and Athens. As I was reading, I came across Acts 17:11 “And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul’s message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth.” I’ve read this verse many time over the years, but today one sentence really stood out to me. “They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth.” Whoa! In a world that inundates us with so much information, it can be hard to determine what is truth. This was a clear and necessary reminder for me that Scripture is the lens through which I view the world. When I receive new information, I can search the Scriptures to determine its validity. What a wonderful, powerful too we have been given!
Strength: We’re two weeks into this new eating plan and I still love it! For the first week or so, I was trying to find replacement recipes for my favorite foods. Pancakes, brownies, cookies, etc. You get the idea- how can I use alternative flours (coconut, almond, etc.) to make the foods I shouldn’t eat? But, this week I’ve begun to realize that maybe the better approach is to get used to life without those foods. Maybe instead of trying to force them into my life with alternative ingredients, I should look for healthier, whole food options. For instance, if I’m craving something sweet, I could grill a peach and put a tiny bit of honey and cinnamon on top. Super sweet, yummy, and not a “fake” brownie that ultimately leaves me craving a brownie.
It’s not that I’m never going to make sweets again. I love the 4-ingredient fudge I posted about last week and I’ll keep some of it in the freezer as a quick sweet treat. In fact, I’m even going to make a special cheesecake for Easter this weekend. But that’s just it, I’ll try to save those “special” recipes for the occasional holiday or party night! I don’t need to make things confusing with special breads, rolls, and desserts. I need to keep it simple. At least for now.
MFM: Week 38, Day 5
Week 38, Day 5
Heart: I want to share a quick adaptation of an amazing Coconut Oil Fudge recipe that has been a life-saver with this new eating plan! It takes 4 ingredients, warming in the microwave, and cooling in the fridge! So fast, easy, and unbelievably delicious!
What you need:
½ cup natural peanut butter (we use Adams)
½ cup organic coconut oil
½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
3-4 Tbsp honey to your liking, we used closer to 3
What to do:
Combine all ingredients in a microwave-safe bowl. Heat on half-power for a minute or so, until heated through. Whisk until smooth. Pour into small loaf pan lined with wax paper. Cool in fridge for several hours.
*Note: this fudge should be stored in the fridge or freezer as it loses its consistency or “melts” quickly at room temperature.
Soul: A couple of nights ago, during dinner, Banayner looked up from his meal and asked, “Why doesn’t God stop things like tornadoes, tsunamis, and volcanoes? He’s powerful enough to stop them, so no one gets hurt, why doesn’t He?” Wham! Talk about a big question for a little kid! It was scary, but awesome to talk with him about this… we got to tell them all of the things we know about how God works and how, ultimately, we don’t know why God does the things He does. We talked about the need for things like fires to get rid of old, rotting trees and make room for new growth and new life. We talked about the ‘physics’ (as much as a 6-year-old could handle) behind things like tsunamis. We talked about the importance of taking care of this world and that our choices have consequences. He seemed to really enjoy talking about it! In fact, it sparked other questions over the course of the past couple of days, including “So, I know that the rivers flow into the ocean. But, where do the rivers get their water?” and “How long did it take God to make the world? And how long ago did He do it?” It’s such a joy to see his little brain trying to process the world around him, trying to make sense of reality. It’s even more of a joy that e comes to us when he has questions, that he feels safe and secure enough to ask the hard questions. It gives me hope that as he gets older, he’ll feel comfortable coming to us with big, important questions. What more can a parent ask for?
Strength: Well, I’m over a week into this new way of eating and I still love it! I’m anticipating the challenge that will arise in the next couple of weeks, when I move out of the ‘honeymoon’ phase and my body starts to crave the foods it’s used to having. If I can anticipate it, though, I can get through that phase and hopefully make this my new normal. At least, that’s my goal! We’re going to Olive Garden for a date this weekend… yeah, Olive Garden. Can you imagine eating there without breadsticks and pasta?! Do they even serve anything else? Well, as a matter of fact… I know myself well enough to know that if I don’t walk through the doors with a plan, I’m liable to get suckered into breadsticks and pasta. Thus, I’ve already gotten online, looked at their menu and selected a grain-free entrée that sounds fabulous (chicken piccata with zucchini… yum!). With a salad before, I’ll be perfectly satisfied and feed my body the type of food it needs! Now, I just need to remember the reason I’m choosing not to eat breadsticks. It’s not because they’re inherently bad, it’s not “no” for the sake of no, but rather because I truly want my body to function properly.
MFM: week 38, Day 1
Week 38, Day 1 (-11 pounds)
Heart: I can’t believe it’s already April! A new month once again means new changes! Our financial change this month is no eating out. We are going to plan ahead when necessary to avoid having to eat out. The one exception is a date that Tim and I have been looking forward to for several months! We decided to allow that as an exception since we’ve had it in the works for so long. But, aside from that preplanned date, we will not be doing any “let’s just stop by (insert fast food restaurant here) and grab something quick” or any “should we just keep it easy and order (pizza, sandwiches, chinese) for dinner?” This was one of my changes last year and it was amazing to learn how much we can unknowingly spend in one month on last-minute trips to eat out. It should work well alongside my new eating plan, too!
Soul: My spiritual change this month is to talk less. When I mentioned it the other day my husband literally laughed out loud! Apparently, it’s something I really need to work on… The idea isn’t to be silent all month or anything like that, but rather, to intentionally focus on listening. Sometimes during a conversation, I get so focused on what I’m going to say next that I miss out on the vast majority of what other people are saying… it’s quite selfish and rude. So, this month I’m going to work on truly listening to what others are saying. It may result in less witty comments or awesome puns, but it may also result in me asking more questions and genuinely learning a lot about the people in my life! I’m excited… even though, as my husband would surely tell you, it will be incredibly difficult for me.
Strength: My physical change for the month of April is to stretch every morning. This should be a relatively easy change to make as I decided to swap out my usual exercises for yoga stretches this month. It will allow me to continue with my routine, without adding anything additional to my schedule. When the end of the month comes, I can determine whether I want to go back to my exercises, stick with yoga or do some sort of combination.
I’m almost a week into this new eating plan (whole foods, no grains, no potatoes, and no sugars) and it’s still going really well! I’ve noticed that it’s critically important for me to have quick, easy, high protein snacks handy (hard-boiled eggs, almonds, fresh fruit and veggies). But as long as I have access to healthy snacks, I’m finding it relatively easy to adapt. I encountered one situation where I had to plan ahead to accommodate. They served pizza at youth group and I opted to prep and take my own dinner (a mayo-less tuna in an avocado bowl). With a little bit of forethought, it was easy peasy, not to mention absolutely delicious! In fact, others were far more jealous of my dinner than I was of theirs!
MFM: Week 37, Day 5
Week 37, Day 5
Heart: I’ve blogged about some really challenging times with Banayner. I’ve also mentioned how much better it’s gotten over the past several months. Well, this week I had a conference with his teacher at school. Let me just say, I am one proud Momma! She went over his strengths and weaknesses and then she spent several minutes talking about how much of a change she’s seen in his effort. He went from being perfectly content with the bare minimum to excited to challenge himself and complete the ‘above and beyond’ assignments. She talked about how much she appreciates his attitude toward learning. If he’s struggling with something, he isn’t afraid to ask for help and, better yet, he’s open to guidance and critique for the sake of getting better! I can’t think of anything that could have made me more proud!
I was the type of student that put my gpa above learning. I didn’t care if I learned anything as long as I got an A. As I went to college and became a teacher I realized how wrong that kind of thinking is. It has never been my dream for my children to graduate as valedictorians, especially if it means sacrificing their education in the process. I will always encourage them to work harder, take challenging courses, and push themselves just a little beyond what they think they can accomplish, even if it means earning a B in the process. I want them to be great thinkers with a love of learning and a passion for being challenged! It was the most precious gift to listen to Banayner’s teacher tell me that he is that kind of learner!
Soul: Today I met Barnabas. Not physically, but I spent some time looking at who he was. His name is familiar, but beyond that I knew very little about the man. He may not have written letters that became books of the Bible, his testimony may not have been as shocking as Paul’s, in fact I’ve never really heard anything really exceptional about Barnabas. But as I was reading about him today, I was absolutely floored. What an incredible man of God! When all of the other believers were afraid of Paul, he spoke on Paul’s behalf. He and Paul were selected by the Holy Spirit to take the first missionary journey. It seems like anytime there was a need of someone to go check in on a group of people or travel for some reason, he was willing to go! He was loyal, standing by his cousin Mark when Paul felt called in a different direction. He was human, misled by the lies of some of the leaders, but he had a good heart. He was a man full of the Holy Spirit! I had such a fun time learning about this man I never knew, discovering that maybe some of the most influential people in sharing the love of Christ were relatively ‘unexceptional’. It gives me hope and encouragement that in my little unexceptional, normal life, I can show people the love of Christ, too.
Strength: A few posts ago I mentioned that my husband and I were thinking that maybe we had food mostly figured out? I mean, we were eating healthier than ever and watching our portions. I had carefully calculated the calorie requirements for my body, compared them to the number burned and adjusted to account for weight loss. I was frustrated because it wasn’t adding up… I knew the numbers were right! But what if it boils down to a lot more than just the numbers? What if the type of food I’m putting into my body is as important (or more) than the amount? And I don’t just mean ‘healthy’ food, I mean specific to the needs of my body. What if I’m eating the right amount, but the food I’m eating is causing my body to malfunction? No amount of calculation will account for a malfunctioning body!
Before I worry about exactly how much I’m eating, maybe I need to give my body the foods that it needs to function properly and heal itself from insulin resistance. Maybe then I can worry about how much I’m eating. Or maybe, if I genuinely listen to my body and do what it needs, I won’t really have to worry about the amount because I’ll eat when I need it and I won’t when I don’t. What an idea… letting my body be the guide!
MFM: Week 37, Day 4
Week 37, Day 4 (-10 pounds)
Heart: Well, I no longer have a baby. My sweet Baby girl turned one yesterday and entered the world of toddler-hood! We finished her birthday present, a busy board, and she loves it!! She and the boys haven’t stopped playing with it since we gave it to her. Well, aside from nap time when Momma tells them they can’t make noise. Turns out this super awesome gift is also extremely loud!
The board is made up of a 24”x48” board we cut into the main board (24”x36”) and two leg pieces. I then sanded and stained everything. One side of the board is personalized with Baby girl’s name painted at the top and a big mirror (20”x24”). The other side has all kinds of things to tinker with: a belt, quick release snap, seat belt, door stopper, bell, handle with rings, wheel, deadbolt, zipper, door knocker, light switch, rings for lacing ribbon, door knob, Velcro, and a chain latch. Most of the items were pretty straightforward to put on the board, but there were a few that made me realize how very much I appreciate my husband!
This was another homemade gift in my year of doing mostly homemade gifts and it was an utter success! I can’t wait to open up my Excel spreadsheet to update and start planning the next gift! Yes, I’m a nerd and proud of it!
Soul: In Acts this morning I was reading about the requirements of those who become Christians. In this particular passage, there were many who thought that Gentile converts (non-Jewish) needed to be circumcised to truly follow Christ. Paul “disagreed vehemently,” as my translation put it, and went to the elders of the church to help make a decision about it. Ultimately, they decided that if God had chosen to give His Spirit to the Gentiles, they shouldn’t make it any harder for Gentiles to follow Christ and determined circumcision a nonissue. It got me thinking about things that we make issues out of that God might consider nonissues. When it came to circumcision, He poured out His Spirit regardless, because it’s not the law that saves us, but the grace of Jesus. I wonder what rules we have for non-Christians that we think they need to follow to be ‘real’ Christians. Things that God would look at us and say, “Are you really making it harder for them to enter into a relationship with me? Because of something so trivial?” The grace of Jesus was poured out for everyone! Maybe we would do better to follow Peter’s example and make it as simple as possible for people to encounter Jesus. Maybe we should let the Holy Spirit do His work in the lives of those who have changes to make. Maybe we just need to love people the way Jesus loves us… completely, unconditionally, and selflessly.
Strength: I encountered the phrase “insulin resistance” this week as I was surfing the internet. I was incredibly intrigued and began researching it, its causes, symptoms, etc. As I was reading about it I kept thinking, “This is exactly what my Dr. has mentioned, but without naming it.” My Dr. has told me for years that my body doesn’t process carbohydrates well. In truth, I’ve noticed the most significant weight loss when I cut carbs. However, up to this point, I’ve only ever cut carbs for the purpose of weight loss. As I was researching this time, I began thinking in terms of how my body processes food. Maybe, if my body doesn’t process carbohydrates well, I shouldn’t eat them. Not because I might lose weight, but because my body may actually begin to function properly without them. So, I’m trying a new way of eating, not a diet, because in my mind that implies temporary and I fully intend for this to be my new normal. If my body doesn’t process grain well, it isn’t going to process it well in a year, or in ten years. It just may be that for my body to function as it was designed to function, I need to avoid grain. In fact, I’m avoiding grains, potatoes, and sugars right now to see how it affects me. I still get some carbs from fruit and such, but my focus for now is on eating more protein.
Day 2 of this new way of eating and I love it! I thought my children were going to be a hard sell, but they cleaned their dinner plates both nights. In fact, last night Bubby even said, “Mom, this is the best dinner ever!” They’re not eating exactly like I am, they still have potatoes and a few grains, but they’re definitely eating more veggies! We’ve tried roasting broccoli, carrots and cauliflower and the kids loved them all! It’s also been helpful that I haven’t been eating ‘meals’ per se, but more or less just getting a small something to eat whenever I feel hungry. A hard-boiled egg, carrot sticks, an apple with peanut butter, etc. We’ll see how this goes, but for now I feel good!
MFM: Week 37, Day 1
Week 37, Day 1 (-9 pounds)
Heart: Baby girl’s cake turned out fairly cute! Especially, the ombre colored sugar, that turned out beautifully! And I made it super easy by leaving the colored sugar surrounding the cake, rather than try to clean that mess off of the serving plate. Fortunately, at one she didn’t care. It also must’ve tasted decent because there was not so much as a crumble of cake left… that has never happened before! I had people coming back for second and even third pieces!
Using the colored sugar was so fun and easy that I’m trying to convince one of the boys to have a sand castle cake. Can you just imagine a brown sugar topping for the sand?! How cute would that be?! It reminds me of the construction cake we made for Banayner’s birthday a couple of years ago… so fun and the easiest cake ever!!
Soul: I was spending time with Jesus this morning and started thinking back to this week. I’ve had a very insecure week. There has been a lot of doubt and fear in me. Especially when it comes to my body. I was thinking back on the various things I’ve posted on my blog and realized that it is a smorgasbord of different ideas and efforts. It’s like I keep trying something new hoping it will overcome the fear and doubt. This morning God revealed to me that the fear isn’t going anywhere. No matter what I do, no matter how hard I try, satan will continue trying to put fear in me. There isn’t enough exercise, eating right, or losing weight to eliminate satan’s efforts. What will hold him off is being confident in who I am and unleashing the power of the Spirit within me. Satan will never stop trying to fill me with doubt and fear, but I can choose to call on the name of Jesus to remind me of exactly who I am and He will give me the strength and confidence to choose not to listen to that voice.
Strength: In all of the new things I continue to try, I’m learning a lot of things about myself. I have learned that routine is crucial for me. I have learned that I have to log my food to have a true understanding of what I’m putting in my body. I have learned that in order to exercise, it needs to be something I can do from memory (exercises I know like the back of my hand) or it has to be something that I love doing. Recently, my husband suggested that maybe to discover the exercises I might really enjoy, I should think back to the things I loved as a child! He’s cycling, running and swimming… all things he loved to do as a kid. I immediately thought of dancing. I love to dance! Every time I go dancing I think to myself, “I could spend hours doing this!” I danced all the time as a little girl! Why in the world haven’t I considered dancing as a form of exercise?! Because I feel like exercise has to be painful? Because I’ve spent so long telling myself I don’t like exercise? Because I’m just not ‘one of those types of people’? Rubbish! I want to find exercises I enjoy! I want to do it because it sounds fun! I want to dance!!
MFM: Week 36, Day 4
Week 36, Day 4
Heart: I’m getting ready for Baby girl’s first birthday party… are you kidding me?! She started walking this week and hasn’t slowed down since! I can’t believe my baby is getting so big! For her birthday, I decided to do a fairly simple cake in the shape of a ‘1’ and just put colored sugar on top with an ombre effect. A few days ago, I prepared the colored sugar and it came out absolutely beautiful! I made 6 variations of pink. Beginning with white (I left one jar uncolored) I then added one drop of pink food coloring to one jar, 2 to the next and so on until I added 5 drops to the last jar making it the darkest pink. I then placed them in separate foil ‘boats’ on a cookie sheet and let them dry out in the oven. I set the oven to 350°F and when it was hot, placed the cookie sheet into the oven and turned the oven off. After 10 minutes, I took them out and let them cool. Then I sealed them in containers until I’m ready to make the cake! My plan for the cake is to frost it, then make 6 ‘stripes’ using only half of each color and leaving a gap between (about an inch and a half). Then I will take half of the remaining sugar from two adjacent colors and mix it, placing it between the two colors to provide a nice transition from one to the next. This should result in a beautiful pink ombre cake. *Fingers crossed*
A note about the sugar: it does not come out of the oven ‘glittery’ by any means, but it has a slight glimmer to it. It’s really quite beautiful!
Soul: What is the purpose of a church building? Sometimes it seems like maybe the purpose of the church building is to provide a place for Christians to gather, fellowship, worship and learn about the kingdom of God. Then we can leave the church building, go out into our lives and live the love of Christ so that others might see it and want to know Him. But the building itself isn’t necessarily the place that a non-Christian would just decide to encounter God, right? It’s more for the Christians to get their stuff figured out so we can go out into the world… right? Or should the church, even within the building, be a beacon to those who don’t know Jesus? Should it be a place that even those who don’t know Jesus desire to be? Should we design our services, activities, even children’s ministry to attract unbelievers, even if it means sacrificing some of our personal comforts? I don’t know, this is something my husband and I have been talking about recently and we’re both in a place of… “hmmm?” I wonder if the church building serves the kingdom of God better as a welcome mat for unbelievers or a command center for believers from which to “Go into the world…”
Strength: My husband has been training for an Ironman Race and this morning was feeling a little discouraged because, though he had a decent day, it wasn’t fabulous. He had expected his swim time to improve and it stayed relatively constant. I began typing out a text to him to give him some encouragement, “You don’t have to progress every day, some days it’s ok to maintain.” As I finished typing it, I realized how much I needed to hear those very same words. I was convicted that if I truly believe that for my husband, I need to believe it for me, too. Not every day has to be marked by a new success, a faster time, or weight loss. Some days can be marked by maintaining the success you had yesterday, by continuing the effort you’ve already put in and by holding your ground.
MFM: Week 36, Day 1
Week 36, Day 1 (-8 pounds)
Heart: This weekend we put up new artwork in the hallway! I was inspired by a friend over at Bitty Bits Blog to be intentional about our Easter celebrations this year. My goal for the kiddos this year is to really keep the focus on the resurrection of Christ! So, we decided to use her idea and paint crosses using painters tape. When we remove the tape, the empty space on the page symbolizes the empty tomb. However, I was not in the mood to deal with messy paint, so I tested out an idea I’ve seen on Pinterest- Ziplock painting! It was fabulous!! Even Baby girl helped paint her picture and it turned out beautifully! First, I taped the shape of a cross onto each piece of paper. Then, I let the kids choose their colors and put globs of paint on the paper (I intentionally put most of the globs near the tape to make sure we’d get a clear outline of the cross). Next I slipped the globbed-up paper into a big Ziplock bag, sealed it and let the kids get squishing! When they were finished, we carefully took the paper out of the bag, let it sit for a couple of minutes, removed the tape and let it dry completely! Their crosses turned out gorgeous (you’ll have to excuse the awesome blanket fort behind Bubby in the picture)!! I’m going to keep this project in mind for those days that the kids need a fun project, but I can’t deal with the mess!
Soul: Do you ever have those days when you know that you know that you know that you’re seeking God’s direction in something and it still feels like it’s falling apart? That’s how I’ve been feeling lately. Every morning I seek God’s direction and it seems like it’s not going anywhere. Yesterday I got a little bit of a wake-up call. I’ve definitely been seeking God’s direction, but rather than give the situation to Him and trust that He will take care of it, I’m trying to haul the weight by myself! It’s like I’m going the right way, but not letting Him do the work. I may ask for His guidance in the morning, but then I’m anxious and worried about it all day. So, yesterday and today I’ve been really working on letting Him have control of the situation. And would you believe that, as I’m writing this, I’m getting updates on the specific situation… we went from no options to multiple options! Are you kidding me?! Okay, okay, God… You’ve got this.
Strength: Gah, I am seriously having to put my money where my mouth is right now! I keep going over the things I know to be true, and telling myself I just have to stick with it through the ups and downs. Well, here it is… a down day, super frustrating… and I have the choice to give up or keep doing the best I can. For today, I’m going to keep going. I don’t know how I’ll feel tomorrow, but I don’t get to make that choice yet. I only have control of today and for now, I’m not giving up. I’ll keep eating healthy, keep exercising, keep walking, and deal with tomorrow when it gets here.
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