Weekly goals for 4/30/12

Goals for week (4/23):
1) Have a daily quiet time - Nope, did good most days but fizzled at the end of the week :(
2) Work on Matthew 5: 11 & 12 - Done..still getting stuck on some of the wording but doing better
3) Read chapter in "Be Satisfied" - Done
4) Finish all Bible study work - Nope, I missed a page so I need to get caught up.
5) Steam clean area rugs - Done
6) Go thru and clean off all the papers on my desk - Done
7) Enjoy a Girl's night out and a Date night out - Done, these were great treats :)
8) Plan Titus' birthday party.  Get gift & supplies. - Done (today is his birthday Happy 2nd Birthday Titus!!)
9) Do all 7 days of boot camp & 5 days of running. - Done


Goals for week 4/30/12:
1) Daily quiet time
2) Read next chapter in "Be satisfied"
3) Get everything ready for Hailey's party on Saturday
4) Do all 7 days of boot camp & 5 days of running
5) Catch up on all laundry & ironing


Not too much this week as preparing and baking for Hailey's party will take up a good amount of time.

Weekly Goals

Goals for this week (4/16):
1) Work on Matthew 5:11 & 12 - Nope, I read over it a few times but didn't really work on this.
2) Read chapter in "Be Satisfied" - Done
3) Run the Stonyfield 5K - DONE!! Very happy about this!
4) Finish Week 1 of B210K (in preparation for 5K on Saturday) - DONE
5) Have friends over - DONE


Goals for week (4/23):
1) Have a daily quiet time
2) Work on Matthew 5: 11 & 12
3) Read chapter in "Be Satisfied"
4) Finish all Bible study work
5) Steam clean area rugs
6) Go thru and clean off all the papers on my desk
7) Enjoy a Girl's night out and a Date night out
8) Plan Titus' birthday party.  Get gift & supplies.
9) Do all 7 days of boot camp & 5 days of running.


We have two birthdays in our family in the next week (and two separate parties) so life will be busy around here :)

Rainbows in dirt

 (Photo Credit: kimberlysnyder.net)

A few weeks ago God used a conversation with my 3 year old to teach me an important lesson; that His promises are always true,  it is only our focus or perspective that makes it seem not so.  It has been a blessing and great reminder to me so I thought I would share.

I was walking into the local grocery store with my 3 year old when the following conversation took place:

K: "Momma, do you see the rainbow?" said excitedly
Me: "What rainbow?"
K: "Right there" as she points to the arc made in the dirt of a car's rear window by the windshield wiper.

I said that I did see the rainbow and was a bit amused that she would see a rainbow in the dirt.  Throughout, that day and since then that scene has been brought to my mind many times.  How often do I look at life, the inconveniences, the annoyances and everyday mundane things and merely see dirt when in fact God is showing Himself faithful, true and blessing me thru each one of those.  If I only changed my focus from the things to the One in control of all then instead of dirt I would see the rainbow.

Easy dinner idea.

This week's weather has been warmer than usual so many of the recipes I had planned, such as soups, didn't sound appealing.  Tonight I made a salad that is easy, nutritious and my whole family really enjoys. 

Sweet Potato & Beet Salad:
3-4 whole fresh beets
5 small sweet potatoes
6 C shredded romaine lettuce
1 C chopped nuts (pecans or walnuts work well but use your favorites)
4oz goat cheese, crumbled (optional)

Cook the beets and sweet potatoes however you prefer* peel and chop into large chunks.  Place lettuce on platter top with beets, sweet potatoes, nuts and cheese (if using).  Serves 6
*I boil the beets and about 1/2 way thru add the potatoes & boil them.  After they are boiled the skins peel right off; no need to peel or wash first.

The first time I made this salad I served it as a side dish to roasted chicken.  Tonight I served it by itself for a nice light meal on a hot night.

Weekly Goals

Last week's goals:
1) Memorize Matthew 5:11 & 12 - Worked on this but haven't got it down
2) Finish C25K !! - DONE!! Very happy about this one!
3) Wash floors - DONE, finally :)
4) Continue with water intake & eating improvements. - DONE
5) Finish all work for Bible Study - DONE
6) Read one chapter in "Be Satisfied" by Warren Wiersbe - DONE
7) Spring clean our bedroom.- DONE

Goals for this week (4/16):
1) Work on Matthew 5:11 & 12
2) Read chapter in "Be Satisfied"
3) Run the Stonyfield 5K
4) Finish Week 1 of B210K (in preparation for 5K on Saturday)
5) Have friends over

**This week I'm keeping things pretty light as the kids are on vacation so my focus this week is on enjoying the time with them.  I'm still keeping up with the normal housework, etc but not focusing so much on accomplishing extra tasks.

Quick, Easy & Healthy recipe

I wanted something different for lunch the other day and came up with this, it was good, filling and only has 92 calories per patty.  It's adaptable too, add whatever veggies & seasonings you have on hand.

Black Bean Patties:
1 can black beans, drained & rinsed
1/2 onion, chopped fine
1 lg stalk celery, chopped fine
1/2 C oats
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp tumeric
Salt & Pepper to taste
2 T olive oil, divided
2 T sherry (or other liquid)

In skillet heat 1 T oil.  Cook onion & celery until soft.  Meanwhile, in medium bowl, slightly mash beans.  In blender or food processor, pulse oats & spices just until oats are smaller.  Add oat mixture and vegetables to beans, mix/mash well.  Splash in sherry (or other liquid).  Heat griddle and grease with remaining oil.  Measure by 1/4 cup onto griddle, press down to form patties.  Cook 2-3 min per side or until golden brown.  Makes 5 patties. 
* I had this on a bed of romaine lettuce with a few homemade tortilla chips. My husband had his "burger" style with cheese and ketchup.  Definitely a recipe I'll be making again.

Weekly Goals

God knew that I would need a light week last week.  In addition to the planned activities we had some unexpected things also so this shorter list of goals worked well.
1) Spring clean bathroom - Done
2) Finish memorizing Matthew 5:1-10 & start on 11 & 12 -Finished 1-10 but haven't started on 11 & 12 yet
3) Finish week 7 of C25K - Done
4) Drink 64oz of water each day (I've started filling 2 32oz jars in the morning and drinking those.  Makes it much easier to track.) - Did this most days.
5) Continue to limit sugar and no nighttime snacking - Done, I also started tracking my total calories using myfitnesspal.  It's been good to be more aware of portion sizes.  I'm not planning to track longterm, just until I'm used to what normal portions look like :)
6) Wash floors - Didn't get this done, hoping to this week as it's a much less busy week.

Goals for this week:
1) Memorize Matthew 5:11 & 12
2) Finish C25K !!
3) Wash floors
4) Continue with water intake & eating improvements.
5) Finish all work for Bible Study
6) Read one chapter in "Be Satisfied" by Warren Wiersbe
7) Spring clean our bedroom.

Some thoughts for Easter

We have very few Easter traditions but one that we all enjoy and that gives a wonderful hands on illustration of what Easter is all about is to make resurrection cookies.  These are cookies you make the night before Easter and have Bible verses to go with each step. 

If you'd like to try them you can find the recipe here.

I hope you all have a blessed Easter!  A friend shared a thought on his Facebook status the other day and I wanted to share it here

"Why do bad things happen to good people?  That only happened once and He volunteered" 

I can't fully wrap my mind around all that that statement entails..how the God of the universe would volunteer to take my sins upon Himself.  I am so thankful that He did!!  Happy Easter!

But He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
And by His stripes we are healed.

Isaiah 53:5

Weekly Goals

Weeks goals for 3/25/12
1) Work on Matthew 1-10, I still get a little tripped up on the order - still reviewing this..almost have it.
2) Finish work for Bible Study - Done
3) Read 2 Chapters in "The Power of a Positive Mom" - Done, finished the book
4) Spring clean kitchen - Done
5) Organize 2T clothes for Titus & put them away - Done
6) Keep up with cleaning schedule (I wrote one out a while ago that I've been using) - I didn't get to washing the floors but otherwise I did this.
7) Finish week 5 of C25K - Done
8) Do meal plan - Done
9) Continue to work on water intake - Nope, didn't do well on this.
10) Continue with sugar limits & no nighttime snacking - Done

Weekly Goals for 4/2/12
1) Spring clean bathroom
2) Finish memorizing Matthew 5:1-10 & start on 11 & 12
3) Finish week 7 of C25K
4) Drink 64oz of water each day (I've started filling 2 32oz jars in the morning and drinking those.  Makes it much easier to track.)
5) Continue to limit sugar and no nighttime snacking
6) Wash floors

I'm keeping my goals "light" this week as we have several activities out of the house this week and we also have a busy Easter weekend planned.