I read a post this morning from the Uncommon Life blog and wanted to share. This sweet family is trying to bring a little boy into their family. They have a very ambitious goal of raising $28,000 in just three weeks! We all know that in our timing that's impossible but in God's timing that's a piece of cake. We are giving to this family because I felt that gentle tug from the Holy Spirit and hope that you will too.
Adoption is something very dear to my heart. I am counting down the days until I hear the "ok" from God to move forward in our own personal adoption. I get all giddy thinking about it, just like I did thinking about being pregnant. I know the day will come and I'm praying for our sweet child even now. God has prepared the way that our little one will come into our lives and I'm PUMPED about it! If you have personally adopted I would love to hear your story. I am desperately in need of an "adoption mentor" to figure out how to get the process started. I'll take any tips you may have!
For now check out this video and see if you can do anything to help!
Bring Dalton Home from Patrick Konior on Vimeo.
If you would like to donate to help the White Family bring Dalton into their home, please contact Seth White at seth.white@bridgewelcome.com . Any donations will be greatly appreciated and will help the family reach the $28,000 goal needed to bring Dalton home. Please share this video on Facebook/Twitter/Tumblr! Thank you for watching!
Monday, June 18, 2012
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Will You Help Me?
Right after Christmas we posted a video on YouTube of Ella laughing historically! It seriously competes with all the other laughing baby videos out there!
Will you help me share this video? I really think if all the people who read this, share this blog link or the YouTube link we can make this video get tons of views! Help me out and i'll keep you informed on where we are at!
It's also just great to watch ;)
Without further adieu.....
Will you help me share this video? I really think if all the people who read this, share this blog link or the YouTube link we can make this video get tons of views! Help me out and i'll keep you informed on where we are at!
It's also just great to watch ;)
Without further adieu.....
Laughing Baby ft. Ella Claire, her Momma, & her Dada!
Thanks for sharing!
Give Me Some Sugar
I am a sugar fanatic. Well the kiss kind and the food kind. I knew with my new heathy journey i'd have to quickly find a replacement for sugar. For the first week I cut out sugar entirely. Then I found an awesome recipe for Skinny Funfetti Cupcakes. They are seriously good. They are definitely not the healthiest choice but they are a great low calorie substitution for my normal cookies every night.
Ingredients:
1 box of Funfetti cake mix
1 can of Diet Cherry 7up
Directions:
Mix cake mix and 7up together. I used a mixer to get it nice and smooth. Pour batter into cupcake tin. Makes 24 cupcakes
Icing:
Ingredients:
Fat free sugar free pudding. {You can use whatever flavor you want. I've tried vanilla and chocolate and we prefer chocolate}
1 Tub of Cool Whip
Directions:
Mix dry pudding packet with cool whip. The original recipe calls for half a tub of cool whip but doesn't specify ounces. I used 1 tub of the small containers from HEB.
I keep mine in the fridge and limit myself to about one a day. {J eats a lot more than that a day} They are about 100 calories each. I don't know anything about weight watchers but the original post says that they are 1.5 points on the weight watcher scale.
Happy Eating!
Ingredients:
1 box of Funfetti cake mix
1 can of Diet Cherry 7up
Directions:
Mix cake mix and 7up together. I used a mixer to get it nice and smooth. Pour batter into cupcake tin. Makes 24 cupcakes
Icing:
Ingredients:
Fat free sugar free pudding. {You can use whatever flavor you want. I've tried vanilla and chocolate and we prefer chocolate}
1 Tub of Cool Whip
Directions:
Mix dry pudding packet with cool whip. The original recipe calls for half a tub of cool whip but doesn't specify ounces. I used 1 tub of the small containers from HEB.
I keep mine in the fridge and limit myself to about one a day. {J eats a lot more than that a day} They are about 100 calories each. I don't know anything about weight watchers but the original post says that they are 1.5 points on the weight watcher scale.
{excuse the poor presentation...taste is what matters}
Happy Eating!
China Fish
I've been researching some healthier dinner options and came across several good ones. Check out Eating Well. It has great healthy options and tells you all the nutritional contents.
I tried this one on Wednesday night. It was a hit with the fam! I served it with sweet potato fries. YUMM!
Five-Spice Tilapia
1. Sprinkle both sides of tilapia fillets with five-spice powder. Combine soy sauce and brown sugar in a small bowl.
2. Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the tilapia and cook until the outer edges are opaque, about 2 minutes. Reduce heat to medium, turn the fish over, stir the soy mixture and pour into the pan. Bring the sauce to a boil and cook until the fish is cooked through and the sauce has thickened slightly, about 2 minutes more. Add scallions and remove from the heat. Serve the fish drizzled with the pan sauce.
Tip: I found the Chinese five-spice powder in the spice section at HEB.
I was going to put a pic of the fish up but it look way less appetizing so i'll leave it to your imagination!
Happy Eating!
I tried this one on Wednesday night. It was a hit with the fam! I served it with sweet potato fries. YUMM!
Five-Spice Tilapia
Makes 4 servings
Active Time:
Total Time:
- INGREDIENTS
- 1 pound tilapia fillets
- 1 teaspoon Chinese five-spice powder (see Tip)
- 1/4 cup reduced-sodium soy sauce
- 3 tablespoons light brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon canola oil
- 3 scallions, thinly sliced
1. Sprinkle both sides of tilapia fillets with five-spice powder. Combine soy sauce and brown sugar in a small bowl.
2. Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the tilapia and cook until the outer edges are opaque, about 2 minutes. Reduce heat to medium, turn the fish over, stir the soy mixture and pour into the pan. Bring the sauce to a boil and cook until the fish is cooked through and the sauce has thickened slightly, about 2 minutes more. Add scallions and remove from the heat. Serve the fish drizzled with the pan sauce.
Tip: I found the Chinese five-spice powder in the spice section at HEB.
NUTRITION
Per serving: 180 calories; 6 g fat ( 1 g sat , 3 g mono ); 57 mg cholesterol; 9 g carbohydrates; 9 g added sugars; 24 g protein; 0 g fiber; 596 mg sodium; 411 mg potassium.
I was going to put a pic of the fish up but it look way less appetizing so i'll leave it to your imagination!
Happy Eating!
Keeping My Marriage HOT
J and I just celebrated 7 years of marriage. We spent two nights at the coast with out Ella. WHOA! I seriously can not believe how blessed I am to be married to him. He amazes me more every day. I strive to be as selfless as he is.
This past year was our first year of marriage with a child. WOW did that change everything. We are enamored by this little girl and she can easily consume our every moment. It's so easy to lose a relationship with each other because most of the focus has to be on her since she isn't self sufficient in any way yet.
1. DO NOT LET HER SLEEP IN OUR BED. repeat DO NOT LET HER SLEEP IN OUR BED.
This can easily take all the spice out of your marriage. We want her to grow up knowing that our bed is a special place for mommy and daddy. She can join mommy in the mornings when daddy goes to work.
2. BED TIME
From the time J gets home from work until Ella goes to bed is our "all about Ella" time. We focus on her and playing with her. She goes to bed between 7:30 & 8 every night. This wasn't an easy task. She didn't want to sleep in her crib. She didn't want to sleep through the night. She naturally only wants to be where we are. We fought this with ear plugs. Literally. Maybe that sounds cruel but I assure you she was safe. We have a video monitor where we could check on her. We went through about a week of screaming in her crib and now she sleeps like an angel every night. No fuss at all. This gives us time as a couple to talk. Do projects. Pray and read together. Worship together. Just sit and do nothing...together. It's great! I look forward to it every day!
3. DATE NIGHT
This one really just started becoming regular for us about a month ago. It has made a huge difference in our marriage. We have never had a regular date night. Before kids every night was date night. This past year it has been much harder to spend quality time together. We go on a date every other week. I mean leave the house and Ella isn't invited. You might be saying how can we do that? We have no one to watch the kids and we can't afford a baby sitter. I can assure you that there is another couple you know with kids who would be more than happy to trade off every other week with you. (if you have any fun date night tips leave them in the comment section:)
4. TALK. But mostly listen!
Talk to each other. Talk about whatever. It doesn't always have to be a deep conversation about how you really feel about everything. Although that is necessary some times. I tell J about everything Ella and I did during the day even if it's not much and he listens and responds. I listen to J talk about work and what he built and what kind of wood they used and something called conversion varnish that I know nothing about but comes up a lot. I love hearing him talk about doing things that he loves to do and he loves that I sit and listen.
We are currently in a series called White Picket Fences at our church {Revolution Church} and it has given us some great tips on how to be better spouses and parents. Even if you don't live here you can check out all the sermons online. Click here to check it out.
Leave a comment and let me know what you do to keep your marriage hot! I'd love to hear!
This past year was our first year of marriage with a child. WOW did that change everything. We are enamored by this little girl and she can easily consume our every moment. It's so easy to lose a relationship with each other because most of the focus has to be on her since she isn't self sufficient in any way yet.
Here are the few tips we have learned in our one year with a child to keep our marriage hot!
1. DO NOT LET HER SLEEP IN OUR BED. repeat DO NOT LET HER SLEEP IN OUR BED.
This can easily take all the spice out of your marriage. We want her to grow up knowing that our bed is a special place for mommy and daddy. She can join mommy in the mornings when daddy goes to work.
2. BED TIME
From the time J gets home from work until Ella goes to bed is our "all about Ella" time. We focus on her and playing with her. She goes to bed between 7:30 & 8 every night. This wasn't an easy task. She didn't want to sleep in her crib. She didn't want to sleep through the night. She naturally only wants to be where we are. We fought this with ear plugs. Literally. Maybe that sounds cruel but I assure you she was safe. We have a video monitor where we could check on her. We went through about a week of screaming in her crib and now she sleeps like an angel every night. No fuss at all. This gives us time as a couple to talk. Do projects. Pray and read together. Worship together. Just sit and do nothing...together. It's great! I look forward to it every day!
3. DATE NIGHT
This one really just started becoming regular for us about a month ago. It has made a huge difference in our marriage. We have never had a regular date night. Before kids every night was date night. This past year it has been much harder to spend quality time together. We go on a date every other week. I mean leave the house and Ella isn't invited. You might be saying how can we do that? We have no one to watch the kids and we can't afford a baby sitter. I can assure you that there is another couple you know with kids who would be more than happy to trade off every other week with you. (if you have any fun date night tips leave them in the comment section:)
4. TALK. But mostly listen!
Talk to each other. Talk about whatever. It doesn't always have to be a deep conversation about how you really feel about everything. Although that is necessary some times. I tell J about everything Ella and I did during the day even if it's not much and he listens and responds. I listen to J talk about work and what he built and what kind of wood they used and something called conversion varnish that I know nothing about but comes up a lot. I love hearing him talk about doing things that he loves to do and he loves that I sit and listen.
We are currently in a series called White Picket Fences at our church {Revolution Church} and it has given us some great tips on how to be better spouses and parents. Even if you don't live here you can check out all the sermons online. Click here to check it out.
Leave a comment and let me know what you do to keep your marriage hot! I'd love to hear!
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
I'm Sick of FAT!
I just started the Couch to 5k program last week. If you aren't familiar with it you can check it out here. The end goal is to be able to run a 5K (3.1 miles) in 9 weeks. To some of you that's probably no big deal...to me it's a HUGE goal. I've never been athletic or a runner by any stretch of the imagination. Even in high school when I was my most fit, running a mile without stopping was hard. I'd like to have all of you as accountability to sticking to this program. I'll try to share my runs each week. Here is last week.
Yes I WANT to lose weight but I'm not calling this my weight loss journey. I'm calling it my healthy journey. My husband is joining me and he by no means needs to lose weight but he does want to be healthy. I've not only started working out but I've started eating healthy and counting calories. I started using an app called My Fitness Pal. It's free you should download it! It even allows you to scan the UPC code so that you have all of the nutritional contents of what you are eating. It's seriously addicting to enter in your caloric intake. Yes it takes time but it's well worth it when you realize how many calories you are consuming.
Last week I read an incredibly disturbing article about obesity in churches. Crazy right? We don't normally talk about that in church! {we do talk about it at Revolution Church} The article talks about how churches are contributing to the obesity epidemic in America. How is this possible? God clearly talks about our bodies being temples yet a study found that "young adults who attend church or a bible study once a week are 50% more likely to be obese". THAT IS NUTSO!!!! It's probably because the traditional church like I grew up in LOVES a potluck! I mean come on? Who doesn't? Also because it can hurt someones feelings to talk about being overweight if you are overweight. I think it's about time to start "hurting feelings". We have to make changes if we want to live!
I'm sick of the fat. Not just the fat in my body but the fat of life. The fatty junk that no one needs. It's time to get through the fat to the meat of life and the meat of THE Word.
I truly believe that the health of our physical body is directly related to the health of our spiritual body. This past week I've felt more in tune with God. My attitude towards my husband was better. I wanted to get out and be active with my VERY active little girl. My worship on Sunday was more energized!
I hope this encourages you to start taking steps to being healthy!
Don't just stalk my blog! Leave comments let me know what you do to stay fit. Leave me any running tips you have PLEASE! I need them!
(side note while i'm writing this Ella is watching Yo Gabba Gabba and there is a kid playing the recorder with her nose....weird)
{i'm slow but i'm not on the couch!}
Yes I WANT to lose weight but I'm not calling this my weight loss journey. I'm calling it my healthy journey. My husband is joining me and he by no means needs to lose weight but he does want to be healthy. I've not only started working out but I've started eating healthy and counting calories. I started using an app called My Fitness Pal. It's free you should download it! It even allows you to scan the UPC code so that you have all of the nutritional contents of what you are eating. It's seriously addicting to enter in your caloric intake. Yes it takes time but it's well worth it when you realize how many calories you are consuming.
Last week I read an incredibly disturbing article about obesity in churches. Crazy right? We don't normally talk about that in church! {we do talk about it at Revolution Church} The article talks about how churches are contributing to the obesity epidemic in America. How is this possible? God clearly talks about our bodies being temples yet a study found that "young adults who attend church or a bible study once a week are 50% more likely to be obese". THAT IS NUTSO!!!! It's probably because the traditional church like I grew up in LOVES a potluck! I mean come on? Who doesn't? Also because it can hurt someones feelings to talk about being overweight if you are overweight. I think it's about time to start "hurting feelings". We have to make changes if we want to live!
I'm sick of the fat. Not just the fat in my body but the fat of life. The fatty junk that no one needs. It's time to get through the fat to the meat of life and the meat of THE Word.
I truly believe that the health of our physical body is directly related to the health of our spiritual body. This past week I've felt more in tune with God. My attitude towards my husband was better. I wanted to get out and be active with my VERY active little girl. My worship on Sunday was more energized!
I hope this encourages you to start taking steps to being healthy!
Don't just stalk my blog! Leave comments let me know what you do to stay fit. Leave me any running tips you have PLEASE! I need them!
(side note while i'm writing this Ella is watching Yo Gabba Gabba and there is a kid playing the recorder with her nose....weird)
Monday, June 11, 2012
Starting Fresh
I love blogging. I let it go for a season but I'm ready to get back to it. Blogging gives me an outlet to speak and reflect back. You'll notice the new blog name if you use to follow me. It's the same blog so you are still a follower it's just a new name and a little face lift.
We have started fresh in several areas. I've got a lot to talk about so get ready. My life has COMPLETELY changed since my last blog and I can't wait to share it with you.
Here are a few pictures from a recent family photo shoot to get this blog thing kicked off again!
{photo credit Drops of Amber Photography}
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