Merry Christmas

taking a blogging hiatus until after the new year. I hope everyone has a joyful Christmas. What a special time of year. I can't wait to write about our extensive travels when we return.

May the joy of knowing Christ fill your hearts in this next week and for always.

Substitute It

I've made some yummy eats lately and wanted to share them with my blog world.

I made this for senior girls Bible study and it was a hit.


Baked Oatmeal. Hearty. Healthy. Fiber-packed & filling. Plus, it tastes dang good too. You can substitute apple sauce for the butter if you want to make it even healthier.

Thanks to Pinterest/Annie's Eats for the recipe. I'll be making this a lot of Saturday mornings from now on.

I made Christmas Quinoa with pomegranate for our ladies, "Pinterest-inspired" lunch at work yesterday.



It's delicious and so good for you. It has toasted pine nuts, pomegranate arils, peas, green onion & pomegranate dressing in it. Quinoa is a little scary-looking as it resembles fish eggs but don't be scurred. It's delicious & fiber-packed. It's a little chewier than rice and is gluten-free. A nice break once in a while from oats, pasta or rice. It's a blank "canvas" that you can add anything to. Sweet or salty. I think I'll try some in the morning sometime and drizzle some honey and dried cranberries over it. And it's so festive, isn't it?! Thanks Eat8020 for this amazing recipe. (disclaimer: I substituted kamut for quinoa. Kamut takes too long to cook)

I made these little cuties for a couple different things.

1) youth Christmas party; 2)work. They were a hit. I think it's the mascarpone cheese. You can substitute chocolate chips for black beans. Yes, it tastes good! I can't explain how but the beans take on the choclately flavor of the brownies and you're tricked into eating something good for you! Can I get a "amen!"????
I used strawberries for one batch and raspberries on another. I have to say, the strawberries looked cuter. Thanks again, Pinterest. You're stealing way too much of my time these days.

I have found some other really great, healthy substitutes lately.
Bolthouse Yogurt Salad Dressing. It's very low-fat and low-cal AND it tastes great. Although it's a little pricier than others, it's worth the nutrition difference. Now I look forward to eating salad's at lunch time.

Wasabi peas instead of nuts. They are 90% lower in fat than peanuts, cashews, almonds, etc. And I love the spicy-ness.

Mini-Pretzels instead of chips. I love me some chips. Especially plain, salty, tortilla chips. But Rold Gold pretzels have barely any fat at all and you can eat two big handfuls for only 120ish calories! Salty craving? Satisfied.

Animal Crackers instead of cookies. They are a slight addiction of mine. I have a bag in my work desk, a bag in my pantry at home, and (gasp) a bag in my car. But you can eat 16 of them for only 120 measly calories and 2grams of fat. Bye, bye cookies.

Greek yogurt instead of sour cream. Make sure it's 0% fat Greek yogurt. You'll never taste any difference in your casseroles. Promise.

Ok, that's enough food love for now. :)

Put It On a Plate

Great tip from a fellow blogger- especially around this "munchie", holiday time.

If you are a snacker like me, you probably know it. But when does snacking actually turn into grazing? What's the difference? Well, snacking is having a small meal between meals when you are actually hungry. (a yogurt, a piece of fruit, a handful of crackers/pretzels) Grazing is eating small amounts all day long, possibly due to cravings, boredom, stress, some hunger, etc.

Snacking may be a good idea. It will give you that little energy boost in between meals. Grazing, however, may actually cause you to consume MORE calories than you would by eating regular meals. Eating little amounts all day long may never trigger your satiety cues, leading you to constantly feel like you are hungry.

So what do you do if you ARE a grazer? I say "Put it on a Plate". Make an occasion out of eating. When it is placed in front of you on a plate, your portion may appear larger than if it was something that simply traveled from the bag to your mouth via your hand. Putting it on a plate may also cause you to think before you eat. What is the reason why you are eating? Hunger should be your answer (there are exceptions).

To get out of the habit of grazing, try having three basic meals. Make them balanced, then assess your HUNGER between meals. If you are hungry, try a small snack AND...............put it on a plate.

A Wonderful Week!

I'm so glad D.R. is home. After 4 weeks away from each other, it's good to have him back in everyday life...to have him there when dinner is ready...when I need my dress zipped up...when I can't reach the olive oil and feel to lazy to go grab the step stool. But I didn't just miss him in those moments. I missed him because he's part of me. He's my flesh. I'm incomplete. Sweet stuff that marriage stuff. :)

We had a great week & weekend. A recap:
Tuesday night we went to dinner at Bonefish Grill. One just opened in Columbus and it's been hard to find a night when the wait isn't an hour at least. We didn't have the best experience. Both our meals were "eh..." Should've gotten the bang bang tacos. Those are tried and true. But we went home and watched 007:Golden Eye and played with champ.
Wednesday night was our church's Christmas dinner. Such a special event. I love our church family. And great food. A delicious catered meal of lemon chicken or mushroom Marsala roast, steamed veggies, salad, roasted potatoes and 2 kinds of dessert & coffee. Singing Christmas carols and hearing the Christmas story through a drama presentation was heart-warming. Earlier that day, we took our Christmas card pictures with our friend Zach Smith. I can't wait to get our cards in the mail (hopefully tomorrow) and sent them out! They're pretty cute if I do say so my self. (Thanks Zach!!)

Thursday we went to 2 different events to support our youth. D.R went to a middle school boy's football game and I went to a Christmas Choir concert at Calvary (the school I work at) to see two of our youth, Laura & Daniel. We love our youth and love to support them.

Friday, we went to a musical "Joseph's Journey". It was a concert feat. songs by Journey, REO Speedwagon & Rick Springfield with the lyrics slightly altered ("Oh Mary" instead of "Oh Jenny" by REO, "Joseph's Girl" instead of "Jesse's Girl" by Rick Springfield) You get the picture... :) It was awesome. It told the story of Christmas (80's style) through Joseph's eyes. A light presentation of the gospel & the Christ-child but still fun. Afterwards, we went to dinner with Zach, Chelsey, Jordan, & Caleb- great friends from our small group. We ate at Woodstone Mediterranean- THEE best hummus you've ever tasted. I was a happy girl.

Saturday, we woke up whenever the heck we wanted, drank coffee, and watched a Christmas movie.

Almond Pancakes

I finished my Christmas shopping (can I get a Hallelujah!?) and then took a long, slow run outside. It was glorious. Just enough chilliness in the air to keep me going for 7 miles.
D.R. & I went to see my dance studio perform The Nutcracker that night. It was special to see it with people I know in it. All of my level 5 girls had special parts which was exciting to see. They are so talented. So poised and graceful. Ballet is hard stuff. It takes strong legs and balance and determination. I'm glad these girls have the solid foundation of ballet when they come in to my jazz class. Now, to get them to shake their booty a little more.... :)

Sunday: church. Christmas hymns, Peppermint-flavored coffee creamer, the Word proclaimed. Ahhh..... love it. We sing this hymn "Let all mortal flesh keep silence". It has a dreary, minor-key sound but is so powerful and I'm always in awe of God's holiness as we sing the words.
"Let all mortal flesh keep silence,
and with fear and trembling stand;
ponder nothing earthly-minded,
for with blessing in his hand,
Christ our God to earth descendeth,
our full homage to demand.
At his feet the six-winged seraph,
cherubim, with sleepless eye,
veil their faces to the presence,
as with ceaseless voice they cry:
Alleluia, Alleluia,
Alleluia, Lord Most High!"

Last night, we had our youth Christmas Gift exchange. We made out with a Justin Bieber poster (yes!) and very fragrant lavender hand soap (yippee). We brought a $5 whoopie cushion key chain and yes, a middle school boy tried to steal it twice.


It was an eventful, fun week with D.R. Life is so much more fun with him and I'm thankful to know what it feels like without him so I can be more thankful when I'm with him. It hasn't been all-peachy, argument-free since he's been home (yes, we argue. We're sinners) but I'd rather have him home and argue with him than not have him home. Time to get back on the sanctification train. :)

Merry Monday.

light meets the dark

Sometimes I feel like my heart is just going to leap out of my chest. Like it's pounding so hard that it might just rip me apart and leave my body lifeless. There are things I've learned about some of the teenage girls, here at the school I work for, that would make you vomit.... or at least cry. The dark place that these girls have lived in is simply, demonic. Utter godlessness. They didn't choose the family they grew up in. They didn't DO anything to deserve their past.

But it happened.

It happened to them. It's their story.

And it's how God got a hold of them.

Sometimes the story of salvation has to begin with pain. For some it doesn't happen as a young grade school child in Sunday school who all of a sudden has fresh eyes to John 3:16 and understands God's gift of grace in Jesus. Sometimes it has to start with tears, with "why me?"s, with darkness.

But then, one day, it's as if a sliver of the blinds lets a small stream of light in and gives a glimpse of hope. And then all of a sudden, the blinds are pulled back and the Light consumes the darkness; laying bare all it's lies and chains and scars. And the funny thing is....we still choose the darkness. The Light is illuminating, warm, comforting and yet we choose the cold, damp, sticky, sin-infested darkness. Because it's comfortable. Because it's the only choice we CAN make apart from the indwelling Holy Spirit.

It's funny how the darkness actually makes the Light more beautiful. The contrast accentuates it's brilliance. Nature does this on it's own but us humans...we like our darkness. Praise be to God that he plucked these girls out of the darkness and gave them Light.

Gave them Himself.

Their circumstances haven't drastically changed but their hearts have. They have joy, real God-given joy to face whatever God brings their way. They are even learning to "count it all joy"- past and present trials. I have loved seeing these girls grow in their love for our Savior. I love that I get to remind them that He is not only in the rainbows but in the storm.

He's right there.

Holding them. Carrying them through it.

These girls are helping me see God's faithfulness. Their stories are heart-breaking but the redemption is sweet.

Thank you God for your steadfast love and mercy.

Help us to not only thank you for the patience in the storm but to thank you FOR the storm itself. For by it we are transformed from one degree of Godliness to another.

Sara Groves and the Sovereignty of God

I love Sara Groves. She's one of my favorite artists. Her songs are deep reflections of the human heart. Her songs are life-giving and God-glorifying. You may be in the middle of a valley right now and it feels like the walls are crashing in from all sides. Let me remind you that He is in control. He has a plan. He uses what man intends for evil for our good and His glory. Hold on. Open your hands. Trust His goodness.

"Open my Hands"
I believe in a blessing I don't understand
I've seen rain fall on the wicked and the just
Rain is no measure of his faithfulness
He withholds no good thing from us
No good thing from us, no good thing from us

I believe in a peace that flows deeper than pain
That broken find healing in love
Pain is no measure of his faithfulness
He withholds no good thing from us
No good thing from us, no good thing from us

I will open my hands, will open my heart
I will open my hands, will open my heart
I am nodding my head an emphatic yes
To all that You have for me

I believe in a foundation that will never dry
Though I've thirsted and didn't have enough
Thirst is no measure of his faithfulness
He withholds no good thing from us
No good thing from us, no good thing from us

schedules, turkey & sweat

While D.R. has been gone, I have kept my own schedule..uninterrupted. I work till 4, I run till 5:30/6, I go to the grocery store or pick up a cheap meal, I make/eat dinner, I shower, I facebook/read/blog/online xmas shop/play with champ/phone-chat, I go to bed. I'm a creature of habit as I believe we all are and I get frustrated when my schedule is interrupted. Example: being on vacation in the mountains unable to find a location to run or eating too late at night and then going to bed feeling like the Macy's Day parade balloons. I don't adjust well to situations like that. I get stressed out and irritated when I can't sweat a few days in a row. My stomach starts churning, my muscles get tight and I don't sleep as well. Next week is Thanksgiving and I'll be home in Boynton Beach, Fl with my mom & dad. It'll be weird being there for a holiday without D.R. AND without my sister in the house. This year it's just mom, dad & I. I know that to an extent I can "keep my schedule" but I pray I can be more flexible and go-with-the-flow. And oh the food.....

So in a week, we will all be getting intimate with a gravy boat (or I know I will). I'm looking forward to the good eats but my conscience is heavy thinking about the time I will need to put in to work off those excess calories.



Enter Pure Barre. Along with my new found love of running, this work-out is a calorie-burning sweat-fest! I can't say enough about it. The burning, muscle-shaking is addictive. I've been running more than pure barring and I got back to it Wednesday night and boy did my muscles miss it. The instant tight toned feeling it gives my arms, legs, glutes, & core is satisfying and you know you worked out hard when your carpet has a visible wet spot from the dripping sweat. (which champ licks up, gross)
So ladies, get your rear in gear. Don't be defeated over the green bean casserole-turduken-sweet potato souffle-pecan pie indulgence. Buy the $10.72 Pure Barre 1 DVD and feel empowered. All you need is a light set of weights (2-5 lbs) and a stable support such as the back of a chair or counter top. You'll have a clear conscience going into Thanksgiving and a clear one if you continue. It's worth it!

Viva PB! and Happy Friday! Enjoy the weekend!