Well...I've become somewhat overwhelmed lately with everything on my plate. Since starting the Whole30 at the beginning of April I've struggled to find time to do all the things that are either required of me or that I need to do to maintain balance in my own life. I've decided that I need to put this blog on pause for the time being. It is with much sadness that this will be my last post for awhile. I'm not sure when I'll come back-and I might still post sporadically, but I can no longer post daily.
For now, you can catch up with some of my thought (mostly pertaining to diet/exercise) on my other blog, Bloated to Bombshell: Linsey's Whole30 Adventure.
Thank you to those who have kept up with my goings on through this blog. I hope to be back soon!
Much Love,
Lins
Monday, April 22, 2013
Saturday, April 20, 2013
Menu 4/22-4/26
Monday: MYOP, Fresh Veggies
I buy Trader Joe's pizza dough and let the girls help me roll it out into personal pizzas. We top it with store bought sauce and their pick of toppings: onions, peppers, pepperoni, canadian bacon, mozzarella, cheddar. I put olive oil and garlic powder as a "sauce" on mine and top it with thin sliced onions, red peppers, cheddar, pepperoni and a sprinkle of salt and pepper. Sliced fresh veggies for a side.
Tuesday: Crockpot Beef Stroganoff, Broccoli
Trying something new...we'll see how it goes over. They love pasta and the love beef, so it can't be that big of a risk, right? Paired with broccoli.
Wednesday: Chicken/Bean/Cheese Enchiladas, Corn, Spanish Rice
I'll cook chicken and pull it, then cover it in some encha sauce over low heat and add some shredded cheddar. Take a tortilla of your choice (I find the small ones work best for my kiddos) and fill with some refried black beans, a little chicken and a little more shredded cheese. Place seam down in casserole dish. Once dish is full, pour enchilada sauce to coat, sprinkle with more cheese and bake 350 till hot and bubbly. I have one girl who doesn't like beans and another who likes very little cheese so I end up making 3 types, it's obnoxious, but I love them and I really want them to eat dinner so I do it anyway. Lucy LOVES Spanish rice so we'll have that with a side of corn.
Thursday: Pulled Pork Sammies, Peas
Every single time I ask the girls for dinner suggestions they shout out the same few things-one of which is always Pulled Pork...I'm not sure if it's because they love it or because they know how much I love it! Either way, it's easy and delicious!
Friday, April 19, 2013
My Favorite Place On Earth
From Paris, we flew to Rome, hopped in a rental car and drove through Tuscany to Florence.
I LOVE Florence. The moment I stepped into Italy, I was impressed, but when the bottom of my shoe hit the ground in Firenze (as it's known in Italy) I fell in love.
The beauty, history, romance. Ahhh...what more could a girl want?
I LOVE Florence. The moment I stepped into Italy, I was impressed, but when the bottom of my shoe hit the ground in Firenze (as it's known in Italy) I fell in love.
The beauty, history, romance. Ahhh...what more could a girl want?
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| Our backpacks barely fit in the tiny European car! |
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| Hannah |
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| Love this city! |
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| The Duomo, so impressive! |
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| Three girls, in Florence, with Gelato...watch out! |
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| View from the Uffizi |
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| Our leather purchases complete...5 handbags in all, I believe! |
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| So sad to leave, but what a beautiful view on the drive back to Roma! |
Thursday, April 18, 2013
Put A Pin in Pinterest Thursday...
Pinterst Thursday has been preempted by this...
I saw this video posted on FB a few times this week and after watching it, well...I'm sad. I'm sad that women don't truly know how beautiful they are, that it's almost impossible for a woman to see herself the way others do and I know that I'm one of these women.
I applaud Dove as they campaign for real beauty. With real women. Women that are flawed, and instead of those flaws being airbrushed before publication, they are celebrated. In Cars 2, Mater (the rusty tow-truck who's honesty is refreshing but isn't known for being all that smart) refused to let his dents be fixed. He said “You can’t touch my dents,” he says. “I got every one of them dents with my best buddy Lightning McQueen.” His dents were accumulated doing what he loved most-spending time with his best friend. Our dents are accumulated over time, and not always from things we enjoy or can even control. Stretch marks from carrying a child for 9 months, varicose veins from standing hour hours on end at a job we may or may not love, acne from those dang teenage (or even adult) years, scars from falling off our bike, a car accident or sports injury. A few extra pounds because we refuse to put the people in our lives on the back burner just to look like a model on the cover of a magazine who has been airbrushed and photoshopped anyway. We are women who have lived life, and we aren't perfect but we should embrace the fact that that's what makes us wonderful.
I'm on a campaign to stop negative self-talk. To show women how truly beautiful they are, no matter what shape or size, hair color or texture, bone structure or skin tone. We are all created in the image of God and when I look around, all I can say is, "Man, my God is beautiful. In so many different ways."
Will you join me in uplifting each other and putting an end to the idea that only certain traits are beautiful and dethrone society's view of beauty and replace it with God's?
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:27
Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
Proverbs 31:30
Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious. 1Peter 3:3-4
I saw this video posted on FB a few times this week and after watching it, well...I'm sad. I'm sad that women don't truly know how beautiful they are, that it's almost impossible for a woman to see herself the way others do and I know that I'm one of these women.
I applaud Dove as they campaign for real beauty. With real women. Women that are flawed, and instead of those flaws being airbrushed before publication, they are celebrated. In Cars 2, Mater (the rusty tow-truck who's honesty is refreshing but isn't known for being all that smart) refused to let his dents be fixed. He said “You can’t touch my dents,” he says. “I got every one of them dents with my best buddy Lightning McQueen.” His dents were accumulated doing what he loved most-spending time with his best friend. Our dents are accumulated over time, and not always from things we enjoy or can even control. Stretch marks from carrying a child for 9 months, varicose veins from standing hour hours on end at a job we may or may not love, acne from those dang teenage (or even adult) years, scars from falling off our bike, a car accident or sports injury. A few extra pounds because we refuse to put the people in our lives on the back burner just to look like a model on the cover of a magazine who has been airbrushed and photoshopped anyway. We are women who have lived life, and we aren't perfect but we should embrace the fact that that's what makes us wonderful.
I'm on a campaign to stop negative self-talk. To show women how truly beautiful they are, no matter what shape or size, hair color or texture, bone structure or skin tone. We are all created in the image of God and when I look around, all I can say is, "Man, my God is beautiful. In so many different ways."
Will you join me in uplifting each other and putting an end to the idea that only certain traits are beautiful and dethrone society's view of beauty and replace it with God's?
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:27
Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
Proverbs 31:30
Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious. 1Peter 3:3-4
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Silver Lining
Man, it's been a heavy few days. On Monday I found out my family dentist of over 20 years was trapped in an avalanche on Saturday and is yet to be found.
Then, Monday afternoon, the Boston Marathon bombings.
What is this world coming to? What is wrong with people?
My grief was compounded. First, a man who was so much more than just a dentist, is most likely dead. Second, some idiots bring terror and horror to what, for many runners, is the apex of their running career.
It shook me in a few ways.
First, the potential loss of someone dear to my family reopened wounds of my own father's death almost 11 years ago. Without knowing it, I've lulled myself into a false sense of security, dependent on a few people, critical in the lives of me in my family immediately following the death of my dad.
Mitch Hungate stepped in and took my little brother (in high school at the time) under his wing. They went hiking, took the boats out, spent time together man and boy, which was just what my brother needed. My dad was sick or injured most of Josh's life which made the normal father-son relationship very difficult. Mitch stepped in and put in time, logged hours and was someone Josh knew he could count on, turn to, and just simply be with.
Another man dear to me is Larry. Larry has been part of our family since Josh was a baby. His middle daughter was a student in my mom's class which led to his wife being Josh's babysitter and so much more. Larry spent hours upon hours with my dad near the end. Sitting and talking, sharing the love of Christ with my stubborn father. Larry, at Papa's request, officiated his memorial service and a few years later, also married my mom and her new husband Kurt. Papa trusted Larry with us when he passed and I know if I am ever in need, Larry will be there. And if God ever blesses me with a husband, Larry will be the one who marries me off.
The potential loss of these men never occurred to me until Monday morning. I hadn't realized that I had comforted myself by knowing these men who love my family are out there, somewhere, and if we ever needed, we could reach out and they wouldn't hesitate to be there. A small part of me feels foolish for allowing the void my father left to be partially filled by other men who stepped up in the days and weeks of our deepest sorrow and anguish.
Part of me thinks its natural to comfort yourself with anything possible. But I guess what is most surprising to me, is that I never realized I did it. Until now. Until it's maybe too late to let one of them know how much he meant to me. But it's given me reason to reach out to the other.
Trying not to be swept up in grief that was added to by the news of the Boston bombings Monday afternoon, I was starting to detach and become numb. Push it to the back of my mind and try not to think on it.
Wait. That's what I would do. Wait out this dark cloud. Fast forward to the end...to see how it all turned out. Not feel anything in the meantime, but put those emotions on pause and wait until the (hopefully) happy ending to start feeling again.
Then, God smacked me in the head. But a good smack. A smack that says, "Girl! Wake up! I am in control and there is Good all around you! Are you looking for it?!"
I wasn't. So He shoved it in my face...read on peeps...read on...
A few months ago, I posted this blog about waiting and how everyone is waiting for something. Then I posted this blog about how a lot of the prayers of my friends had been answered...those same friends who were waiting just weeks before, were now celebrating God's goodness.
Well, one of those stories of waiting goes a little like this:
Trying. Praying. Trying. Trying. Waiting. Hoping. Waiting. Praying. Change of plan. Waiting. Hoping. Praying. Waiting. Waiting. Waiting. Answered Prayer? Set back. Disappointment. Heart break. Praying. Giving up. Praying. Changing mind. Renewed Hope. Praying. Waiting. Hoping. Praying. Answered Prayer! Celebrate God's gifts, rejoice in God's Goodness! And now, just a few months after that answered prayer, another blessing is on the way!
It doesn't matter the details. What matters is that the praying never stopped. Even in the darkest moments when the grief was just too much to bear, there was faith and hope in a God that is Good. All the time. Sure, things don't always look exactly as we think they will, but even when we can't see it, God is working, setting things in motion, preparing our hearts and minds for what is to come and in His perfect timing His gifts will overwhelm even your wildest dreams.
Through someone I love, God has shown me that even when grief seems overwhelming, and things seem to be piling up, you don't have to look very far to see blessings, gifts, and His work. Life is never "all bad" there is always good to be found. It's as simple as looking to Him. There is always a silver lining. His name is Jesus.
Then, Monday afternoon, the Boston Marathon bombings.
What is this world coming to? What is wrong with people?
My grief was compounded. First, a man who was so much more than just a dentist, is most likely dead. Second, some idiots bring terror and horror to what, for many runners, is the apex of their running career.
It shook me in a few ways.
First, the potential loss of someone dear to my family reopened wounds of my own father's death almost 11 years ago. Without knowing it, I've lulled myself into a false sense of security, dependent on a few people, critical in the lives of me in my family immediately following the death of my dad.
Mitch Hungate stepped in and took my little brother (in high school at the time) under his wing. They went hiking, took the boats out, spent time together man and boy, which was just what my brother needed. My dad was sick or injured most of Josh's life which made the normal father-son relationship very difficult. Mitch stepped in and put in time, logged hours and was someone Josh knew he could count on, turn to, and just simply be with.
Another man dear to me is Larry. Larry has been part of our family since Josh was a baby. His middle daughter was a student in my mom's class which led to his wife being Josh's babysitter and so much more. Larry spent hours upon hours with my dad near the end. Sitting and talking, sharing the love of Christ with my stubborn father. Larry, at Papa's request, officiated his memorial service and a few years later, also married my mom and her new husband Kurt. Papa trusted Larry with us when he passed and I know if I am ever in need, Larry will be there. And if God ever blesses me with a husband, Larry will be the one who marries me off.
The potential loss of these men never occurred to me until Monday morning. I hadn't realized that I had comforted myself by knowing these men who love my family are out there, somewhere, and if we ever needed, we could reach out and they wouldn't hesitate to be there. A small part of me feels foolish for allowing the void my father left to be partially filled by other men who stepped up in the days and weeks of our deepest sorrow and anguish.
Part of me thinks its natural to comfort yourself with anything possible. But I guess what is most surprising to me, is that I never realized I did it. Until now. Until it's maybe too late to let one of them know how much he meant to me. But it's given me reason to reach out to the other.
Trying not to be swept up in grief that was added to by the news of the Boston bombings Monday afternoon, I was starting to detach and become numb. Push it to the back of my mind and try not to think on it.
Wait. That's what I would do. Wait out this dark cloud. Fast forward to the end...to see how it all turned out. Not feel anything in the meantime, but put those emotions on pause and wait until the (hopefully) happy ending to start feeling again.
Then, God smacked me in the head. But a good smack. A smack that says, "Girl! Wake up! I am in control and there is Good all around you! Are you looking for it?!"
I wasn't. So He shoved it in my face...read on peeps...read on...
A few months ago, I posted this blog about waiting and how everyone is waiting for something. Then I posted this blog about how a lot of the prayers of my friends had been answered...those same friends who were waiting just weeks before, were now celebrating God's goodness.
Well, one of those stories of waiting goes a little like this:
Trying. Praying. Trying. Trying. Waiting. Hoping. Waiting. Praying. Change of plan. Waiting. Hoping. Praying. Waiting. Waiting. Waiting. Answered Prayer? Set back. Disappointment. Heart break. Praying. Giving up. Praying. Changing mind. Renewed Hope. Praying. Waiting. Hoping. Praying. Answered Prayer! Celebrate God's gifts, rejoice in God's Goodness! And now, just a few months after that answered prayer, another blessing is on the way!
It doesn't matter the details. What matters is that the praying never stopped. Even in the darkest moments when the grief was just too much to bear, there was faith and hope in a God that is Good. All the time. Sure, things don't always look exactly as we think they will, but even when we can't see it, God is working, setting things in motion, preparing our hearts and minds for what is to come and in His perfect timing His gifts will overwhelm even your wildest dreams.
Through someone I love, God has shown me that even when grief seems overwhelming, and things seem to be piling up, you don't have to look very far to see blessings, gifts, and His work. Life is never "all bad" there is always good to be found. It's as simple as looking to Him. There is always a silver lining. His name is Jesus.
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Walking On, Walking On...
The girls knew I was having a rough day yesterday and as we sat at dinner they tried their hardest to lighten the mood. They aren't used to me being quiet. I think it scared them a little. Lucy was rambling on about who knows what (I swear I was listening, I just don't remember at the moment) when she started talking about the song that played when her alarm went off this morning. See, we're trying to teach her some responsibility and make her get up with an alarm instead of waiting for someone to come get her up, which results in a fight and obnoxious attitude.
Anyway, that got me thinking about simpler times. When I was in junior high, I would wake up to the same song every single morning. Not by choice, mind you. The radio just happened to play this same song each day at the time my alarm went off.
Thinking back to junior high and how the biggest concern I had was if (boy of the moment, insert name here) noticed me, if my math teacher would realize I had no idea what was going on in class and hadn't for sometime, and if my bestie would let me eat some of her nachos at lunch...
Well...he usually never noticed me, the teacher never caught on and yes, she let me eat her nachos every day, and not just a bite, but the majority of them. That's how much she loved me. And also says a lot about my eating habits back then...
Anyway, I digress...the song was Annie Lenox, Walking on Broken Glass, and if you'd also like to take a trip back to simpler times, enjoy the next 4 minutes. You're welcome.
Monday, April 15, 2013
What Its Really Like...
She showed us around her beautiful country, smiling, laughing and filling our brains and hearts with details about life, how she wouldn't be where she is now had she not been sponsored through Compassion.
Recently she posted the following on Facebook. She's on a trip to New Zealand (for what, I'm not entirely sure) and I thought this was beautifully said, from someone who has seen life before and after child sponsorship through Compassion...
Child Advocacy is great and amazing! I love everything on this Beautiful Survivor tour. It's a blessing to see children being picked for sponsorship and just to remember how my photo was, on the table years back before Rosemary Mahomed picked it and decided to sponsor me. Now am here advocating for others to be released from poverty. Tonight i should say was my best event, when I was speaking in St Matthew Anglican Church- Morrinsville, and I saw Rosemary walking in... Imagine what happened within seconds but i managed any way. She had flown in to NZ from Australia and drove all the way… just because of love. Great surprise it was for the church of course when she was finally introduced and I had to hug her but couldn't stop the tears both in the eyes and nose....!! I just love her...If you know you sponsor a child; i want to tell you that your sponsored child really loves you so much. You may have picked a paper with a photo... but it's a life behind the profile. It's the child in need waiting to be released from poverty! I love u all sponsors and for the Kiwis who are picking children for sponsorship from the table during this Beautiful Survivor tour... you are such a blessing. Thank you for choosing to change a life. God bless you abundantly.
I'm really looking forward to seeing Lillian again when I get to Uganda. Her smile, laugh and kind loving heart is one I'll never forget!
If you are interested in learning more about child sponsorship, click here.
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