JULY 31/PROVERBS 31 CHALLENGE

Since the month of July has 31 days and Proverbs has 31 chapters, it seems fitting to pursue Walking in His Wisdom for 31 days.  I'm not sure what my specific goals are for the month of July are yet, but I do know that striving towards being God's Proverbs 31 woman is among that!

I meant to start this post yesterday, July 1, but it's very apropos that I didn't, since yesterday was a day from the dregs, to say the least.  The very least.

Anywhoo...

Some things I'm especially focusing on during July include~

• Studying Proverbs more rigorously
• Improving my homemaking
• Becoming a better gardener
• Improving my health with faithful exercise
• Continuing on my THM journey towards the FINISH LINE...soon...I hope....
• Teaching my daughters more skills
• Experiencing more arts/crafts
• Studying what it means to have the "unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit"
• Spending more fun time with my daughters
• Developing greater peace and patience
• Loving my husband more sacrificially

So, in essence, I am striving to grow (and shrink) a lot...for I am God's workmanship--His Masterpiece--and I was created in Christ Jesus to do the good works which He planned for me long ago!   What a sweet blessing, indeed!

Summertime and Leave it to Beaver

The busy days of summer are upon us now, and that means pulling weeds, keeping things well-watered, checking for pests munching on the veggies, teaching the kiddos how to be hard workers outside, and...........keeping up on laundry, sewing repairs (ha!), ironing (double ha!), cooking, cleaning, organizing, de-cluttering, budgeting, bill-paying, swimming, socializing, and the list goes on.  and on.  and on.

What's a mom to do?  It's a delicate dance to keep all these balls juggling, isn't it?  I know I can't!  But I can tell you one thing...Leave it to Beaver has been a true friend.  Every day at lunch time, the girls and I stop what we're doing and gather together in the living room with our lunch and settle down to watch an episode or two.  Sigh.  This is the true joy of motherhood...just BEING with our children.  We are busy bees, and that's a good thing.  But being busy BEING is a great thing!  I love that we have something wholesome to look forward to that we all enjoy, teaches good lessons, and provides a break of stillness in the busyness.  That is one of my best blessings this summer.  I know it's just a TV family, but this year, they've become part of our family.  :)

Gee Whiz...why dontcha find somethin' that'll bring an innocent smile to your face and enjoy BEING STILL with your kids...even if it's just long enough for an episode or so...you won't regret it.  Pinky swear promise. ;)

OH JOY! {Almond Joy MIM} (S)

When I was in college, there was an awesomely delicious bistro that we went to once in a blue moon on special occasions...when we had $8 to spend on a slab of cake...and we didn't know we were  making ourselves more insulin resistant by the bite (and by "we," I mean me).  There were so many gorgeous, gourmet cakes in the glass case just waiting...

One dark night, I met one in particular and fell in love...Mounds Cake.  (I don't know why they called it that, actually, because it had almonds on it, and that is really an Almond Joy instead.  We all know "Peter Paul Almond Joy's got nuts--Mounds don't," right?)

Anyway, it was layer upon layer of dark, dense chocolate cake, with coconut creamy filling, almonds, ganache...{swoon}...

SO, after starting Trim Healthy Mama, we got to go back to our old college stomping grounds for a friend's wedding...and there it was...THE PLACE.  I wanted to eat a piece just like the old days...so we stopped and I went in.  But then I just couldn't...you know...I JUST COULD-ENT!

I've been thinking of it off and on since then and finally decided to try my hand at making a Mounds {Almond Joy} Muffin in a Mug!  And it was Awesome.  And I'm stuffed.  For all you THMs out there, this is definitely an S (satisfying)!

The cast of characters

Plus the almond extract I forgot in the first picture...

Print This Recipe




INGREDIENTS:
"MIM"
1 egg
2 Tbsp. golden flax
1 Tbsp. almond meal
1 Tbsp. unsweetened coconut
1 Tbsp. cocoa powder
1 Tbsp. coconut oil
1 Tbsp. almond milk
dash of salt
5-ish dashes of Kal pure white stevia extract (only 3 little holes open)
1/2 tsp. almond extract
5 almonds (cut in half)
Coconut oil (or other) spray, optional

"Frosting/Topping"
1 Tbsp. coconut oil
1 Tbsp. butter
1 Tbsp. unsweetened coconut
a splash of almond milk
a couple shakes of stevia
3 almonds (cut in half)

DIRECTIONS:
"MIM"
Spritz coffee mug (or other heat-safe dish) with cooking spray (opt.).  It's not "purist," but neither is the microwave we're about to cook it in.  Crack egg, whisk with fork.  Add all other MIM ingredients and stir, stir, stir until well blended.  Pop into your microwave and cook for 1 minute. (If you have a lower-wattage micro, you'll have to watch it and maybe go longer, like 1 minute + 30-40 seconds).  Take it out, put on plate, and cut in half...now for the topping!

"Frosting/Topping"
In a bowl, mix everything except the almonds together until well combined.  Spread on top of hot, lovely, beautiful muffins, and sprinkle each half with 3 almond pieces.

Give Thanks and Enjoy your Almond JOY MIM!

Almond Joy MIM

See the yumminess?

All that's left is a full & happy tummy and a little iced coffee...Ahh!

Blessings and Peace from our home to yours~

Best. Roast. Ever. (S)

Pepperoncini Beef Roast is one of my favorite recipes of all time!  Not only does it combine a moist and succulent roast beef, but it's married to the tang of pepperoncini.  It only gets better...you just dump it all in the crockpot, turn it on, and walk away...

You will come back to the most gloriously tantalizing aroma!  (I didn't take pics of the roast, so I'll have to go back and add them, but this...this recipe must be enjoyed!)

It's so very simple.  Make it.  Soon! ☺

Print this recipe


 

Crockpot Pepperoncini Beef Roast

1 3-4 lb. chuck roast
1 16 oz.. pepperoncini
2 T. minced garlic

• Place roast in the slow cooker, and pour the entire contents of the jar of pepperoncini, including liquid, over meat.
• Sprinkle minced garlic over the roast.
  
• Cover, and cook on Low for 6 to 8 hours. 

Make it this weekend!  For you Trim Healthy Mamas, this is an S Meal!  Enjoy with a delicious S salad or other veggie (like some green beans sauteed in olive oil and garlic?) and you're set!

Blessings and Peace from our home to yours~

Breakfast With Jesus

October 16

Breakfast with Jesus

John 21:12

In these words the believer is invited to enjoy a holy nearness to Jesus. "Come and eat" implies the same table, the same food, and perhaps it means to sit side by side, and even lean our head on the Savior's shoulder. It is being brought into the banqueting-house, where the banner of redeeming love waves in welcome.

This invitation gives us a vision of union with Jesus, because Christ Himself is the only food that we can feast upon when we eat with Him. What union is this! It has a depth that reason cannot fathom. Ponder His words: "Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him."

It is also an invitation to enjoy fellowship with the saints. Christians may differ on a variety of points, but they all have one spiritual appetite; and if we cannot all feel alike, we can all feed alike on the Bread of Life sent down from heaven. At the table of fellowship with Jesus we are one bread and one cup. As the loving cup goes around, we commit our lives to one another. Get nearer to Jesus, and you will find yourself linked more and more in spirit to all who like yourself are supported by the same heavenly manna. If we were nearer to Jesus, we would be nearer to one another.

We also see in these words the source of strength for every Christian. To look at Christ is to live; but for strength to serve Him, you must eat what He provides. We work too often in a sense of unnecessary weakness because we neglect this perception of the Master. None of us need to put ourselves on a low diet; on the contrary, we should fatten ourselves in the Gospel so that we may derive strength from it and extend every power to its limit in the Master's service. Then if you would realize nearness to Jesus, union with Jesus, love to His people, and strength from Jesus, "come and have breakfast" with Him by faith.

John 6:56
********************
From _Morning & Evening_, by C. Spurgeon| A. Begg

Psalm 127

Psalm 127

A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem. A psalm of Solomon.

¹ Unless the Lord builds a house,
    the work of the builders is wasted.
Unless the Lord protects a city,
    guarding it with sentries will do no good.
² It is useless for you to work so hard
    from early morning until late at night,
anxiously working for food to eat;
    for God gives rest to his loved ones.

³ Children are a gift from the Lord;
    they are a reward from him.
⁴ Children born to a young man
    are like arrows in a warrior’s hands.
⁵ How joyful is the man whose quiver is full of them!
    He will not be put to shame when he confronts his accusers at the city gates.

8 MONTHS THM AND COUNTING

Obviously, my quest to lose weight has been a life-long struggle.  I have had years worth of pain, struggle, discouragement, and heartbreak.  Medical issues, personal pain, and social struggles.

BUT Our God is Greater, isn't He?  He is THE ONE to whom my soul belongs...and longs for!  He has shown me the way of health for me, and I am so thankful to be so blessed.  I have been considering blogging my THM journey, but so many other women are, so I decided to just chime in on here whenever I had something to say.  If this ever gets found in cyberspace and helps even just *one person* to have hope for change like God has shown me, it will be worth it!

Here is my current update:

OVERALL WEIGHT LOST: 69 lbs.
THM WEIGHT LOST:  45 lbs.

I have just started TTapping, which I have high hopes of shaving more inches off me...especially my belly and thighs...and my arms...and, well, everywhere, I guess!