Prayer Request

Received this from a friend:

Please keep my friend Marianne in your prayers. Her Mom just called me and she has another migraine and can’t feel the right side of her body. The ER doc told her on Saturday that because she has MS the migraines will be much worse and have complications. They want to get to the bottom of this so instead of going to the ER (again), they are going to her doctor’s office.

It seems crazy that your primary doctor is the person responsible for your daily medication and treatment, but whenever you have an acute sickness and go to the ER a different doctor treats you. Then, if you are admitted to the hospital, another doctor treats you and your primary doctor never evens sees you. This is a crazy system.

Her kids are little (Hunter is 3 and Laurianne is 2) and she wants a “normal” home life for them, not always running to the hospital.

Will you put her on the prayer list at your church? Her full name is Marianne Burns and she has Multiple Sclerosis. Thank you.

Quick Quotes

"It's not what you do once in a while, it's what you do day in and day out that makes the difference." —Jenny Craig

Recipe Central

Yum, Yum! A chocolate cake you make in your crock-pot!

Hot Fudgie Cake

3 cups skim milk

1 box (5 oz) chocolate cook and serve pudding mix - dry (do not make as directed on box)

1 box (18.25 oz) super moist chocolate fudge cake mix - dry

1-1/3 cups water

1/2 cup applesauce

6 egg whites

• Spray a 3-1/2 qt crock-pot with non-fat cooking spray.
• Mix skim milk with dry chocolate pudding mix in crockpot with whisk until completely dissolved.
• In a medium bowl, mix dry cake mix, water, applesauce and egg whites uising a whisk for 2 minutes or until well blended.
• Very gently pour cake batter into uncooked pudding mixture in crockpot. DO NOT STIR!
• Cover and cook on high for 2-1/2 hours.
• Serve hot with a dab of Cool Whip Free.
• If desired, after 2-1/2 hours of cooking, just unplug crock-pot. It'll stay warm and delicious for hours. It travels well to potlucks or social gatherings.

Yield: 15 servings; Calories: 204 (percent fat calories: 14%; Total Fat: 3 grams; Carbohydrate: 39 grams; Cholesterol: 1 mg; Protein: 4 grams; Dietary Fiber: 1 gram; Sodium: 302 mg; WW: 4 points per serving.

90 Day Renewal

Interested in doing a 90 Day Renewal for yourself?

This seems perfect: The 90-Day Renewal in Spirit, Soul & Body.

For the spirit, we'll have daily bible reading, prayer journaling, scripture memory, etc.

For the soul, we'll be inspired and equipped for a new mindset and more positive attitude, so we can make better decisions.

For the body, the average weight loss is 20 pounds. And it's all thru gradual easy-to-make changes over the course of 3 months. I've signed up and I'm trying to get as many women as I can to join me. Check out this introductory video.
http://www.1shoppingcart.com/app/?Clk=3143958

If it sounds like what you've been looking for, you can learn more by following this link to Donna Partow's website.

http://www.1shoppingcart.com/app/?Clk=3143958

Proverbs 31 - Week 11

As I am nearing the end of this 90 day study, I am finding myself running out of steam. The study has a LOT of practical application, which is great, but I am not keeping up with it all and I am beating myself up about it. With that said, here is the week 11 review...

The Ministry of the Home

Consider family meals as a time of ministry. Now, I must say this is a new concept for me. We make a valiant effort to have dinner together every night as a family. I never have thought of it as a ministry. However if you consider this next statement, it definitely can be considered a ministry. Donna says, "...a 2004 study of 4,746 children eleven to eighteen years old, published in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, found that frequent family meals were associated with a lower risk of smoking, drinking, and using marijuana; with a lower incidence of depressive symptoms and suicidal thoughts; and with better grades. Another study surveyed twelve- to seventeen-year-olds and found that teenagers who reported eating two or fewer dinners a week with family members were more than one and a half times more likely to smoke, drink, or use illegal substances than were teenagers who ate five to seven family dinners per week." That is a huge impact in the decisions that your child makes from simple meals and conversation and it doesn't have to be dinner. Find what works for your family.

Dress your family in the full armor of God. "Just as you wouldn't send your family out into the world undressed physically, you shouldn't send them out undressed spiritually." says Donna refering to Ephesians 6:14-18. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation, the Word of God, and prayer are the elements to the armor of God. Try incorporating one of these elements each week and discuss them during your family meal time. They don't have to be in this order, start with what's easiest for you and add an item each week until you've become fully dressed :)

The next three items go hand in hand: practice hospitality, open your home for ministry and host God's servants. Of course, practicing hospitality can be a way to open your home for ministry, but only if you've done what's mentioned in the previous lessons to de-clutter, organize and clean your home and you are maintaining it. Then, hosting God's servants comes naturally after the previous two. Donna provides some insight from Deb Lovett who shares the "props" she considers essential to hospitality (gifts, paper, candles, flowers, food and prayer) and why she believes they are essential. Donna goes on to say, "The purpose, above all else, is that our homes can become a center for God's work in our community...Your home can become central to the work of God in your neighborhood...It means creating an atmosphere of prayer and blessing that immediately grabs the attention of everyone who walks through your front door." Then, as mentioned before, hosting God's servants seems like the next logical step. Once you've gained the experience of hosting your friends and neighbors, your church community, small groups and the like, traveling missionaries, guest speakers and musicians are next!

Just two more weeks to go! Next week's lesson is entitled: Retirement Planning followed by week 13: Finish Strong.

See you next week,

Christina

Quick Quotes

"If you have knowledge, let others light their candles in it." —Margaret Fuller

Recipe Central

These are so yummy and give a good flavor to veggies. All of the taste of fried without any of the guilt!

Unfried Veggies

1 cup instant potato flakes

1/3 cup non-fat grated parmesan cheese

3/4 tsp garlic salt

4 egg whites

4-5 cups bite-sized fresh vegetables (mushrooms, onions, zucchini, broccoli, etc)

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• Spray cookie sheet with non-fat cooking spray. If desired, line cookie sheet with foil for faster clean up.
• Mix potato flakes, grated topping and garlic salt together in a small bowl.
• In a separate bowl, beat egg whites with a fork for one minute.
• Dip vegetables, one at a time, into beaten egg whites. Then dip into dry mixture, coating well.
• Place on prepared cookie sheet, making sure vegetables do not touch each other. Spray vegetables lightly with non-fat cooking spray.
• Bake at 400 degrees for 10 minutes. Turn over and bake an additional 5 minutes or until crispy and golden brown.
• Season with salt and pepper, if desired.
• Serve hot.

Yield: 8 servings; Calories: 46 (percent fat calories: 0%); Total Fat: 0 grams; Carbohydrate: 9 grams; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Protein: 3 grams; Dietary Fiber: 1 gram; Sodium: 189 mg; WW: 1 point per serving.

Quick Quotes

"Remember no one can make you feel inferior without your consent." —Eleanor Roosevelt

Recipe Central

This dish is just delicious and can be used for an entree or a side dish. Hope you enjoy it!

Black Beans & Rice

2 tsp minced garlic

1 tsp liquid smoke

4 oz extra lean cooked ham (lunch meat is ok)

1/2 cup chopped onion (fresh or frozen)

1 can (15 oz) black beans - do not drain

1 cup instant long grain white rice

• Bring all ingredients except rice to a full boil in a medium sauce pan over medium-high heat.
• Stir in rice. Cover.
• Remove from heat. Let sit 5 minutes.
• Serve hot.

Entree yields 4 servings; Calories: 225 (Percent fat calories: 14%); Total Fat: 4 grams; Carbohydrate: 34 grams; Protein: 13 grams; Cholesterol: 13 mg; Dietary Fiber: 6 grams; Sodium: 736 mg; WW: 4 points per serving.

Side dish yields 8 servings; Calories: 112 (Percent fat calories: 14%); Total Fat: 2 grams; Carbohydrate: 17 grams; Protein: 7 grams; Cholesterol: 7 mg; Dietary Fiber: 3 grams; Sodium: 368 mg; WW: 2 points per serving.

Weight Loss

As I am feeling quite disgusting looking at myself in the mirror, it is time for me to lose some weight. As Donna Partow says, when the clothes get a little tight, it doesn't mean go buy more in a bigger size.

I actually weigh more today than I did the day I brought the twins home from the hospital. Granted, I lost half of my blood volume in those 5 short days, but nevertheless, I am gaining weight weekly and IT MUST STOP. I am putting my foot down (or cupcake as the case may be) and pushing myself away from the snack drawer. Weight Watchers here I come!

One of the things that really got me going on this, beside the mirror, was something I heard recently on an "I Love Lucy" episode where she indicated that she weighs 120 lb and was a size 12. I think we all know that today's size 12 is a lot more than 120 lbs. There is a great deal of size vanity in the fashion industry these days, but I'll spend a whole post on that another day.

I'll share as much as I can with you all along this journey, please share any tips or suggestions you can. Here are the stats: I have about 30 lbs to lose. I am not going to include my current weight or goal weight here, just losses and/or gains (Heaven forbid!).

I am tired of hearing the excuse that I am not getting any younger and my metabolism has slowed down. As if I am supposed to just accept that?!? I don't think so! I am blessed that my blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol are good. The arthritis in my back/hip area though is going to benefit from this loss, and I am sure that my mood and self-assurance will improve.

There are some things I already know, but just do not seem to have the willpower these days.

• I can not live on chocolate and bread.
• I can not live without chocolate and bread.
• The "fork thing" really does work.
• Use a measuring cup when you make your plate.
  Use the portion plate when making your plate.
• Don't take bites that you don't count. That's called cheating!
• Be realistic about your goals.
• Get moving! You can't lose weight sitting around all day!
• Drink water, at least 8 glasses a day.

I'm sure there are more, I'll add them as they come to mind.

Yours truly,

Christina

Proverbs 31 - Week 10

Week 10 is centered on Family Relationships: Love your husband, Cherish your children, Establish family traditions, Honor the Sabbath and Live in peace. It sounds so simple, doesn't it? Oh, that it were!

This week's Scripture memory is Proverbs 31: 28-29, Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: "Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all." Now, before you roll on the floor laughing at the thought of your husband saying that about you, think about how wonderful it would be to actually hear your husband say that about you - and mean it!

In the guided prayer Donna states: "I want him to be madly in love with me, inside and out." Isn't that really what we all want? If we lived our life knowing that our husband was madly in love with us, inside and out, we would be much happier and alot easier to love! And, isn't that what God wants from us, to be madly in love with Him? How much simpler life would be. Donna goes on to say, "There's something very special about knowing your husband thinks you are the greatest, even if you're not." So true! Suggested reading: The Proper Care and Feeding of Husbands by Dr. Laura Schlessinger.

Next, let's explore the legacy of Susanna Wesley. Donna tells us Susanna had 19 children with whom she spent 30 minutes of 1-on-1 time with each week. Two of her sons, John and Charles Wesley were key components in the Great Awakening in England. Charles a great song writer and John harkened as the father of the Methodist and Wesleyan religions. One of the men John Wesley led to the Lord was John Taylor who became a preacher. His sons and grandsons became preachers and one of his great-grandsons was J. Hudson Taylor who became the founder of the China Inland Mission. All-in-all, 9 generations of preachers in the Taylor family. Also impacted by one of the Wesley sons was Jonathan Edwards, "The state of New York did a study on five generations of the Edwards family and found that of their 729 descendants, 300 were preachers, 65 became college professors, 13 were university professors, 60 were authors, 3 were congressmen, and 1 became vice president of the United States." WOW! What a legacy, because one woman taught her children to read the Bible and love the Lord.

Establish family traditions was one of my favorite sessions. Just to take a calendar or scratch paper and list all of the things we do as a family every year. To see it all laid out month-by-month for birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, summer was a pleasure! This is another great opportunity to involve the whole family. You can find out what they remember and look forward to on each event. Start with: "We always..." and fill in the blanks for each month or event. This is also a great way to find out what is really memorable for your family members and make sure you don't forget that part next time :)

This entire book revolves around the next one: Honor the Sabbath. The book states every Sunday, this is not a day to catch up on things, this is a day to rest and reflect. Donna provides a simple guideline: "If it's work-related or stressful, don't do it. If it's restful, do it."

Lastly, Live in Peace. We all know that we have to forgive others like Christ forgave us. Here are five questions to ask yourself to live in peace:

1. Am I repaying evil for evil?
2. Am I careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody?
3. As far as it depends on me, am I living at peace?
4. Am I taking revenge?
5. Am I leaving justice in the hands of the only One who judges justly?

Enjoy your family this week!

Christina

Blogging

The last couple of weeks have proven to be challenging for blogging with a few issues from Google and Blogspot. The followers link isn't working properly and the automated posts that are schedule to show up, well, aren't. If you are new to blogging, like I am, this can all be very confusing.

It seems they have added a "Follow Blog" link to the navigation bar at the top of the page. I don't know yet if it works, but if it does, you should be able to follow this blog to let you know when new posts are made. The automated posting should be seemless to you, when it works. Basically, it just means that I can create a post to show up later.

If any of you have suggestions for me, please send them!

I am trying to have a routine of updating the Proverbs study on Mondays, Recipe Central on Tuesdays and Quick Quotes on Wednesdays. Additional posts such as Church Notes, Prayer Requests, Food & Nutrition, and other posts will come as they come. However, sometimes LIFE interrupts and things are delayed.

As always, I hope you enjoy the blog and if you ever have any suggestions or questions, feel free to share.

Christina

Quick Quotes

God is so big He can cover the whole world with his Love and so small He can curl up inside your heart. - June Masters Bacher