Last week, Antony was helping me clean out the refrigerator...Yes, I know..I am blessed. :) Well, after over a year of not replacing the light-bulb in the refrigerator, he fished around on the top shelf of the cabinet to find...a spare! Sure enough, it worked perfectly and immediately the change shocked me. Let's face it. The difference a light-bulb in a refrigerator makes to a mom is pretty intense. We practically have a best friend relationship with those things - you love them b/c they take care of the things that are important to you - and sometimes when they are empty you get a bit miffed but you fill her up and you're back on speaking terms. Well, it has taken me almost a week to get used to the new brightness in my refrigerator. I actually told Antony that every time I open it, I feel like there's almost something wrong with the refrigerator until I take the second to mentally adjust my thinking to the fact that having the light-bulb operating in the fridge is right and that it's meant to be this way. It wasn't until a couple days into the fridge transformation that I had the revelation...I was a bit slow on the uptake. But I suddenly thought, "In what areas of my life have I been living without a light-bulb? What areas of my life were at one point operating in the light but for some reason or another the light was extinguished? And instead of taking the time to replace the light, I adjusted and got used to seeing that area of my life from the Darkness' point of view instead of getting the truth that comes only from the Light that is MEANT to be operating there? Where had I allowed wrongful thinking to take over - covering my sight - giving me only a partial picture, stopping me from living to the full? Which crevice or corner have I forgotten about, leaving it in the dark and tricking myself into thinking it's no big deal...b/c other light-bulbs in my life are working just fine. I adjusted to not having that light-bulb to the point that when I finally got my light back, it actually felt weird - almost wrong. But that's what the darkness does. If we don't immediately deal with an issue with the truth and light of God's Word, then slowly our eyes (soul) become accustomed to the darkness and we get tricked to the point where the truth almost seems weird. That's scary.
Also, why did I never take the time to change the bulb? Over one full year that light-bulb was within my reach and I had the means to make the switch: to replace darkness with light. But it all comes down to a choice. First, I have to ask God to show me what parts of my life have gone dark. This takes openness and sensitivity to hear Him...humility to admit I am wrong and the courage to make the choice to make the switch. Changing our thinking comes when the decision to change is verbalized and then commitment becomes internalized. And unlike Antony making things easy for me and changing the fridge bulb, only I have the power to make the choice to replace the darkness with light in my thoughts, ideas, and actions. And, OH! How much better life looks when we are seeing it through the truth that Light brings!
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Chicken Tenders approved: Black Bean Soup
Here's a GREAT recipe that will help you get rid of some leftovers and also give the kids some great nutrition and it's DELICIOUS!
Day ONE
Black beans (cook them as normal). Add coarsely chopped 1 green pepper, 1 onion, plenty of garlic and a couple peeld zucchini in a mixer and blend until smooth. Heat cocounut oil in pan and cook for a few minutes. Add salt, cumin, pepper and dried oregano to taste. Then add to black beans.
Make brown/white rice.
I like to mix my rice for extra wholesome goodness. Heat one cup brown rice in some cocunut oil constantly stirring...add 1 1/2 cup water when hot and let cook about 10-15 minutes (can not dry up) add one cup of the jasmine rice with another 1 1/2 cup water. Cook down and cover simmer until done.
I make turkey or ground beef patties and a steamed veggie.
Day Two
Take leftover beans and rice, add Chicken broth to it and liquefy. Pour into soup pot.
Steam one Acorn squash or butternut squash and when cooked, liquefy with some of the hot water in steamer. Add squash mixture to soup pot.
Brown and mince ground beef or turkey (I prefer taste of ground beef). Season with salt and cumin or a Jamaican Jerk flavour or Mexian flavoring. Add to soup mixture (juices and all). Stir and serve with shredded cheese, sliced avocado, salsa or by itself...SOOOOO delicious!
The kids LOVE it and ask for more!
Day ONE
Black beans (cook them as normal). Add coarsely chopped 1 green pepper, 1 onion, plenty of garlic and a couple peeld zucchini in a mixer and blend until smooth. Heat cocounut oil in pan and cook for a few minutes. Add salt, cumin, pepper and dried oregano to taste. Then add to black beans.
Make brown/white rice.
I like to mix my rice for extra wholesome goodness. Heat one cup brown rice in some cocunut oil constantly stirring...add 1 1/2 cup water when hot and let cook about 10-15 minutes (can not dry up) add one cup of the jasmine rice with another 1 1/2 cup water. Cook down and cover simmer until done.
I make turkey or ground beef patties and a steamed veggie.
Day Two
Take leftover beans and rice, add Chicken broth to it and liquefy. Pour into soup pot.
Steam one Acorn squash or butternut squash and when cooked, liquefy with some of the hot water in steamer. Add squash mixture to soup pot.
Brown and mince ground beef or turkey (I prefer taste of ground beef). Season with salt and cumin or a Jamaican Jerk flavour or Mexian flavoring. Add to soup mixture (juices and all). Stir and serve with shredded cheese, sliced avocado, salsa or by itself...SOOOOO delicious!
The kids LOVE it and ask for more!
Hello again!
Well, journal...it's been awhile since we had a face to face. So much has happened and I wouldn't be able to put it all down - but the learning curve is what's most important. God teaches us SO much stuff - if we are open to learn it...and I'm sure there are areas that I am closing and I don't want to truly "see" the things that need to change...but I'm getting there! I still see so much inside of me that needs tweaking...so many areas where I need to "put on my new nature" (Col. 3 - The kids and I are memorizing scriputre - wow - it's been great! I love that Keziah is getting it too!).
So...key points - Antony went freelance - HUGE step of faith. We have learned so much - about our marriage (we weren't living in sync with each other...seeing daddy as an "intruder" or "interruption" to our lives/ routine...but we saw it needed changing and although it's so hard to change, it's essential for vibrant growth...I can see how people just want to ignore the problem and keep living the way the samw way b/c it's just easier! Change is so TOUGH to do), about God's graciousness (in our mistakes, He makes things right), trust in Him as our provider, we've enjoyed free time, pool time and a record breaking hot summer.
Mary Kay - God taught me how to bring Mary Kay and fit it in our family - through it, the children will see first hand the very things we want to instill in them. What it means to work hard, set goals, plan, organize, think out of the gbox, how to treat people, how to lead people, how to encourage/motivate/inspire people...so excited that they will have it in front of them so they can learn by watching it being done and being a part of it themselves! Looking forward to all that God has and is doing in and through me.
Kids: Marc Alec - getting so big - long curly hair...he is so affectionate - kisses us all the time - and when Kezi cries he goes to show her love...does his cute little hop on foot dance. We are enjoying them all...Jonathon lost another tooth...it is so odd to see him growing before my eyes...I am purposefully taking time to enjoy the small moments...Luke is my vibrant life - keeps me on my toes and makes me laugh in spite of everything!! Keziah is such a sweet princess...and yet tough and 'tudy at times!
Book Club: I started a book club with some other moms...we are reading "The Mission of Motherhood" first...and we are enjoying it so much. Reading it makes me remember more often what it is I am doing in the lives o f my children and how huge it is - and how SPECIAL it is!
Okay then, I think that brings me up to date. Until next time!
So...key points - Antony went freelance - HUGE step of faith. We have learned so much - about our marriage (we weren't living in sync with each other...seeing daddy as an "intruder" or "interruption" to our lives/ routine...but we saw it needed changing and although it's so hard to change, it's essential for vibrant growth...I can see how people just want to ignore the problem and keep living the way the samw way b/c it's just easier! Change is so TOUGH to do), about God's graciousness (in our mistakes, He makes things right), trust in Him as our provider, we've enjoyed free time, pool time and a record breaking hot summer.
Mary Kay - God taught me how to bring Mary Kay and fit it in our family - through it, the children will see first hand the very things we want to instill in them. What it means to work hard, set goals, plan, organize, think out of the gbox, how to treat people, how to lead people, how to encourage/motivate/inspire people...so excited that they will have it in front of them so they can learn by watching it being done and being a part of it themselves! Looking forward to all that God has and is doing in and through me.
Kids: Marc Alec - getting so big - long curly hair...he is so affectionate - kisses us all the time - and when Kezi cries he goes to show her love...does his cute little hop on foot dance. We are enjoying them all...Jonathon lost another tooth...it is so odd to see him growing before my eyes...I am purposefully taking time to enjoy the small moments...Luke is my vibrant life - keeps me on my toes and makes me laugh in spite of everything!! Keziah is such a sweet princess...and yet tough and 'tudy at times!
Book Club: I started a book club with some other moms...we are reading "The Mission of Motherhood" first...and we are enjoying it so much. Reading it makes me remember more often what it is I am doing in the lives o f my children and how huge it is - and how SPECIAL it is!
Okay then, I think that brings me up to date. Until next time!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)