Making a List

Well, I am making a list. No, not a Christmas list. At least not yet. I am making a list of the baking items I need to start all the wonderful holiday baking marathons. I need to get some heavy duty baking sheets, some new cookie cutters and a few really great spatulas.

Williams Sonoma has a really cool cookie cutter. I'm headed over there tomorrow to check it out. It allows you to stamp a message into the cookie.

Williams Sonoma also has a cool new pan that allows you to bake these cute little "cakelets". I'm seriously thinking about adding this to my list.

This year I would love to master the art of icing cookies. I love the shortbread cookies that have the shiny, hard icing....that's oh, so sweet and creamy! I've already come to the conclusion that it will take several attempts before I get it just right....but, the great thing is that I can eat all the mistakes I make! :D

Spiritual Warfare

I get so angry when the enemy decides he wants to discourage me. But, I get really ticked off when he starts in on my child. This first semester of college has brought alot of challenges - for all of us! We have all been under attack spiritually, but realizing the extent that the enemy wants my child to feel as though he is a failure is really starting to make me mad.

On one hand, I am thrilled beyond belief that my son has such a heart for God. That he prayerfully considers what God's plan are for him....in all areas of his life. I love that he knows he can call us and ask for prayer. I rejoice when it looks like God's plan is becoming so clear, rejoicing with him about the exciting future God has laid out before him. But, then the enemy finds that little place where he can weasel his way into my child's mind.....and begins to lie to him. Discourage him.

So, what's a parent to do? Pray like crazy. And, not just random, off the wall prayers. Specific prayers from the scriptures. Using God's word to attack the enemy.

"We must realize that it is not Satan who defeats us; it is our openess to him. To perfectly subdue the devil we must walk in the "shelter of the Most High". (Psalm 91:1). Satan is tolerated for one purpose: the warefare between the devil and God's saints thrusts us into Christlikeness, where the nature of Chirst becomes our only place of rest and security. God allows warfare to facilitate His eternal plan, which is to make man in His image." - Francis Frangipane, "The Three Battlegrounds"

Lord, please help us to dwell in the shelter of YOU, the Most High. Allow us to rest in YOUR shadow, Almighty One. Lord, you are our refuge and our fortress. We trust in you alone. (Psalm 91:1-2).

Lord, we grasp and cling to whatever you tell us; don't let us down. We will run the course that you have laid out for us. Please give us direction. Teach us how to live, so that we can stay the course. Continue to give us insight and guidance, so that our lives become one obedient response to your call. (Psalm 119:33-35)

Lord, I pray that You will cause no weapon forged against us to prevail. Enable us to refute the tongue of our accuser. Thank you for giving us this as a heritage to Your servants, Lord. (Isaiah 54:17)

Lord, your Word tells us that the enemy comes only to steal, kill and destroy. Help us to remember that YOU, O Lord, came so that we can have life and and have it more abundantly." (John 10:10)

Lord, according to your Word, the devil is an enemy of everything that is right. He is full of deceit and trickery, perverting the ways of the Lord. (Acts 13:10) Please help us not to be influenced by him, but instead, to serve the Lord with all our heart and with all our soul. (Deuteronomy 10:12).

Lord, please help us to be on our guard and to stand firm in the faith. To be a person of courage. To be strong. (1 Cor 16:13)

Foodie Friday

My family LOVES meatloaf. I’ve never really though about meatloaf having carbs – but, when I started looking at the ingredients….I noticed that the ketchup, brown sugar and bread crumbs are all carbs. Hmmmm!

So, what’s a girl to do? Google “low carb meatloaf”, of course! And I found one that looks really promising! Thought I’d share the recipe with you – and feel free to let me know what you think. I will probably change up the seasoning a little – since we like things a little spicier than most people!

All Protein Meatloaf
*from AllRecipes.com

1-1/2 pounds lean ground beef
1 Tbs Worcestershire sauce
1-4 oz can Italian seasonsed tomato sauce
1/3 cup crushed fried pork skins (I like the spicy ones)
2 eggs
2-1/2 Tbs chili powder
1 Tbs garlic salt
1 Tbs garlic pepper seasoning

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a large bowl, mix together the ground beef, Worcestershire sauce, tomato sauce, crushed pork skins and eggs. Season with chili powder, garlic salt and garlic pepper. Mix until well blended. Form into a loaf and place into a greased loaf pan. Bake uncovered for 35 to 40 minutes in the oven. Let stand for at least 5 minutes before slicing and serving.

News You May Have Missed.....

Hard to believe that McDonald's has been ordered to pay Brazilian manager $17.5k for weight gain. Read about it here.

And, while we are talking about McDonald's....seems they have infiltrated Farmville by adding their own farm and virtual prizes. Don't believe it? Check it out here.

Seems the University of South Carolina will be offering a "Lady Gaga and the Sociology of Fame" course next spring. Read about it here.

Ever considered moving to "the big city" and living on a "vertical farm"? You are not the only one. Check it out here.

Check this out. Phone app turns tourism into location-based game.

An artist who wanted to make art more accessible has installed vending machines across Germany offering unique art miniatures in small boxes. Read about it here.

Congratulations! You may now kiss yourself! Read about the woman who married herself.

It's finally here! Tube-free toilet paper. Read about it here.

10 Tips on How to Write Less Badley. Check it out here.

Social networking sites. We love them. We hate them. And, the number of them are growing daily. Here are a few social networking sites you may never have heard of…..and yes, they are real.

aSmallWorld – INVITE ONLY – European jet set and social elite world-wide.

Blauk – A site where you can tell on someone (a friend or a stranger).

Cloob – General networking site that is popular in Iran.

Decayenne – European and American social elite.
*I seriously considered joining this one! HA! HA!

GovLoop – For people in and around government.
*May I should start one that is called Gov Poop – for those of us who think the government is full of poop!

Multiply - "Real world" relationships. Popular in Asia. Not popular in the western world.
*Wonder why?

Ravelry – Knitting and crochet.

StachePassions – All about mustaches.

Line for Heaven – Earn points by “blessing” people to get closer to “the big guy”.

IntellectConnect – Embrace your inner geek .

Loving God's Word....and Perfect Timing

This week has already started off with a bang! Richard has strep throat. In the 23 years we've been married, he's never had strep throat. It's like he developed it overnight. Needless to say, I've been sleeping in Chase's room - praying that I don't get strep, too.

I've gotten behind in my weekly Bible study homework assignments. I seem to be stuck. In a good way, I guess. I had one of those moments where God spoke something so loudly....I cannot seem to get past last week.

We are studying the book of Daniel. Those of you who have done intense Bible studies know that without a doubt the enemy will do everything within his power to discourage us from continuing in our study of the Word. I had reached the point of exhaustion. Ready to quit. It was not worth the effort if the spiritual warfare was going to wear me out to the point of being unable to function. Then, it happened. That "aha" moment when you read something and it's as if God himself sat down on the couch with you and said it.

I was reading this scripture: "As I watched, this horn was waging war against the saints and defeating them, until the Ancient of Days came and pronounced judgement in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came when they possessed the kingdom." Daniel 7:21-22

Right after reading this scripture, I picked up a commentary on Daniel 7 written by Ray Stedman.

"Second, he persecutes the saints and makes war against them, as Daniel has already been told. He is said here to "wear out the saints of the Most High". The Hebrew word that is used for "wear out" is a most remarkable word. It means literally "to afflict" and always with a mental application. It means, therefore, to afflict mentally, and it very strongly suggests the brain-washing techniques which are now being widely developed, using serums and drugs by which the mind, the thinking, is actually changed. Attempts are thus made to alter the entire character of an individual, through mental exhaustion and the use of mind changing drugs to literally "afflict mentally" and thus "wear out" the saints."

Well, I'm not sure there is anything else that I can add at this point. Be encouraged!

Friday Food Stuff

I love oatmeal. Recently I came across a recipe for oatmeal that I thought I would share with you. It's made in the slow cooker. You can make an entire weeks worth of oatmeal at one time and reheat what you need each morning.

1 cup steel cut oats
1 cup chopped dried apples
3 tablespoons granulated sugar substitute
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 1/2 cups water
1/2 cup fat free milk

Add all ingredients to a 2-quart slow cooker rubbed with 1 tablespoon butter. Cook on low for 6-8 hours.

*Recipe by Dr. Arthur Agatston for The South Beach Diet

I Never Thought I'd Live to be 90

While shopping in Sam’s today, I met a precious 90-year old woman. Her daughter was shopping with her and had walked ahead to get some items from another aisle. As I got closer to the older woman, who was standing with the shopping cart waiting for her daughter, I noticed that this petite woman was also connected to an oxygen tank. I smiled as I walked by and she turned and said, “I am 90-years old. I never thought I’d live this long.” Then, the conversation got interesting:

Me: “I would not have guessed you were 90 years old. You look great.” (And she did!)

Lady: "I had by-pass surgery 19 years ago. I smoked when I was younger. I think that’s where all the problems started. But, boy did I have fun back in the day.”

Me: “I bet you did.” (We started laughing)

Lady: “But, I never thought I’d live to be 90 years old.”

Me: “It’s funny how we don’t think about things like that when we are younger, huh?”

Lady: “Yeah. I wish I would have saved more money, too. But, honestly, I never thought I’d live to be 90 years old.”

The conversation continued on and I began to think about the wisdom this woman just shared with me. How many times am I so caught up in the moment and thinking “I’ll start that diet or exercise program tomorrow” or “I can always catch up on my retirement account next year”? Life happens fast. Sometimes, faster than we realize.

Just something to think about today. And, maybe remember when one day when we are 90-years old and thinking – “I never thought I’d live to be 90 years old.”

Doughnut Holes are a Girl's Best Friend

So many things have happened since I last posted on my blog. Chase graduated from high school and has started college. Life as an "empty nester" has proven to be a little more challenging than I first assumed. I always thought it sounded weird to think that I would "have to learn to get to know your husband again". I mean, we've been married 23 years....what else is there to know? Then, add all this menopause stuff into the mix and you can guess just how unpredictable and emotional my life has been.

About a month ago, I decided that it was time I took responsibility for my health. Okay, so I've decided it about 100 times in the last few years....but, last month I took the step. I was sick and tired of taking medication (and then having to take more medication to counteract the side effects of the original medication). It was getting ridiculous, not to mention expensive. There had to be a better way to live the rest of my life. I mean, with menopause wrecking havoc on my body and then trying to get to "know my hubby again"....between the mood swings, of course.......there's just not time to take medication.

I started the Maximized Living Program. It's been interesting. I have to keep reminding myself that I did not get unhealthy overnight, so I cannot expect to wake up tomorrow morning and be completely healthy (and maybe a size 6). It will take time. Already 3 weeks into the program, I am off all but one prescription medication.

But, there was that morning that I wanted so badly to take a Prozac to make it through the day, but I chose to eat 2 donut holes instead (50 calories each and that little thing served the same purpose....which was to give me a little "pick up"). You laugh....but, that's what I love so much about this program. This program encourages you to eat Foods by God (instead of man) - but, does not expect you to completely change your habits overnight. For example, if you have to have that doughnut in the morning - go ahead and have it...but, eat an apple, too! At least get some nutrition in there somewhere first thing in the morning. Surprisingly, I am finding that by following this plan I am grabbing the apple in the morning....and not even thinking about the doughnut.

Except that one morning I ate the doughnut holes!

Picadillo, Baby!

My all-time favorite food is tacos! Especially tacos made with picadillo. Finding a recipe that satisfied my cravings was next to impossible. So, what's a girl to do? Create her own recipe from all the other ones she has tried....so, here it is:

PICADILLO

2 1/2 pounds lean ground beef

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

2-3 tsp ground cumin (depends on how spicy you want it)

1 medium green bell pepper, diced

1 medium onion, diced

1 medium potato, finely diced

1 can diced tomatoes, drained

2 oz slivered almonds

Combine meat, salt, pepper and ground cumin. Cook over medium heat until meat is done. Drain excess fat. Add vegetables and almonds and mix well. Cover and cook over low heat until the potatoes are done.*

*I normally mix everything together and rather than cooking over low heat, I put it all in a crock pot and let it sit on low for several hours.