Yummy Chicken Paleo Soup

Thanks to the unpredictable Ohio Valley weather, I was in the mood for soup last night. So I got in one of my throw it together moods, and made some chicken soup. It turned out so good I had to share. Since I eat Paleo, I don’t do noodles, so I added extra veggies.

Ingredients:
Carrots
Parsnips
Onion
Celery
Garlic
Whole chicken
Various spices (oregano, paprika, chili powder, poultry season)
Chicken broth (I use chicken broth I made, or an all-natural, low sodium chicken broth)

Chop up carrots, parsnips, celery, and onion and throw them in the crockpot. Rinse a whole chicken and sit it breast side up on the veggies in your crockpot. Sprinkle with the following spices: (I didn’t measure, so this is an estimate) 2 tsp. oregano, 2 tsp. chili powder, 2 tsp. paprika, 2 cloves of garlic(minced), 1 tsp. poultry seasoning.

Turn the crockpot on high and cook for 3-4 hours depending on your crockpot. I have overcooked my chicken in the past, so last night 3 hours and 30 minutes was perfect. Then carefully pull the chicken out of the crockpot leaving the veggies in the crockpot. Make sure not to leave bones in the crockpot, the chicken will be falling apart. Pull all the meat off the chicken, it will shred as you do this.

In a soup pot, I added about 50 oz. of chicken broth. Throw your shredded chicken in the pot, and add the veggies and all the juices from your crockpot. I added 1 tsp. cumin, and a pinch of sea salt. Let it cook on Med/High for about 10 minutes and it is done. I hope yours turns out as good as mine.

Who knew how you eat can affect your tan?!?!

For over a year I have been eating paleo. Some times better than others. Everydaypaleo.com and the book Everyday Paleo has been a big help with the transition. Curios as to what paleo is, click here. There are so many resources online. I checked everyday paleo to see what was new and found a post on edible sunscreen. The article talks about how eating paleo can reduce burning and help you tan. Last year when we went to Florida, I had the best tan ever. I have always had a hard time tanning and would always burn when out in the sun. Last summer that was not the case. I now know why, and I am so excited. I could explain, but the post explains it all. So go read it.

Happy New Year

Some of my goals for 2012.

Go somewhere I haven't been too.
Be consistent in my workouts.
Run a 5k.
Be faithful to eating paleo.
Create more memories with those close to me.
To grow in my relationship with God.

I'm not for resolutions that aren't kept, but I do think the new year is great time for new beginnings and fresh starts, and putting the past behind you. Wishing all my family and friends a happy new year. I hope your new beginning and fresh start happens. It starts with you.

[Posted with iBlogger from my iPhone]

stronger

Before





After 1 Year





It is amazing the difference a year and some hard work can make. One year ago I was struggling with depression. I was in a pit, and I had decorated it. I needed sometime to focus on me so that I could be better for my family. I had lost myself in what I thought was a mess. A friend of mine was posting on her Facebook about this "Bootcamp" that she was going too. I was curious. I checked out the website and asked her about it, and she had nothing but great things to say about it. I didn't even think, I signed up for 6 months. If I would have thought about it, I probably would have talked myself out of it. I had no idea at all what was about to happen to me. To be honest, I didn't even believe in myself that I would stick with it. You see I had never stuck to any diet or excersice plan before. When i signed up, I had about 3 weeks before the next phase started. We went on a family vacation, and the whole time I was self-conscious about how I looked, and in all the pictures I was so hard on myself about how I looked. I hated that I was focusing on that instead of having a fun time with my family.



At orientation I weighed in at 200.5 lbs. That was a high for me. I was unhealthy, and unhappy. The first day of boot camp I was so scared. I will never forget. Me and about 30 other women stood in a circle outside and had to do squats, and pushups among other things. One person in the circle would do a squat and hold it in the squat position until it went all the way around the cirle and back at them, then you did another squat, we did the same with other exercises, and that was just the warm up. My goal was to not die that day. During the workout (which was in an open gym with no AC in the beginning of September. It was HOT.) I remember telling myself to make it through the hour and I’d never have to come back, I would quit even though I still had to pay for 6 months. This amazing thing happened, I survived. I had to keep myself from throwing up all the way home and when I walked in the house I fell to the ground. I never wanted to do that again. But the next morning I woke up wanting to-do it again. You might think I am crazy. But I had a huge sense of accomplishment. The next week was tough as I started on a new diet. Food seemed to be all I could think about all day every day that week. I wondered how I was going to be able to do it, if it was going to be that hard. Sure it was hard, but I did it. Each step along the way I have learned that when there was something I didn’t think I could do, I did it. Talk about motivating. My goal went from not dying, to holding a plank position, to being able to do a pushup, to being able to do an exploding pushup. I went from weighing 200.5 lbs. and not wanting to tell anyone, ever; to weighing 164 lbs. and not being afraid to tell you my weight. I was able to wear a belt I hadn't been able to wear in a while and now I am on the 4th hole in my belt. I went from a size 16 to a size 10. I went on vacation this year and didn't focus on the fact that technically I am still over weight, but that fact that we had a great time and I felt great. I ran 2 miles with my husband and kicked butt doing it. I went from using the 8 lb. weights at boot camp to the keg! You see I went from no physical activity to what I just mentioned. I remember before bootcamp going for a run/walk in my neighborhood with my husband and going home feeling defeating because I couldn't do it.



I have developed a new lifestyle. I have learned that I can go on vacation and come back and keep going. I can fall off the wagon by giving into that cookie, but it doesn't mean I failed, I just get back on track. I had to stop looking at everything I was doing wrong and look at everything I was doing right. I always heard that a better diet and exercise will do wonders for your mood. I never believed it, until I experienced it myself. I didn’t need an anti-depressant; I needed to eat right and exercise. I physically feel better than I have in a long time. I have more energy. I can walk out to my car after work and not feel out of breath. I can make it threw a tough workout and be able to say “I did it!”



If you have or are stuggeling with something, keep pushing forward. Dont be afraid to take that step, don't look back, and don't even think about quiting, failure is not an option. I am sure some of my friends and family got tired of hearing about bootcamp, but it wasn't a phase, this lifestyle is a part of me. I had to pass on dinner with friends or tell my kids we would see the movie the next night because I had bootcamp. I made a commitment, and I wanted to put it first. Sure there were times I missed bootcamp so I could attend something my kids had or a special event, but I wanted to make this a priority. If you want it bad enough you need to make it a priority. I did make sacrifices, but it has been so worth it.



If you would have told me a year ago that it would have taking me a year to lose 36 lbs., back then I probably would have said that isn’t enough. Now, I am like, man that wasn’t bad, what’s next. I am so glad I didn’t make more excuses to keep putting it off. If I had, I wouldn’t have made as much progress as I have. I have had to work hard to get this far, which makes it easier to pass on that cookie and get the fruit instead. I didn't work that hard to eat the cookie, and stay the way I was. Since starting boot camp I have learned I am stronger physically and mentally than I thought I was. I learned I can do more than I thought I was capable of, and I can make it through when I didn’t see a way. What I have gained this past year can’t be explained in words. I love it! I can’t wait to see what the next year holds.

Hurricane Hugo

With all this talk of Hurricane Irene it reminds me of Hurricane Hugo. Hugo was a catagory 5 hurricane that hit Charelston, SC head on in Sept 1989. I was 9 years old and I will never forget. We settled into our hallway for the night to ride out the storm. When we woke the next morning we weren't prepared for what we were about to see. The next two weeks were a struggle as we had to deal with no running water, electricity, low fuel supply, and food supply. We had very minor damages to our house, we lost all of our trees as they broke like toothpicks in the storm. Here are some pics.

God don't make mistakes

Listened to a song today that reminded me how blessed I am to have amazing sons. Adam and I had little Adam while we were in high school and a lot of people didn't think we could do it. He has become an amazing young man and I don't know what I'd do without my boys.

Jamie O'Neil
God Doesn't Make Mistakes
Lyrics to song

Everybody said you gotta give it up You can't keep that child, It's just too tough at seventeen, You're just a baby Well she cried and she prayed, made up her mind Said this beautiful life that's growin inside needs a chance to have a hand in God's plan Everyone told her they'd never get by, well he just turned sixteen Made it straight to the top of his class, the captain of the football team

[Posted with iBlogger from my iPhone]

first stab at couponing

So this week I started organizing my coupons instead of cutting them and sticking them in an envelope, then forgetting about them altogether.

Today I scanned over the walgreens and CVS ads to look for good deals that I had coupons for on things we use. Thats the key, things we use.

At Walgreens I needed Easter candy for the kids baskets. They had bags of Mars candy on sale 2 for $5. Then they had egg filled M&M's and snickers for $.75
Here is my breakdown.
Bag of Dove eggs. 3.99
Bag of Snickers 3.99
on sale for 2 for $5
$1 walgreens coupon
$2 off 2 bags manufacturer coupon
$2.00 is what I actually paid.

4 candy filled eggs 1.29 each = $5.16
on sale for $.75 each = $3
I had 2 $1.00 off 2 coupons
$1.00 is what I actually paid.

Total is $3.48 at walgreens.

then to CVS....
1- All laundry detergent on sale for 3.99
3-Kelloggs cereal on sale for $1.66
2-Colgate total toothpaste Buy one get one free. 2.99
2-Hydro 5 razor blade refill buy one get one free. 12.49.

With coupons I paid $14.91. I was pretty happy.

[Posted with iBlogger from my iPhone]

Alex says......

If you are offended by the discussion of bodily functions, don't read below.

Adam: do you know when you fart you gain weight?

Big Adam: How do you know that?

Adam: because I weighed myself at 115.3, then farted and I weighed in at 115.9.

Alex: man, how big was the fart.

[Posted with iBlogger from my iPhone]

After the Storm

So the later part of 2010 I started a journey that will take me to a healthier happier me.

2010 was a tough year. It started out great. I was enjoying life with my family, had many friends near and dear to me. I was apart of a church that I believed in, and put all my extra time into. I was apart of a ministry that I was very passionate about. I had developed a relationship with God that I loved, depended on.

In the spring my world was rocked. I learned that some people very close to me had messed up big time. This would affect a lot of people. In a matter of one week my church was shut down, my pastor removed, and the church moved back to our old location and temporarily under the leadership of an interim pastor. My family was hurt by some people very close to us, I lost friends, and my church was torn apart with people scattered, I walked away from ministry, and little did I know at the time, but I walked away from my relationship with God as well.

For the past 7 months I have been going thru the grieving process. Grieving over the Church I loved, friendships I lost, I felt like I lost my purpose, and trust in man. I am still going threw the grieving process.

I went threw shock and denial. It all didn’t seem real; I was speechless, full of so much emotion and felt like it was going to explode.

Next came pain and guilt. I was so hurt by friends, mentors, and people who were supposed to guild you threw hard times but weren’t there. I wondered if there was something I could have done, looked at how I may have contributed to the issues at hand. I feel guilty for walking away from ministry; I let people down who counted on me. For that I am truly sorry.

Then came anger, this came on and off for a while. I went from anger, to doubting if I had a right to be angry, to thinking isn’t it time for the anger to end, to being angry again. I said goodbye to my closest friend, which was the hardest decision in all of this. Some may say this was a move of weakness on my part, or of being judgmental, but I had to do it for me.

Right now I am somewhere between Depression/Reflection/Loneliness and The Upward Turn. During this time I realized the true magnitude of what had happened. At times a memory of how things use to be or the hurt I felt will make me just start crying out of the blue. There are times I feel alone, I isolate my self on purpose. I have a wonderful family who I wouldn’t trade for anything, but there is something special about a friend. I spend a lot of time reflecting, trying to see what God wants me to learn threw all of this. Before everything happened this past Spring I felt a shaking in my spirit. Something wasn’t right. I couldn’t figure out what it was, but I knew it would involve my family, friends and my church. I didn’t feel secure in these things. I look back now and know that this was God showing me something was about to happen. I have learned that next time I will know it is God. Sometimes I feel like I lost myself in all of this, then I learn something new about myself, and see that in all of this I am finding myself. Not what others think of me, or based on a person for I am not defined by man, but God. That’s when I feel the upward turn. I used to think of myself as weak, but I now see how strong I am. I now value the time I have with my family, because when everyone else turns away, they will always be there. I am putting my family first. I have learned that ultimately I am responsible for my actions; I can’t blame how I react on others actions. I am learning to have a relationship with God that doesn’t end when the church does. I am learning to trust again. I am taking care of myself and doing things for me, which are just making me a better me for those I love.

So I told you I started a journey that will make me a healthier happier me. In September I started going to Boot camp and eating healthy. It is physically the hardest thing I have ever done. I have never been a very active person. I have struggled with my weight and self-esteeme for all of my adult life. So I finally decided to do something about it. The very first day I told myself I couldn’t do it, it was too hard. But I kept going, and I got stronger, and I love it. I love how I feel. I have lost 20 lbs, and gained a new confidence. I am not were I want to be yet, but I know I can get there. It feels great to-do something for me. Threw this will come the final two phases of the grieving process, or I like to call it the healing process, Reconstruction and Working Through then Acceptance and Hope.

I know this is very personal, but it is away for me to express myself. I haven’t said much these past 7 months. I hope at least one person can be helped by my words.

Job

So many times I've reminded others of the story of Job in the bible when they are going threw trials. I just had an "ah ha" moment when I thought of Job, and realized I should have taken my own advice these past few months. Job lost so much and he still served God and trusted in him. I'm not comparing my trials with Jobs, but it encouraged me because I think God used Job as an example for us to follow when we experience lose or hurt. I let other things keep me from serving God, and justified that because I was hurt. I told myself I didn't blame God, but I did worse, I blamed others and made God pay the price by not continuing my walk with him. Today I will continue my walk with God and depend on my relationship with him.

Just wanted to share that. I'm going to read about Job and be encouraged today.

[Posted with iBlogger from my iPhone]

Alex Says....

Mom, I don't know how I can swim with all these memories. they make my head heavy and I might sink.

[Posted with iBlogger from my iPhone]

Lab Potluck at work

A few years ago we started doing potlucks at work. The first year I told everyone that we would do a Gag Gift exchange for our Christmas potluck. I am the only female in the Labs in my building, and I have to be honest, several of the guys complained about having to do the gag gift exchange. Now they all love it, and we have alot of fun with it.

This is for you sis!

An email I got that I liked

I Believe...
That just because two people argue, doesn't mean they don't love each other.
And just because they don't argue, doesn't mean they do love each other.

I Believe...
That sometimes when I'm angry I have the right to be angry,
But that doesn't give me the right to be cruel.

I Believe...
That we don't have to change friends if we understand that friends change

I Believe...
That no matter how good a friend is, they're going to hurt you every once in
a while and you must forgive them for that.

I Believe...
That true friendship continues to grow, even over the longest distance.
Same goes for true love.

I Believe...
That you can do something in an instant that will give you heartache for life.

I Believe...
That it's taking me a long time to become the person I want to be.

I Believe...
That you should always leave loved ones with loving words. It may be the last time you see them.

I Believe...
That you can keep going long after you think you can't.

I Believe...
That we are responsible for what we do, no matter how we feel.

I Believe....
That either you control your attitude or it controls you.

I Believe...
That heroes are the people who do what has to be done
when it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences.

I Believe...
That money is a lousy way of keeping score.

I Believe..
That my best friends and I can do anything, or nothing, and have the best time.

I Believe...
That sometimes the people you expect to kick you When
you're down, will be the ones to help you get back up.

I Believe...
That maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you've
had, and what you've learned from them.....and less to do with how
many birthdays you've celebrated.

I Believe...
That it isn't always enough to be forgiven by others.

I Believe...
That our background and circumstances may have influenced
who we are, but we are responsible for who we become.

I Believe...
That you shouldn't be so eager to find out a secret. It could change
your life Forever.

I Believe...
Two people can look at the exact same thing and see something totally
different.

I Believe...
That your life can be changed in a matter of hours by people who
don't even know you.


I Believe...
That even when you think you have no more to give, if a friend cries out to you........you will find the strength to help.

I Believe...
That credentials on the wall do not make you a decent human being.


I Believe...
That the people you care about most in life are taken from you too soon.

I Believe...
The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything;
They just make the most of everything.

Appreciate Your Calling

So I just got the book, Starting Your Day Right, a devotion book by Joyce Meyers and I love it. I find that it gives me focus in the morning and reminds me to be the best me I can. In the book she starts by saying that the book isn’t a replacement for Gods Word, but that the book is to give you direction and to remind you that you need to have God clearly insight in order to follow him. If we don’t fill ourselves with the Word, how do we know how to follow him? I have to admit that I don’t spend as much time in the Word as I should. So I have been using this book to help me focus, and really get in the Word rather than just reading threw it.

Here is some of the devotion for October 26th.
Appreciate Your Calling

So we, numerous as we are, are only body in Christ (the Messiah) and individually we are parts of another [mutually dependent on one another]. Romans 12:5

Learn to appreciate the call of God on your life. He has a different call for everybody. None of us are called to do all the work that needs to be done, but we can each enjoy the assignments given. We can also enjoy the work God does through others.

Today holds an opportunity to mature in the knowledge of God and to enjoy whatever God has called you to-do. Your part is needed. Ask God early in the day to show you where to use your gifts to help others.

When I read this it reminded me of the Ministry I am involved in at church. And really applies to all ministry. We are all ministers of the word. As the devotion says, God hasn’t called one-person to-do it all. Take the First Impressions Ministry for example. God has called a group of men and women to work together. Some have been called to serve as Greeters, Ushers or at Vision Central; others have been called to serve in Security or the Parking Team. We all have our strengths and weaknesses. Lately I had to admit I couldn’t do something. This was a great learning experience for me. Even thought I lead up the First Impression Ministry, it doesn’t mean I have to know everything, or have the ability to do it all. I have my own strengths, and I have weaknesses. God has put people in the First Impressions Ministry who have strengths were my weaknesses are. We work together. Like Romans 12:5 says, So we, numerous as we are, are only body in Christ and individually we are parts of another. This applies to ministries within the church. Some of us are called to minister to children. It’s not a competition of who has the most volunteers in your ministry. We should all want to help each other find what our calling is. When we find our calling, the body comes together as one, and works like a well-oiled machine, so to speak. This applies to churches as well. If we are trying to reach the lost, and share the Word with those who don’t know Jesus; it can’t be one church, it has to be all of us. It’s not a competition. We can enjoy the work he does through others as well.

God also does this in our lives. He puts people in our lives, and we balance out each other’s strengths and weaknesses. Enjoy and press on with what God has called you today. If you don’t know what your calling is, pray, give and serve, and pray, give and serve, and follow his word. If you are faithful and follow him in all the ways he asks you to, he will bless you and reveal your calling when the time is right. Your part is needed. The body can’t function as 100% without and arm or a leg. Are you the arm or leg? We need you. I am needed! Look at your neighbor and say, "I am needed!" Sorry couldn't resist, lol.

Happy 13th Birthday Adam!!

I can't believe my son is 13 years old. Enjoy the slide show with pics from the last 13 years. Lots of good times, and lots more to come.

If we are the body

I haven't blogged in a while. I felt a message in my spirit last week, and wanted to write about it, but it didn't really come together. Then as I listened to my Pastors message on Sunday, it all came together, and I sat down it is just started flowing.

Last week as I was listening to the radio I heard the song, If We Are the Body by Casting Crowns. I have heard this song a ton of times, but I heard it in a different way last week. I have heard people refer to Christians as the body of Christ, but I thought it referred to us as a body of people, like a group of people. With this frame of mind, I heard the song as we are the believers, and why isn't Jesus' arms reaching me, why aren't his hands healing me, why aren't his words teaching me. This is a very selfish way of hearing this, and as I think of this, I wonder if this is how a lot of us think, as a matter of fact, I am positive this is how a lot of us think. Sunday my Pastors sermon really brought all of this together. As "Church People", we feel we are entitled to something, like we are owed something. Like my Pastor said, we deserve Hell, it's because of the blood of Jesus that covers me, that we have his grace and are forgiven.

Last week when I listened to this song, this is what I heard:
If we are the body, (we are his arms, legs, hands and heart),
why aren't his arms reaching (our arms are his arms, so why aren't we reaching the lost),
why aren't his hands healing(instead of passing judgment and hurting others, lets accept them and help them heal),
why aren't his words teaching(our words should always reflect him, why are we quick to point out someone’s faults, and tell them everything they are doing wrong, lets teach them how God wants us to live, lets let our words always reflect his love, lets teach them the word),
why aren't his feet going (our feet are his feet, why do we sit on our couch and in service and take, take, take, but not get out and serve, go the distance, go out and find the lost),
why is his love not showing them there is the way (we need to show the love of Jesus to those who do know him, and those who don't know him. We can't be nice to those at church and hateful to the lost because you feel like they aren't living right. And we can't be nice to the lost to reach them, and then be hateful to "church people", because how you act, even if you think no one is looking, is always on display. We have to show them there is a way).

As a church, as the body (Jesus is apart of us) why aren't our arms reaching the lost? Why aren't our hands healing those who have so much hurt in their lives. Jesus was about love, acceptance and forgiveness, why do I see so much hate, judgment, and unforgiveness in "Church People"! Church is scary for someone who comes broken and hurt. They are afraid of the pointing fingers, just like the song says, "It's crowded in worship today, As she slips in, Trying to fade into the faces, The girls' teasing laughter is carrying farther than they know, Farther than they know", "A traveler is far away from home, He sheds his coat, And quietly sinks into the back row, The weight of their judgmental glances tells him that his chances, Are better out on the road" It's sad, but sometimes that is exactly what they find. Pointing fingers, whispered words in there direction. Is this how we reach the lost, is this how Jesus reached the lost, No! We have to get our heart right. People are afraid of being judged by “Church People”, not the world. If we judge them, they will feel safer in the world, something is wrong when that is the case. We have to offer them a safe place. Sometimes a simple, "hi, how are you?" can mean so much to someone.

I believe strongly that our actions influence others; we say we are Christians but do our actions display our beliefs. It's not about how often we come to church, or about the fact that we volunteer our time to the church, or the bumper sticker on the back of our car. It's about how we live our lives, how we treat others, and the relationship we have with God when no one is looking.

“Jesus paid much too high a price for us to pick and choose who should come, and we are the Body of Christ”

Sunday at my church, when the alter call was given and people responded, I just kept hearing “healing” in my spirit. There was healing taken place because we offered love (the love of Jesus), acceptance (no one pointed fingers), and forgiveness (come how you are, we are all sinners who have been saved by the blood of Jesus).


If We Are the Body
By: Casting Crowns

It's crowded in worship today
As she slips in
Trying to fade into the faces
The girls' teasing laughter is carrying farther than they know
Farther than they know

CHORUS
But if we are the Body
Why aren't His arms reaching
Why aren't His hands healing
Why aren't His words teaching
And if we are the Body
Why aren't His feet going
Why is His love not showing them there is a way
There is a way

A traveler is far away from home
He sheds his coat
And quietly sinks into the back row
The weight of their judgmental glances tells him that his chances
Are better out on the road

CHORUS
But if we are the Body
Why aren't His arms reaching
Why aren't His hands healing
Why aren't His words teaching
And if we are the Body
Why aren't His feet going
Why is His love not showing them there is a way

Jesus paid much too high a price
For us to pick and choose who should come
And we are the Body of Christ

Chorus (2x)
If we are the body
Why aren't His arms reaching
Why aren't His hands healing
Why aren't His words teaching
And if we are the body
Why aren't His feet going
Why is His love not showing them there is a way

Jesus is the way

Every Friday and Saturday in October

Come check out this Haunted House. I will be there helping out every Friday and Saturday in October from 8-1am. See you there.

Hysteria Promo from Jason Isaacs on Vimeo.

Accessorizing your look with jewelry

http://www.azfamily.com/yourlife/learn/stories/accessorizing-clothes-jewelry.7155a36d.html

Check out the link to see how you can change up your look and really jazz up an outfit with the right Jewelry.

Contact me to recieve some Jewelry FREE. My average hostess earns about $200 in Free Jewelry for having me over to show my Jewelry to some of her friends and family.

Come to church with me Sunday

Wow, I have been going to New Vision for 5 years this month. Sunday we will have our first service in our new location, The Vision, across from Jefferson Mall in the old Walmart building. Service is at 10:30am. I invite you to come join me and see the place that helped to teach me about God, and showed me that I can have hope and peace, and that there is a church that offers Love, Acceptance and Forgiveness. If you don't believe me, I dare you to come check it out for yourself. This church has impacting me and my family. I hope to see you there.