Adventures in Green {Smoothies}

The advent of a new year always brings with it new goals and new adventures, and this year is no different.  I find myself a bit nervous and excited at the same time about the journey I am about to step into tomorrow.

You're probably thinking something major is about to happen, right?

Before the anticipation gets too thick in here, let me fill you in on the details.  Josh and I are going to drink only green smoothies for the entire month of January.  The seed for this newest heist was planted when we watched the Netflix documentary "Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead" last week.  Great flick if you haven't seen it!  Highly inspirational and informative regarding our current thought processes and general eating habits in today's culture. 

Frothy Green Goodness

In any case, Josh looked over at me after the movie and said, "I'd like to do green smoothies for the month of January."  Oh my. 

Now, I'm generally a pretty adventurous person; but I'm not gonna lie.  This one has me a bit nervous.  Oh, I know we'll pull through just fine in the long run...but truth be told, I have been gulping down the coffee the past two days like the Mayans were right and the world is ending.  And sure, I've eaten an extra dark chocolate truffle, or ten, just knowing what's coming.  And perhaps I took down Ms. Linnie's entire tin of homemade rocky road fudge on Sunday without even telling anyone that I had it in my possession in the first place. 

Can you blame me?  Really?  I'm about to just drink my food through a straw for 31 days.  A little grace, please.

Nonetheless, I am excited.  Sure, I moan and whine a bit before the initial commencement; but mark my words, halfway into the month of smoothiedom when even my skin turns green and a bit Hulkesque, I will be the poster child for green smoothies.  I will proclaim their goodness far and wide and seek to share their immense benefits with the world. 

And be sure and check back in here frequently, as I will be updating our progress daily throughout the month!

So, here we go. On the brink of the great cleanse of 2013, I wish you the best in all of your 2013 New Year's goals.  I lift high my glass of green goodness and toast to your hopes and dreams for the days ahead.

Happy New Year!

My Recipe for a basic Green Smoothie:

1/2 cup ice
1 cup water
Fill blender with greens to the top.  Our greens of preference are spinach or kale.  We also have used cabbage, collards, Romaine lettuce and anything else green and raw! 

Blend well.  This will blend down to about 1/3 of a blender-full.

Now add in:
4-5 bananas
1/2 cup peanut butter or raw oats (for protein)
any other fruit you please (frozen berries, fresh pineapple, oranges, apples, etc.)

Blend away and serve!  Drink in all of those wonderful antioxidants and feel the health and wellness.

This is a basic loose template.  You can swap out almost any ingredients you choose.  The goal is to  blend up a glass of health and enjoy!

Enjoy today,

P.S. You are welcome here! Thank you for stopping by for a visit. Feel free to join the conversation by leaving a comment and sharing your thoughts.

Christ{MAS}

In Spanglish?  "Christ...MORE".

I recently saw a T-shirt emblazoned with the word "Christ(mas)".  Which set me to thinking.  Now, I don't know if the shirt creator was trying to employ a bit of a Spanglish play on words, but that's exactly how my brain interpreted it.  And of course, our company name being the mixture of Spanish and English that it is, it's only natural that my mind would travel this path.

Interpretation?  "Wash me clean".

Christ{mas}.

How absolutely appropriate.

This season of joy is accompanied by the fullness of forgiveness and the melody of redemption and restoration.  It marks a sacred space when the tapestry of time and the grace story of the ages continue their weaving through a baby boy in an animal's feeding trough.  Through the celebrations and remembrances here in 2012...He shines. 

Emmanuel, God Himself with us.  

Christ More.


^"And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.  But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.  Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”  Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

'Glory to God in the highest heaven,and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.'"  ~ Luke 2:8-14

Enjoy today,

P.S.  You are welcome here!  Thank you for stopping by for a visit.  Feel free to join the conversation by leaving a comment and sharing your thoughts. 

Staycation

It's been a busy couple of weeks around the soap shop, as I'm sure it has been for all of you!  December always brings with it a joyous hustle and bustle; a bit of scurrying from here to there.

In this midst of this Christmas season, our family took our last week of vacation for the year.  Instead of going somewhere, we stayed home on a "staycation".  Every now and then we like to do this instead of traveling.  We use the time instead to be together and make new memories in a cost-effective manner, take care of home projects and do a general scrub-down of our house.

We spent the time baking our annual Christmas cookies together as a family.  The recipe list this year included gingerbread men, snowballs, sugar cookies and peanut butter kiss cookies.  We do this each year in December.  Once finished, we give them as our Christmas gifts to my husband's co-workers and our neighbors.  It's a tradition our children really look forward to!

We also used the time to give our living room a much-needed fresh coat of paint.  Sprucing up and clearing out for the holidays always helps to set my spirit still before all of the busyness sets in!

Each of these cleaning and sprucing activities serves a purpose in our family's mission.  We do these things so that we may better focus on what is important and essential.  We have found that the more simply we live, the more time we have for our favorite traditions such as the making and delivering of the cookies.

I heard it said this past week that we are always in the process of glorifying something; always making someone great.  This set me to thinking.  How little can I make of my surroundings and myself, so that God can be glorified and magnified in our family's life?

May we become less, that He may become greater.

Enjoy today,

P.S.  You are welcome here!  Thank you for stopping by for a visit.  Feel free to join the conversation by leaving a comment and sharing your thoughts.

A Thing of Celebration

Celebration Boots

"Livin' off the fatta the land."  Ms. Masdon's voice read this line over and over  in a thick southern drawl and asked us what we thought it meant.

I remember the first time I had that yearning in my soul to garden, keep a few chickens; and essentially, to eat what I grow and grow what I eat.  

I wasn't too keen on the book "Of Mice and Men" in the 11th grade.  I was much more excited about the upcoming Friday night football game with friends in the crisp Georgia air or the dinner theater our drama club was working on putting together.

However, that one line, "living off the fatta the land" stirred something in me each time I heard it.  It reminded me of being a young girl in the Upper Michigan woods, roaming the trails all the day long, pausing to eat wild blueberries and sugarplums or apples.  

Years passed and I no longer sit in those hard chairs in Ms. Masdon's class, but that desire to eat as close to the source as possible remains.  

Five years ago I began researching backyard hens.  I read all the books our library had to offer on the subject, scoured blogs and devoured every piece of literature I could find.  And then I found out these sweet little pets were banned in our city. 

Heartbroken, I went to City Hall to inquire further and find out if there were any hidden loopholes.  Each time I went (yes, there were multiple occasions), the employees would simply give a firm shake of their heads and a confident, "No."  

"Ma'am, you're just not zoned for that.  Really, you just need to move out to the country if you want chickens."

Last week this all turned upside down.  In my continued quest for fresh nutrient-dense eggs from our own backyard, I did a quick search on Facebook for any group that may have formed in my city.  Lo and behold, not only was there a group formed, but they were active, moving and preparing for a vote from the Council!

Last night, up to six laying hens enclosed in a pen became legal in our City of Chesapeake.  The Facebook group, 4 Chesapeake Hens, has worked long and hard to make this happen.

Our children have been cheering, celebrating and already naming their not-yet-ordered chickens. 

Apparently, the yearning to "live off the fatta the land" runs so deep, even our young children understand it.

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.  ~ James 1:17

Enjoy today,

P.S.  You are welcome here!  Thank you for stopping by for a visit.  Feel free to join the conversation by leaving a comment and sharing your thoughts.

No, no, this is not a stock photo.  This is an actual pic my little sis took of her toddler's new reading nook.

Isn't it the coolest?!

I almost wish I had such a nook.

When interrogated as to how she built such a beautiful area, she said the shelves are simply spice racks from Ikea.  

What?!  Amazing.

Megin also humbly stated that she absolutely stole the idea from countless others on the Internet, but that it was easy-peasy.  Spray paint a few letters from your local big box store, and you're good to go!

We love reading in our family and do it every chance we get. 

I remember holding a squalling 12-pound, 3-week old Caleb years ago in the wee hours of the morning, bouncing him about and trying to read Curious George to him to soothe his tears.  Didn't work.  Maybe it was George, maybe it was me or the rhythm of the bounce; nevertheless, on he cried.

I kept at it.  We read and read all through his infancy and early childhood.  And now?  He reads all the day long, as do each of my children.  I love it.






Currently we are reading aloud, "Island of the Blue Dolphins".  We still make time in our days to read aloud all together and enjoy the rise and fall of our voices as we take turns with the pages.

This weekend, why not find a quiet space, your own cozy nook, and read a chapter or two of a good book?  

Enjoy today,

 P.S.  You are welcome here!  Thank you for stopping by for a visit.  Feel free to join the conversation by leaving a comment and sharing your thoughts.

Abandon All Reason

A huge {minor} victory this morning!  

My husband and I have been running and cross-training for the past couple of months in order to keep our bodies in tip-top condition as we go about our service to the Lord.  This morning I finally hit 3.5 miles in an average pace under 10 minutes.  This is a big deal for a girl who used to hate running!

After finishing my run for today, I left the dripping humidity of the outside air and walked in the front door.  Setting my coffee mug on the table across from Josh, I smiled.  He stared long at me.  "What's your inspiration?"

Good question. 

I find inspiration in so many different things.  Here is a short list:

1.  God.  He created our bodies to work marvelously and fluidly.  As long as we are able, we should get the very best use out of them for His glory alone.

2.  My family.  As far as it depends on me and I am able, I want to be a blessing to them with abundant energy!

3.  10-year-old Wendy.  When I was 10 years old, I used to roam through the woods of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan for hours on end, picking wildflowers and dreaming.  I don't want to let that little girl down by dreaming smaller dreams now that I am grown.

4.  My friend, Ben.  Ben is in a wheelchair and for two years now has surfed at the oceanfront with a group of  volunteers in place to assist him in conquering all fear and going for the gusto.  That he would trust God and his friends and get out there with full courage?  Amazing.  If Ben can do that; I can surely run around the block one more time.

5.  The sheer joy of it.  I listen to uplifting, masterfully played melodies while I exercise.  As the musician works their instrument to the best of their ability; I pace my footsteps to the rhythm, telling myself I am also an artist and this is my craft.

There are many, many more reasons why I run.  But these are the beginnings.  These are the ones that keep me lacing up my shoes just one more day. 

And how to get started if you want to exercise but just have no motivation?   

Abandon all reason. 

That's right.  I read a running article the other day that said the best way to start is to drop all of the excuses you can think of not to start:  not enough time, too tired, no workout clothes, no will, etc.  The fact is, we will always find a million reasons not to do something new or hard. 

Drop them.  Abandon all of those reasons, lace up your shoes and start. 

"Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the realm of the dead, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom."  ~Ecclesiates 9:10

Enjoy today,

 P.S.  You are welcome here!  Thank you for stopping by for a visit.  Feel free to join the conversation by leaving a comment and sharing your thoughts.

Progress in Preparation

Do you take the time to prepare?

Last night I cleaned out my coffeepot, ground some fresh beans and set all systems to go for this morning.  When I stumbled out of my bedroom at 5:30 this a.m., the only thing left to do was push "on".

Once the coffeepot was readied, I turned my attention to pouring my bread ingredients into my bread maker.  I ground the wheat berries in my grinder to produce a freshly ground whole wheat flour.  After about five minutes of effort, I awakened this morning to this completed loaf.

Paired with a bowl of steel cut oats topped with pecans, honey, banana slices, butter and milk, this hearty bread packed with protein and vitamins makes a great start to our day!

Why would I go to this trouble the night before, when it seems so much more appealing to just rest and then work it all out the next morning?

For this sacred space of time:

I've found that the more I prepare in advance for the things which must be done, the more smoothly a morning will run.  

There is nothing like waking up in the pre-dawn quiet hours to an open Bible and listening for the voice of God.  My spirit is stilled in His presence, and there is nothing else to distract from His words. 

After reading a chapter or so, I leave my Bible open on a counter, a table or another place where I can re-read the words again and again throughout the day.  I pray about a verse or two from the reading that the Lord placed upon my heart for that moment, and I may write it on our dining chalkboard as well. 

This evening, before going to bed at a decent hour, try doing a bit of prep work for the next morning.  

I like to think of my time with the Lord as I would a date with my husband.  I prepare my schedule by clearing it,  ready my heart and create a calm environment.  And then I listen as He speaks.  I wouldn't trade these times for anything.

Here is a nugget from 1 Corinthians 4:1 God showed me this morning in our time together:  "This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God."  

Enjoy today,

 P.S.  You are welcome here!  Thank you for stopping by for a visit.  Feel free to join the conversation by leaving a comment and sharing your thoughts.