Love will Hold Us Together

Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats

So, I guess my mind has been focused on cooking lately...maybe because my mind is focused on food! :) Ah, pregnancy is a blessing and a curse! Amidst all my cravings, I have been dealing with figuring out what Bella is allergic to. The doctor recommended we cut back on glutens, so I started researching some gluten-free recipes and came across this bad boy. Bad boy, but good!!!

Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats (courtesy of Alicia Silverstone's recipe)
1 box brown rice krispies
1-3/4 c brown rice syrup
3/4 c all natural peanut butter
sea salt
1/2 c dark chocolate chips

Instructions:
Heat rice syrup with 1 pinch of salt in saucepan over low heat.
When rice syrup liquefies, add peanut butter and stir until well combined and heated through.
Pour this mixture over the entire box of rice krispies which you have poured into a large bowl.

Stir everything together. Mix in chocolate chips.

Press down into a baking dish.
Let cool 1 hour before cutting.

Enjoy!

Yummy

I'm in need of cooking inspiration, so I went to one of my favorite cooking resources...Eating Well. Cooking with organic beef and chicken is expensive, so I'm always excited to find good bean recipes. I discovered this one today and can't wait to try it!

Black Bean Croquettes with Fresh Salsa

living from the heart

This month, I've been trying to re-discover my heart and soul...focusing on God's love and how He wants us to live our lives abundantly. When we live ALIVE, we glorify Him.

I think one of the big problems of Christianity in this country is the focus on "duty" versus love of the Lord and love of people. Duty is more easily accomplished...we can always check the things off the list...
#1Go to Church, CHECK
#2 Read your bible, CHECK
#3 Be baptized, CHECK
#4 On and on

But to love those we find hard to love, that's a whole other story. To forgive those people who have broken our hearts..."Really, God, do we need to do that?" To love God with ALL OUR HEARTS...now that's serious. Yet, it's what our hearts come alive.

And today, my heart is feeling alive...specifically after reading a letter from our Compassion International child. She's only 5, so it's actually a letter written by her mother...but she said Bridian hugs the last picture we sent to her of our family, and says, "If Bella were here, I would hug her all the time!" As I read the letter, tears come to my eyes as I realize that this is exactly how we should be investing the money the Lord gives us. It makes eating out seem like such a waste, to think that the cost of one meal could sponsor a child each month. Life is about priorities, and it humbles me to think of how we can waste our money each month.

If you're interested in learning about sponsoring a child, check out Compassion International.
It'll change your life.

if you're needing some passion filled days...

I had the amazing privilege of attending Christ Church in Fairview Heights, IL when I lived there. The church was such a blessing to me...it taught me what living a Christ-inspired passion filled life was all about and I am forever thankful for that. They just launched an updated website, and I thought if anyone out there ever needed a wonderful message to watch or hear, you could check it out. It's a regular on my IPOD.

www.mychristchurch.com

bread!

So, I did it...I tackled something I'd never done before. I made Honey Whole Wheat Bread and it was great! I used the William Sonoma recipe with the help of my very cute pink Kitchenaid Mixer (5 years later, I still love my mixer!) which made the process so easy! So I don't feel like a complete baking professional since the mixer did all the kneading for me. But I did get to enjoy the AMAZING smell of baking bread in our home. And it turned out great. Bella even gives it 2 thumbs up! And to top it off, I was able to control the ingredients in it. No white flour, no white sugar...just organic milk, honey, whole wheat flour, and of course butter...because everything is better with butter. On a side note, I get my love for butter from my dad's side of the family. I remember vividly, my grandpa putting butter on donuts. I never thought it was weird til later on. :)

Yea...so onto the next challenge...hmmm....

How He Loves Us

This week, I've really pondered God's all-encompassing, powerful, and eternal love for us. As I watched different journeys take place in the lives around me...Jason losing his grandpa, some friends being blessed with a newly adopted son, and a cousin graduating from college. God is ever-present in all the details of our lives.

something new

I was recently inspired when I watched Oprah...I like Oprah, I like that she inspires, that she thinks outside of the box. Of course, my husband reminded me he doesn't like her politics, but I can separate the person from their politics (we had a fun debate on this subject...love you, hubby!) Anyways, I loved what Dr. Phil had to say. He challenged us to do something different, try something new, change it up. Re-arrange your furniture, try something new, change your hair. I like this...it's so easy to get into a routine, and though routines are good, we all need to change it up a bit.

So I have to say this isn't a huge stretch for me, but I would love to start making our own bread. I'm inspired by my wonderful friend, Amy...she is amazing!... mills her wheat to make homemade bread, makes homemade yogurt (also on my list), has a bountiful garden, all while taking care of her sweet family and living an inspired life!

Now I'm on the hunt to find a good whole wheat bread recipe. I have to say I felt inspired after making a homemade pizza dough...there's nothing like making dough. It makes you feel like a real woman. :) Ok, I admit too, it was super-easy with the use of my lovely food processor. Check out www.eatingwell.com for some wonderful recipes. We are always impressed with the ease and tastiness of their recipes...and my hubby gives them 2 thumbs up.

Live inspired!

a thought

Never waste a bad day...if your day is already bad, knock out every unpleasant thing on your to-do list. Take on that tough project you had been putting off or make that difficult phone call you have been avoiding. Making a bad day a terrible day will clear the way for a lot of good days in the future.

~Wise words from my previous Pastor Shane Bishop

battling boredom

The other day as I was driving (don't you always have good deep thoughts while driving...well, that is in between entertaining the kiddo and listening to the Wheels on the Bus) I had a revelation. I'm sure I've had this revelation before, but this day I pondered it. I realized that most days when I'm not as effective as I'd like to be, I'm suffering from boredom. It seems selfish to say that when I am completely blessed and am allowed to have my absolute dream job. Some days I have to remind myself that there is ABSOLUTELY nothing else I'd rather do than stay home with my sweet daughter and take care of my wonderful husband.

However, I will admit that there are days I just don't feel challenged. Oh yes, I am challenged, in different ways. But previously I was challenged by my career. One of the things I loved about engineering was the challenge. It never felt like you mastered your job...there was always something new. (Of course, the same is true for raising a child.) What I find though is I feel like my brain is a little stagnant. I want to grow it again, so I've decided to put myself in "school" again. I absolutely love architecture...I even ponder going back to school for it someday. In the meantime, I'm going to utilize the wonderful library (we pay for it, we need to use it!) and I'm going to focus on learning again. Heck, to make myself disciplined, I hope to give myself assignments!

Of course, there are so many other things I'd love to be more educated on: Photography, cooking, healthy living, running... the list goes on....

Oh and I must not forget, and this should really be the first priority...spiritual challenges. I need to ponder that...Bella, let's go for another drive...