Getting Started!

God has really shown us the direction we should go as far as adoption. We have always felt that we should adopt in the States and have found the agency that we are going to use. New Hope Family Services in Syracuse. ALL that to say the more I am involved the more I see the HUGE need for adoption in our country.

PLEASE WATCH THIS:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOqx4ggOJWc

We are not using this organization but God really used this to remind me that the truth of James 1:27 AGAIN!

James 1:27 (New International Version)

²⁷Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

Chicken & Spinach Soup with Fresh PestoI

I was making my menu for the next few months and I found this and thought it would be a good share.

Chicken & Spinach Soup with Fresh Pesto

5 servings, about 1 1/2 cups each

Active Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

INGREDIENTS

• 2 teaspoons plus 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, divided
• 1/2 cup carrot or diced red bell pepper
• 1 large boneless, skinless chicken breast (about 8 ounces), cut into quarters
• 1 large clove garlic, minced
• 5 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth
• 1 1/2 teaspoons dried marjoram
• 6 ounces baby spinach, coarsely chopped
• 1 15-ounce can cannellini beans or great northern beans, rinsed
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/3 cup lightly packed fresh basil leaves
• Freshly ground pepper to taste
• 3/4 cup plain or herbed multigrain croutons for garnish (optional)

PREPARATION

1. Heat 2 teaspoons oil in a large saucepan or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add carrot (or bell pepper) and chicken; cook, turning the chicken and stirring frequently, until the chicken begins to brown, 3 to 4 minutes. Add garlic and cook, stirring, for 1 minute more. Stir in broth and marjoram; bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the chicken is cooked through, about 5 minutes.
2. With a slotted spoon, transfer the chicken pieces to a clean cutting board to cool. Add spinach and beans to the pot and bring to a gentle boil. Cook for 5 minutes to blend the flavors.
3. Combine the remaining 1 tablespoon oil, Parmesan and basil in a food processor (a mini processor works well). Process until a coarse paste forms, adding a little water and scraping down the sides as necessary.
4. Cut the chicken into bite-size pieces. Stir the chicken and pesto into the pot. Season with pepper. Heat until hot. Garnish with croutons, if desired.

NUTRITION

Per serving: 204 calories; 8 g fat (2 g sat, 4 g mono); 29 mg cholesterol; 16 g carbohydrates; 18 g protein; 6 g fiber; 691 mg sodium; 529 mg potassium.

Nutrition Bonus: Vitamin A (110% daily value), Folate & Vitamin C (20% dv).

Selfish!

Thats me! I went for a power walk this morning and spent sometime thinking over my behavior. I am a needy person......I want people to think I am so powerful and have everything under-control. I DON'T! Thanfully the God of the Universe who loves me DOES.

I realized on my little adventure this morning that sometimes my motivation for doing something is for others. Like for example losing this last 30 pounds. I have been trying to get it off because I know people want me to. The first 70 pounds came off because I called on God to help me. I have just been trusting myself to finish this battle .............. so no wonder I can't get it off.

Dwight Peterson spoke yesterday about how our body is ours we have to push it we have to beat it into submission BUT we can't do that on our own strength. We need

1. 1 Our Bibles

Hebrews 4:12

¹²For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

2 Timothy 3:16

¹⁶All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,

2. Prayer

Matthew 26:40-41

⁴⁰Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?" he asked Peter. ⁴¹"Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."

James 5:16

¹⁶Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

3. The Body of Christ

Galatians 6:1-2

¹Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. ²Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

Day of Fire Cornerstone With Lyrics

:)

Things are better....sorta! I am getting more excited the more I talk about it! Teehee! I asked Jaxon about having a new Baby at our house. He wants to name it "Shee Shee Sha Sha".

It made me smile. I am so excited that we are going to have a new member of our family. I am excited at the fact that God is working things together right NOW. I am excited that He knows what I need and when I need it.

I spent some time talking with my Dad and Big Brother and was so very clearly reminded that I chose this route. That when I was 16 at BaYouCa I told God that I was serious. I am now 26 and I feel like THIS year God has asked me to prove how serious I was.

So I am gonna be a holding true.....fighting hard....praying constantly.....grace seeking.....love giving....totally and completely forgiven believer in the God of the Universe who knows me and still wants to use me.

The Smile!

Baby!

Praise the Amazing God of the Universe!! He has brought Dave and I to the place that we really feel adoption is for us! I am so excited but I feel like I just keep hitting my head up againest a wall! Every adoption agency or group has all these reasons why it doesn't work or NY Laws!! GGRRRR!! I am just frustrated! I was really hoping this would go smooth lol HAHAHA i know I know!!
OK so I am changing my attitude we really wanted to do this and I know God is taking us on this journey but it looks like its gonna be a rocky start! PLEASE PRAY!!

He Is!!

Its funny to me what God uses to grab my attention. I was watching Youtube clips from the Cars Movie with Jaxon and then I put him to bed....so after snuggling with my Baby Boy a bit I came back out to the computer. I am always inspired by music and was looking some Casting Crowns up when I saw Aaron Jeffery's "He Is" so i played it. Ugh! Its so so powerful to think that the God of the Bible who is so alive in each book is the very same God who loves me. Read the Lyrics! When you do remember this God who is alive and real is coming again for you.

In Genesis, He's the breath of life
In Exodus, the Passover Lamb
In Leviticus, He's our High Priest
Numbers, The fire by night
Deuteronomy, He's Moses' voice
In Joshua, He is salvation's choice
Judges, law giver
In Ruth, the kinsmen-redeemer
First and second Samuel, our trusted prophet
In Kings and Chronicles, He's sovereign

Ezra, true and faithful scribe
Nehemiah, He's the rebuilder of broken walls and lives
In Esther, He's Mordecai's courage
In Job, the timeless redeemer
In Psalms, He is our morning song

In Proverbs, wisdom's cry
Ecclesiastes, the time and season
In the Song of Solomon, He is the lover's dream

He is, He is, HE IS!

In Isaiah, He's Prince of Peace
Jeremiah, the weeping prophet
In Lamentations, the cry for Israel
Ezekiel, He's the call from sin
In Daniel, the stranger in the fire

In Hosea, He is forever faithful
In Joel, He's the Spirits power
In Amos, the arms that carry us
In Obadiah, He's the Lord our Savior
In Jonah, He's the great missionary

In Micah, the promise of peace
In Nahum, He is our strength and our shield
In Habakkuk and Zephaniah, He's pleading for revival
In Haggai, He restores a lost heritage
In Zechariah, our fountain

In Malachi, He is the son of righteousness rising with healing in His wings

He is, He is, HE IS!

In Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, He is God, Man, Messiah
In the book of Acts, He is fire from heaven
In Romans, He's the grace of God
In Corinthians, the power of love
In Galatians, He is freedom from the curse of sin

Ephesians, our glorious treasure
Philippians, the servants heart
In Colossians, He's the Godhead Trinity
Thessalonians, our coming King
In Timothy, Titus, Philemon He's our mediator and our faithful Pastor

In Hebrews, the everlasting covenant
In James, the one who heals the sick.
In First and Second Peter, he is our Shepherd
In John and in Jude, He is the lover coming for His bride
In the Revelation, He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords

He is, He is, HE IS!

The prince of peace
The Son of man
The Lamb of God
The great I AM

He's the alpha and omega
Our God and our Savior
He is Jesus Christ the Lord
and when time is no more
He is, HE IS!

Daddy Time!

So I know I know it's not Father's Day but Dave had some issues with his computer and I am finally getting things organized (after a new laptop and losing a lot of our pics grr)

So every Father's Day for the last 2 years we have gone to a B-Mets Game. Its a blast!! At the end of the game the kids can go down on the field and play catch with Dad!

These 2 boys melt my heart when I see them play together!

One of the times I knew I was interested in Dave was when he was holding my nephew. He sat there for hours with this tiny baby in his arms and I fell in love. My husband is an awesome, caring, loving, protective Daddy! I am so blessed to have such a man of God in our home and in my heart.

Bible Reading!

I still really struggle with just sitting down and reading but when I do it always amazes me what I find....more like what God shows me.

“I will bow down toward your holy temple and will praise your name for your love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things your name and your word.”- Psalm 138:2

Today I want to have a heart of worship... I want to bow down before the God of the Universe who knows me.

Teenie Beanie Commencement!

Teenie Beanie School is my Pre- Pre School for Jaxon and Olivia.

They worked so hard on verses , poems and songs. They worked on ABC's and 123's!!

I really couldn't be more proud.

So since Olivia will be starting real Pre-School next fall i thought i had better give them a little graduation. They did soo great. They walked in together humming the graduation march and did everything i asked. (Knowing they would get cake if they did)

Anyway we had a great time!! I was very pleased!!

Standard!!

So in an attempt to live so out loud i am going to admit that i can not drive standard!! Eek i know i know! So Roger(so brave) said he would teach me!

So we went over to Little York Park and 5 stalls and 1 near Death experience later we arrived safetly back at home. SO now i know that if i had to drive a standard i could lol as long as its not up a hill or around a corner! Still learning!! lol THANKS ROGER!!

I am naming Roger's Car Erwin!!

Big Loser! Teehee!

OK so OH MY WORD!!!!!!!! I didn't know how much i had really lost until i started looking at these pictures on my Moms computer! Holy Smokes! God is soooo GOOD!

You know the truth is when people ask me how i did it (by the way i am not done i have 30 to go) i always say i used weight watchers but the truth is the God of the universe who loves me showed me that sadly i was more in love with food then Him. That i was allowing food to comfort me instead of Him. God saved my life! WOW anyway i am super excited!!