Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Review of Angels, Miracles, and Heavenly Encounters | Missouri Made Momma


Picture from Bethany House Publisher

I, personally, have never had the pleasure of having an experience sent from God but, the people that have shared their stories in Angels, Miracles, and Heavenly Encounters complied by James Stewart Bell have had some amazing and wonderful experiences.  I spent most of my time reading this book through teary eyes.  It is such a touching book full of heart-warming memories.  

The very first story in the book is one I will never forget.  Tamara L. Stagg recounts the time when her son, Derek, would visit his grandfather in the hospital before his death.  Stagg would tell her son to say good bye to his grandfather before leaving at night but, Derek refused.  Instead he would tell him that he loved him and said, “I’ll say good-bye when he leaves.”  This went on for days and every time he would say that he loved his “pawpaw” but, never good bye.  The day finally came when his grandfather passed and while his family was standing there Derek said happily “Bye, Pawpaw” while staring at the ceiling.   He later explained that his pawpaw was on the ceiling, wearing a white robe, a lot younger and with hands lifting him up. 

This is just a summary of one of the joy-filled stories in this book.  People think they might need to know and see everything but, sometimes, it the things that we don’t know all the details of that make the difference.   This inspiring book is filled with the unknown, strangers that just seem to come from nowhere and then disappear as fast as the came, and the seemingly impossible.  It truly renews my faith in God and people all at the same time.  God makes the impossible, possible and you will feel it after reading this book.

***Disclaimer---I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers for my honest review.***


Monday, July 16, 2012

Daily Food & Workout Journal 7-16-12


I know that I have an accountability partner but, I want to share everything so that it would give me just another reason to stay on track.  So, here is what I am going to do.  I will be sharing my food intake and exercise log to make myself accountable and hopefully inspire someone else.  
  • Breakfast:  2 eggs, 2 oz pork steak (leftovers from dinner), 1/2 cup Special K cereal.  
  • Lunch:  2oz roast beef, 1oz sharp cheddar cheese, 1 nectarine  
  • Post workout Snack:  1 large grapefruit, 1/2 cup pistachio nuts (in shell, unsalted)
  • Dinner:  3 oz pork steak, faux mashed potatoes, green beans
  • Snack:  1 small Swiss cheese round, cauliflower 
Workout---Chest and Triceps
  • Wide Pushups 
    • Set 1 (5 reps)
    • Set 2 (6 reps)
    • Set 3 (10 reps)
  • Dumbbell Bench Press
    • Set 1 (15 reps)
    • Set 2 (15 reps)
    • Set 3 (15 reps)
  • Dumbbell Flyes
    • Set 1 (15 reps)
    • Set 2 (15 reps)
    • Set 3 (15 reps)
  • Floor Press
    • Set 1 (15 reps)
    • Set 2 (15 reps)
    • Set 3 (15 reps)
  • Dumbbell Extensions
    • Set 1 (10 reps)
    • Set 2 (10 reps)
    • Set 3 (10 reps)
  • Lying Dumbbell Extensions
    • Set 1 (10 reps)
    • Set 2 (10 reps)
    • Set 3 (10 reps)
Summary of the day:  Wonderful day.  Did my workout and ate perfectly.  So, Day 1 was a success!!!!!

Monday, July 9, 2012

Favorite Healthy Snack

Picture from Chobani website
I have recently joined a group on Facebook that is titled Women's Bible Cafe Weight Loss Group.  It's an amazing group of ladies all with a few common threads.  First.....we are all lovers of God and Jesus.  Second....we are all on a mission to get healthy and lose a few pounds in the process.

The ladies in this group got me back on track (I had fallen off a little) for a healthy life style.  Plus, they got me thinking about my food choices, especially my snacking choices.  I have one snack that I absolutly love and its healthy too.  Its Greek yogurt.


I am obsessed with Greek yogurt.  It is a fairly new product (well, at least here in the states) but, they have soooo many flavors that it wouldn't be hard for someone to find a flavor they like.  My favorites happen to be Honey, Black Cherry, and Peach.  Yeah, I know...not to exciting.  Hey, I'm a pretty simple person.  


The best part about Greek yogurt is that it's really thick.  If you don't like regular yogurt because of the fact that the texture is too runny you would probably really enjoy this.  The other thing I LOVE about Greek yogurt is that it has significantly more protein than regular.  All the other stats are about the same it just has a lot more protein which helps keep you fuller longer.  


Greek yogurt can also be exchanged for sour cream.  Well, the plain kind can.  It's so thick and has the same tang that sour cream has but with all the same flavor.  Only, it's a lot healthier.  Basically any place that you use sour cream, you could use plain Greek yogurt.

If you want to try out Greek yogurt for the first time go to Chobani's website....they have recipes and coupons.


Happy Healthy Eating,
|Bethany|

Thursday, July 5, 2012

Review of Submerged

Bailey Craig was living a life she loved. She has a doctorate in Russian Studies and is a professor of Russian Studies at a university. When she receives a phone call letting her know that her aunt had passed away in a plane crash, Bailey was forced to return to Yancey, Alaska and face the past that she had been running from.

A past where her nickname was “Easy Lay Bay” and where she was known as a promiscuous teenager. She was a new Christian and a new person but, would the people of Yancey, Alaska accept that or even acknowledge that? Most of all, would Cole see that she wasn‘t the same person she was years before?

Cole McKenna is Bailey’s lost love from teenage years and she was doing her best to avoid him for fear of what he would think. She wasn’t the same person but, would Cole see that? Little did she know that she was going to have to team up with him in order to help solve murder mystery or that the plane her aunt was on, was sabotaged.

In a town with very little crime, things are starting to take a turn for the worst. As the body count gets higher, can Bailey and Cole keep their feelings for each other suppressed or will they rise to the surface as they work together to stop a murderer and find out the reason behind all the killing? Also, can Bailey stay in Yancey or will she run back to Oregon and forget that Yancey and Cole even existed?

This book is very well written and has a great balance of romance and mystery. It kept me wanting more and I couldn’t put the book down. Good thing, this is Book 1 in the Alaskan Courage series so there is more to come and I can’t wait!

***Disclaimer---I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers for my honest review.***

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

Oatmeal Squares


Extremely Yummy!

I was looking for something that I could give my kids for breakfast to change up the boring, old, oatmeal routine.  I HATE all the sugary cereals that you find in every grocery store and ONLY let my kids have then every once in a while but, oatmeal was getting kinda boring for them (and me) so I found a new way to make it.

These are great.  They have no flour or refined sugar and all the sweetener is from  all natural sources.  You can either eat them like a muffin or you can heat them up and pour a little milk over them.  Oh, here's the part I love...they can be frozen so you can make a TON and not have to worry about making them all the time.
So...about that recipe.  Well, here it is....Just a little change to the recipe that I made and it was that I used honey instead of Stevia.
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 cups applesauce, unsweetened
  • 5 cups, Old Fashioned rolled oats
  • 1 banana, mashed
  • 2 3/4 cups milk (I used 1%)
  • 1/4 cup flaxseed meal
  • 1/2 cup honey
  • 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
  • 3 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • Optional toppings: raisins, walnuts, chocolate chips, etc
  1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Mix eggs, vanilla, applesauce, banana and honey together in a bowl.
  3. Add in oats, salt, baking powder, flax and cinnamon and mix well with wet ingredients.
  4. Finally pour in milk and combine.
  5. Spray a 12 and 6 capacity muffin tin with cooking spray or use cupcake liners.
    Pour mixture evenly into muffin tin cups.
  6. If using toppings add them onto the tops of muffins now. If using fresh or frozen fruit, drop it right into the batter.
  7. Bake 30 minutes until a toothpick in center comes out clean. Cool and enjoy or freeze them in gallon freezer bags.
(Recipe is from Sugar-Free Mom)

If you freeze them, thaw them in the fridge overnight and reheat them for 45 seconds in the microwave.  They are absolutly amazing and you can change the flavor by the different toppings or add ins.

WARNING---------These are extremely addictive.

|Bethany|