Prayer

Do you fall short in your prayers? I know I do. There are days when I feel I should say more of them, and other days when I feel like I am talking to my Heavenly Father all day long. 

There is no right or wrong time to talk to him. I like to tell my children that Heavenly Father never sleeps, and is always available to listen to us. 

I have been known to pray while I am driving my car. I just talk out loud, and bare my soul to him. 

I will admit that I have been too tired to kneel, and at times have laid down to pray, and fallen asleep. It happens. 

It definitely is having a sincere heart when you are praying, and open mind, and to be willing to act upon whatever promptings you receive. 

The adversary will do his best every day to make sure you stray from the correct path. That is what makes him happy. Don’t give him the satisfaction. Don’t let him win. 

Today I Failed

Today was the first day I failed on my weight loss journey. I absolutely dislike myself right now, but I also know that I will be ok as well. 

Yes, I was very empty today, and I let it get to me. I am human after all, and I make mistakes. Today was something I unfortunately needed to experience. 

I will be fine. 

I have always been an emotional eater. Since I started my journey at the end of April I made up my mind that I was going to follow my plan to a tee. I would not deviate from it at all. I have stayed the course with the exception of birthdays. I still had cake for everyone’s birthday. I just never went back for seconds or had any the following days like I wound have done before. 

I have had a couple of times when I have had hard days, and was very tempted to grab something like a candy bar at the store, but I didn’t. I was doing well, and proud of my resolve. 

Needless to say I let the words of another get into my head, and I lost my resolve today. I dipped into the Christmas Crack that I made for my family the other day. 

The funny thing is I have been able to bake for them, and not have anything. That’s how good my resolve was. Today I was an emotional wreck. 

I had a couple of pieces. It was good. Oh so yummy, but I disliked myself immediately afterwards. 

I also know I needed to experience this in order to come out ahead. 

I know me, and I know my resolve. Tomorrow I will be fine, and back on plan. I WILL NOT let one day define me or break me, and set me back from what I have accomplished. I have lost 50 pounds.  I am better, and stronger than that. 

I will be fine. 

I know it is easier said than done, but don’t let the negative words of others define who you are. Don’t let them live in your head. Remember that tomorrow is another day, and do not let one little slip up derail your progress. 

You can and you will. You’ve got this. I’ve got this too. I am allowing myself grace for today, and tomorrow I will pick myself up and get right back to work. 

 

Book Review...Witch and Wizard

 

This was book number 14 for the year for me.

It starts off where two teenagers Whit and Wisty are taken in the middle of the night by the New Order. They are tried and condemned for being a witch and wizard which they knew nothing about. They are thrown in jail.

They eventually escape with the help of Whit's girlfriend who has since passed on to the Underworld, but guides them to the safe place inside of a department store where all of the kids who have not been captured are staying.

They form a plan to help the other children escape from the jail which requires them to go back into the prison.

Wisty turns herself into a mouse to gain entry into the jail where she quickly sets herself on fire and sets the fire alarm off which allows the jail doors to open and the children escape.

Whit drives the car for all of the children to get back to the safety of the department store.

All the while this is happening they are both looking for their parents. They don't know if they are alive or dead, but see billboard signs with their pictures posted all over for their capture.

The whole premise is that kids are evil, and should be executed on their 18th birthday. But in the end it is the kids who end up ruling the world.

It was a fair book. It kept the flow, and made me want to keep reading, but my personal preference is to not read books that have children as the main character.

Not a bad book though.

Book review The Cashflow Quadrant Guide To Financial Freedom

This was book number 13 for me for the year. I really liked it as I am always trying to learn things. I believe that you should always keep learning and growing.

My son asked me why I am always trying to learn and do things. Because when you stop learning I believe you start dying. In a sense of the word not literally. You should never stop learning.

I learned about the different types of people for example the E (employee), S (small business), B (big business), and I (investor). I learned what I am, and what I would like to be which is definitely an I.

I also learned that even though you might own your house if you are paying property taxes on it you really don't own it. I had never thought about it that way. If you are making money from that house and it is enough to pay the taxes and still come out ahead whether it is by $1.00 you are still making a profit.

Learning to change your mindset is hard sometimes, but if you are willing to do it and keep learning that is the key.

All in all I would recommend this book. I would give it a 5 out of 5 stars. 

“Even though you may not be good at everything, take time developing what you need to learn and your world will change rapidly. Never run from what you know you need to learn. Face your fears and doubts, and new worlds will open to you.”

Book Review The Inside Ring

This was number 12 for the year for me. I give it 4 out of 5 stars. 

It starts with an assassination attempt on the President. What follows is a series of cover ups within the Government. It was hard to keep track of who was who in a few instances, but it was a good book nonetheless. 

The story takes you to the Okefenokee Swamps where there is a man who controls the town and everyone in it. The main character gets stabbed, shot at, almost becomes gator bait, and that’s just for starters. 

The ending was a shocker. One I hadn’t expected. I won’t give anything away on that. 

All in all it was a good book. 

Turkey Chili

 

Yield: 4 servings

Complete Lean & Green Meal: 1 Leaner, 3 green, 3 condiment, 1 healthy fat

Total time: 25 minutes

Ingredients:

1 tsp oil

2 scallions, white and green parts separated, diced

1 large bell pepper (any color), diced

1 jalapeno pepper

1/4 tsp salt

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 1/4 lb. 93% lean ground turkey

1, (28oz) can diced fire-roasted tomatoes

2 tsp ground cumin

2 tsp chili powder

Directions:

1. Heat oil in a large soup pot over medium-high heat. and cook the white part of the scallions with the peppers and salt for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the garlic, and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.

2. Add the turkey, breaking it up into small pieces with a wooden spoon, and continue to cook until it is cooked through.

3. Pour in the tomatoes, cumin, and chili powder; stir to combine. Cover, and simmer on low for 10 to 15 minutes.

4. Ladle into bowls and top each with an ounce of avocado and 1/2 ounce of cheese. Sprinkle the green part of the scallion on top.

Toppings:

4 oz. sliced avocado

2 oz. reduced fat, shredded cheddar cheese

Per serving: 380 calories, 20g fat, 18g carbohydrate, 34g protein

DISCLAIMER: This is not my recipe. It is just something that I made, and wanted to share.

Daily Affirmations October 2, 2020

There is always something good that can come out of any situation. It’s all in your perspective on how you look at things. 

For example.....Yesterday my washing machine broke. It is a stackable washer/dryer combo. The dryer is fine, but not the washer. 

For someone who does at least 3 loads of laundry a day I could have looked at going to the laundromat as a major inconvenience. 

Instead..... I looked at it as 30 minutes of uninterrupted time to sit down and read a book. To me that was heaven. I never get that at home. 

So, always look for the good in every situation. 

Daily Affirmations October 1, 2020

Oh boy did I need to remind myself of this today when my washing machine broke down. I had to take a lot of deep breaths when I realized I would probably need to go to the laundry mat. 

This recipe makes me happy

Years ago my Mother and Sister gave me a cookbook for one of my birthdays. There was a favorite bread recipe that I would make every week for my three young children at the time. 

We were an Army family and moved a lot. We lived in Germany, Barstow, California and also Hawaii. This recipe came with us everywhere. It was the best recipe for bread that I have ever found. 

I lost the cookbook that this recipe was in. It might still be packed in some boxes, but when I have looked for it I have been unable to find it. Trust me when I say that I have tried. 

This made me sad.......Until this morning. 

I sit with a friend every Wednesday morning. Just to make sure she is ok, and it gives her husband peace of mind when he leaves the house for a few hours. When I walked into their kitchen this morning they had a copy of the very cookbook that I have lost and been looking for. I asked if I could look for the recipe, and voila I found it. I was silently doing a happy dance. 

I knew all of the ingredients, and even the procedures by heart, but I could not remember the measurements or the temperature to cook the bread. So, now I will be able to make this recipe for my family again. 

The recipe calls for a glaze at the end. The only thing I did differently with this was use melted butter instead of the glaze. It always gave the bread a slight salty flavor on the crust, but in a good way. 

Oh, I can’t wait to make this again. Yes, I even knead it with my hands. This is pure joy. If you try it let me know how you like it. 

Daily Affirmations for September 30, 2020

You absolutely have the freedom. Enjoy all the beauty that is in this life. You deserve nothing but the best. 

Daily Affirmations for September 29, 2020

 I deserve everything that is offered to me.....

You do. You are worthy of so much. Don't settle for anything less. You deserve the best in life. Don't sell yourself short. You are wonderful.