Reflection

God has created us for a specific purpose in life.  I strive to be more like that image daily: learning and working on myself to being more like Jesus.  I want to experience life in extraordinary ways by having a relationship with God.  I just finished the book below that I read with my small group from Church. 

The woman I am growing towards requires being radically obedient to God.  As Lysa Terkeurst says it, "Obedience is more than just 'not sinning.'  It is having the overwhelming desire to walk in the center of God's will at every moment.  Don't stumble over fearing you won't be perfect or that you are sure to mess up.  Saying yes to God isn't about perfect performance, but rather perfect surrender to the Lord day by day.  Your obedience becomes radical the minute this desire turns into real action.  Radical obedience is hearing from God, feeling his nudges, participating in His activity, and experiencing His blessing is ways few people ever do."  So I'm not saying I'm perfect - I'm human - we all are.  I just want to listen to God because he simply knows what is best.  How do you listen to God when you don't hear an audible voice?

I've learned to ask my self 5 simple questions when I'm questioning if God is talking to me.

1. Does what I'm hearing line up with Scripture?
2. Is it consistent with God's character?
3. Is it being confirmed through messages I'm hearing at church or studying in my quiet times?
4. Is it beyond me?
5. Would it please God?

If the answers to these questions are YES - chances are God is speaking.

I challenge you ladies - take the time to read this book.  It gave me a different perspective on how I should view my life.

Cinnamon Swirl Protein Bread

I made this for breakfast today and thought I'd share.  It was yummy and a healthier substitute to Cinnamon Rolls - another recipe from Jamie Eason.  Perfect with a cup of coffee and ice cold glass of milk! 

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Ingredients:

• 1/3 cup Ideal (Xylitol)
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• 1 1/2 cups oat flour + 2 scoops vanilla whey protein
• 1 tbsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup Ideal (Xylitol) or ¼ cup Stevia in the Raw
• 2 egg whites
• 1 cup unsweetened almond milk (Almond Breeze)
• 1/3 cup or 1 4oz jar of baby food applesauce and ¼ cup low sugar vanilla yogurt (optional)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350. Spray an 8 X 8 inch Pyrex dish with non-stick spray.
2. In small bowl combine: (set aside)

• 1/3 cup Ideal (Xylitol)
• 2 tsp cinnamon

3. In a large bowl combine: (whisk together)

• 1 1/2 cups oat flour + 2 scoops vanilla whey protein
• 1 tbsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup Ideal (Xylitol) or ¼ cup Stevia in the Raw

4. In a medium bowl combine: (whisk together & add to lrg bowl)

• 2 egg whites
• 1 cup unsweetened almond milk (Almond Breeze)
• 1/3 cup or 1 4oz jar of baby food applesauce and ¼ cup low sugar vanilla yogurt (optional)

5. Pour a shallow layer of batter into the loaf pan (about 1/4 of the batter).
6. Sprinkle heavily with half of the cinnamon/sugar mixture. Repeat with remaining batter & cinnamon/sugar on top.
7. Draw a knife through the batter to marble. Bake for 24 to 28 min. Let cool for 10 min. Bread will be dense.

HAPPY FRIDAY!

Dillard's Deal

I went to Dillard's tonight - not searching for anything in particular and they were having a shoe sale.  50% off already reduced prices!  I got a bargain on these Calvin Klein Shoes!  These shoes were originally $145 that I bought for $40!  Savings: $105!  

Pumpkin Protein Bars

I found this recipe on bodybuilding.com and it's from Jamie Eason (a fitness model).  She has a few other protein bar recipes on the website as well.  I made these a couple days ago and they are already gone.  Yep - amazing.  

Most people go to the gym and workout wanting to see results.  You'll get minimul to no results working out alone.  Exercise is usually not the problem.  The problem is people fail to invest in the other important areas, that in combination with exercise, give you the most results.  They're buying the lemonade stand without the lemonade, the new vehicle without the key to start it,  they're spending their time focusing on their exercise program that they fail to see the importance in a sound nutritional program.

Protein is so important in an active persons diet because it helps you repair muscle tissue after you break it down with training.  Protein will help you build muscle = makes you stronger!  Other areas that it helps is with digestion, maintenance of the body's water balance, protection against disease, carrying of oxygen and regulation of blood clotting.  So you can see that protein is very important in our diet.

Pumpkin Protein Bars

Ingredients:

½ C Xylitol Brown Sugar Blend (Ideal)

1- 4 oz. jar baby food applesauce

2 tsp. ground cinnamon

1 ½ tsp. ground ginger

½ tsp. ground clove

1 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. baking soda

½ tsp. salt

2 tsp. vanilla extract

4 large egg whites

1- 15 oz. can of raw pumpkin

2 C oat flour

2 scoops vanilla whey protein

½ cup almond milk

½ C chopped walnuts (optional)

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350.

Spray a 9 X 13 Pyrex dish with non-stick spray.

Combine first 11 ingredients and mix well.

Add the final 3 ingredients (4, if adding walnuts), and mix until incorporated.

Spread batter into the Pyrex dish and back for 30 min.

Makes 24 squares.

Nutrition (without walnuts): 1 square = 47 calories, .7 g fat, 8 g carbs, 3.7 g protein

Nutrition (with walnuts): 1 square = 63 calories, 2.3 g fat, 8 g carbs, 4 g protein

* For more protein in each bar - put 4 scoops of whey protein instead of the 2 scoops mentioned above.

Working Out Again

About one month after the wedding, Dean and I decided it's time to hit the gym again.  I decided to set a workout goal of 3 days a week and for him - more like 5!  I had been taking cardio/resistance training classes and he was lifting weights.  I recently came across a workout program on bodybuilding.com that made both of us excited to try.  It is a 12 week program with 3 different phases designed to keep your body from reaching a plateau.  It also came with nutritional goals, which manly consist of taking all processed foods out of your diet and eating 5-6 small meals a day.  We started at the beginning of this week and are feeling sore but great!  So week ONE down and ELEVEN to go!  Bottom line is staying active and being healthy is our overall goal.

Home for the Kansas State Fair

Dean and I went to Hutchinson last weekend for the first time since our wedding.  It was wonderful going
back and visiting my family and friends.  I love and I mean L.O.V.E the Kansas State Fair!  I always look forward to the buildings full of random ideas to buy, rides, and most importantly the food!  It's the one time of year I don't worry about eating healthy - honestly I binge!  I unfortunately didn't get any pictures at the fair but I did get a few group photos!  Enjoy!

 On our way to Hutch.

Girl picture

 Husband and Me

I love my Mama!

Jazz and Drive-in Movie

Friday night was our 2 month anniversary and after a week of being sick and finally starting to feel better - I felt like doing something.  So we decided to go downtown and eat at a restaurant called, Jazz: A Louisiana Kitchen and go to a drive-in movie.  We saw Rise of the Planet of the Apes.

I recommend trying this restaurant, especially if you like spicy food.  It's amazing.  We even tried alligator while we were there.  Yes, Dean and I are both adventurous eaters!

A live Jazz band performed while we ate.

HERE is where you'll find more information about the Boulvard Drive-In Theater and to watch the trailer.

We put the amazing lawn chairs (a wedding gift from the Hodgson's and Bulla's - thanks again guys) in the back of Dean's truck - made for the best seat at the drive-in!

Happy Labor Day!