Petty things are just that, petty.

What used to upset me doesn't anymore. Petty things are just that, petty. I've realized with losing my Dad that I will never take for granted time with someone I love, a hug, a phone call, my perception is so much different now. I have grown so much from this but I wish there had been an easier way.

Ending With A Thankful Note

Today is the last day of November. I want to end it with a thankful note. I am thankful for Love. God is Love. Love is the only thing that keeps me going. I see it in so many people and it doesn't go unnoticed. I love my Savior, I was in line to be condemned and He walked up said I love you and I am taking your place. I love my Family, those with me today and those who have gone to be with God. I love my friends, I think of you as family. When I say I love, remember I don't say it lightly and I do it unconditionally. Today I count my blessings, as I do every day.

The Green Monster Juice

Reciently I blogged about The Green Monster Juice and I thought y'all might like to see the steps I took in making it....

My produce stand has amazing fruits and veggies for very inexpensive.

All cut up...

I wrap my juicer to keep me and the kitchen juice free.

Juice of spiniach doesnt make much

The final product, some for today and some for this week

Cheers!

Jessica

New words

My 20 month old blurted out her first sentence the other day and it was both a surprise and adorable.  I was  putting her to bed after a long day of playing and fun and she wasn't ready even though she was rubbing her little eyes.  I put her down she and looked at me and said 'I gonna cry' and then preceded to fake snore.  It was both the funniest thing and baby book worthy.  I just adore my children.  Everyday is such a delight with them.

Jessica

Migraines

For years I have suffered from horrible migraines and cluster headaches.  My doctor was at a loss and then we started to notice I couldn't lose weight either.  My thyroid was tested but there was nothing wrong with it. I was then tested for a gluten allergy.  Sure enough it came back that I had one.  I took gluten out of my diet and wallah no more migraines. I also began to juice.  I watched the movie Fat Sick & Nearly Dead and it gave a whole new perspective on what my body was going through.  I began juicing what I would call Green Monster Juice.  At first I decided certain death would be easier than getting this concoction down but as the days went on I began to feel better and ....and it began to taste good! Say what?! I have been drinking it for 3 months now and I find the worst part is now the amount of time it takes to get my liquid gold.


Recipe for The Green Monster Juice:

2 cucumbers
4 carrots
2 bags of spinich
1 inch ginger
1 lemon (pealed)
3 apples

Be sure to wash all of your produce.  I use a large bowl and soak them in white vinegar and baking soda and then dry well afterward.

Also I have this juicer but there are so many out there, find what is best for you.

Happy Juicing!
Jessica

Homemade Cookies....

 

Today my girls and I went to my sister's house to relax and make homemade cookies.

 

We started out with washing our hands

We got all of our ingredients together

 

My sweet oldest daughter began putting the wet ingredients into the bowl 

Little one wanted to help too

My cute little nephew jumped into the creative process 

Little one helping mix the cookie dough 

Chocolate chip cookie dough! 

Ready for the oven 

COOKIES!!! 

And yes we enjoyed them and licked our fingers,



Jessica

Be Organized

I stumbled across Simply Organized blog and I have to say I was pleasantly delighted and what a great blog she has. I will be visiting often, it will be a wonderful addition to help in my quest to organize my home.

Jessica

Organizing

Oh my, I am currently on a mission to organize my house and my life.  After months of trying to find a home for our glass coffee table, it was finally picked up last night, free to whom ever wanted it. I was housing it in my girls closet and it was more than a problem.  They couldn't get to any of their toys and it was driving me crazy.  Now with it gone I have to say it feels amazing. I have a lot more to do but its a great start.  I am a huge fan of Pinterest. I now feel like I can start taking my ideas that I have pinned and bring them to life in our home.  My littlest child was in awe off how big her closet really is.  She spent a good amount of time running in and out with the pug in tow. I cant wait to show you pictures of our daily purge and organization.  Off to do more!
Jessica

Menu Plan Monday

June 24-30th

Monday: Sausage and Cheese omelets

Tuesday: Cheeseburgers wrapped in lettuce with french fries

Wednesday: Lemon pepper chicken with quinoa

Thursday: Sausage, peppers, and onions over rice

Friday: Grilled Cheese (on GF bread) with soup


Note: I am a GF (gluten free) momma so that is the kind of recipes you will find at my blog

Head on over to Organizing Junkie for more ideas

Jessica

Explaining The Cross

I have been trying to think exactly how to explain what Jesus did for all of us to my oldest.  After much prayer, the simplest, yet most powerful way was revealed to me.

You are standing in a line, in a line to be crucified at the cross, your heart about beats out of your chest, you are about to be killed in a horrific way, you are far passed scared.  Then out of no where, this man walks up and says, no, you are to be saved, I am to take your place, I know you, I love you, and you are my child.  At that very moment you have just met your savior, who would be beaten and nailed to that cross, washing away any wrong doing you could ever do.  HE TOOK YOUR PLACE.  That is beyond huge, that is Jesus.  Jesus loves you so much He willingly died just for you.  If you were the only one it wouldn't have mattered, He would have still done it.

God is Good
Jessica 

Wow it has been such a long time since I have gotten to get back on my blog.  So many things have changed and yet stayed the same. 
My sweet first born is going into 4th grade, yes you read that right, 4th grade! She is growing into an amazing young lady. Then my youngest is 20 months old.  Time is flying and they keep me on my toes and my heart filled with love and laughter.  God is so good to us.  We still have the pug, he will be 6 this month.  He is so amazing with my girls, I could not have asked for a better animal that fit into our family.  Mr. Post and I are celebrating our 13 year anniversary in the autumn.  It seems like a blink of an eye that so many years have gone by and yet so many priceless memories have been made.  

I am a clean freak! I mean OCD overload and since having kids it made me go outta my mind.  If I took a picture of my house right now you would think I was in my own hell LOL but these are memories, all the finger prints on glass and fun little projects strewn around the house, dirty clothes that have missed the hamper.  I take deep breaths and remind myself the cause of my messed up house is from prayers that I thought would never be answered. In time my house will be spotless again and in time my children will not want anything to do with me due to being teenagers. And in time I will remember when my house was a wreck from answered prayers.

God is Good,
Jessica

He just knows

Back when my husband and I were first married we went to a little country church out in Alva, FL that averaged 20 people every Sunday.  My husband is not a church goer but he is a huge foodie. So when a husband and wife that he worked with at a lumber yard invited him to church and told him about the big feast that there would be after service, he couldnt wait for Sunday to get here.  Me being the one who can't run to church fast enough (I must be the biggest sinner ever haha) was more than happy to go to the little Alva church as we would call it.  The pastor was a woman, not something you see everyday, at least for me, and I remember sitting in the pew and telling God silently, I wanted a bible, but couldn't afford one. I left it at that.  We finished service and had a wonderful lunch and got to know what would become our extended family.  When we got home that day I also said another little prayer asking God if he could manage a bible for me, I would love a bible cover to go with it.  I knew I was asking for a lot but I figured if I was asking I might as well ask for what I wanted. 
Then next Sunday we went back to the little Alva church, the food had hooked my husband into going to church the next Sunday, the people and God's word would keep us there for the next year and a half.  I was sitting in the pew and just so happy to be with such kind, God loving people, when the pastor walked up to me and said Jessica I have something I would like to give to you on behalf of all of us, what she handed me made me cry.  A bible cover, a Thomas Kinkade bible cover, with my very favorite picture he had painted, with the inscription that I love, 'As for me and my house, we shall serve the Lord' on the front.  Then I noticed something, the bible cover was heavy, I opened it to find my very own bible.  I didn't know what to say except thank you. And I meant it from the bottom of my heart, I was not only thanking my new extended family, I was thanking God.  He gave me exactly what I wanted to a T.  Fast Forward 10 years, this morning I was sitting having my coffee and chatting with my 7 year old and she was telling me how she really wants a bible for her birthday next month.  It got me to thinking about how our new church (we moved 140 miles from our little Alva church many years ago) uses the NIV bible and the study bible I have is a NAS (New American Standard) and it really would be much easier for me if I had a NIV and I remembered my bible from so many years ago that I had put in a safe place after my mom had bought me the NAS bible as a gift.  I pulled it out and began to tell my 7 year old the story I have just told you, and as I flipped it open I saw that it was a NIV bible.
How amazing is it that God knew 10 years ago that today I would be looking for that perfect bible, and yet it would be the one that all those years ago he would have just handed it to me.


God is Love,

Easter Is Not Possible Without Good Friday

To truly immerse yourself in the meaning of Easter is not an easy task when you are to understand and truly feel the emotions that you are meant to feel.  This year I decided I was going to give up something for Lent.  I am not Catholic nor Lutheran. I am a Christian girl (in my mind but at my age a woman) that felt that it was a need to give something up leading up to Easter.  Many do not understand why I did this but it was for my relationship with Christ that this was done.  I gave up something very precious to me- don't laugh, ready....- I gave up Coke A Cola.  Oh my sweet coke. The amazing thing about what I gave up is that yes I have wanted it but not like I thought I would.  When I would think oh how good would an ice cold coke be right now, I would think of my relationship with Jesus and I was good, I could wait.  So tomorrow marks Good Friday.  If you believe that Jesus is Christ and died for you, then you celebrate Good Friday, I don't care who you are.  I get so upset when someone says yes I celebrate Easter and its full meaning but I don't celebrate Good Friday.  I have news for people, if He didn't die on Friday, He would not have risen on Sunday.  Its that simple.  I think of Jesus coming into the city on the donkey, knowing what he was about to have to do.  I think of the torment that happened to him, the agony. . . the shear agony that He went through for each one of us. When I think of Jesus dying on the cross I bawl every time.  That should have been me but He wouldn't allow His child to be put through such a horrible death, just like I would die for my children without even blinking, no hesitation, He too died for me, because our Father loves us unconditionally.   He gave us a gift that no one but Him could give.  We all go through life with problems, whether it is family, finances, health.  But I am so thankful the one thing that would be the biggest one of all is taken care of and its that Jesus died for you, for your soul.  Its taken care of, you have no worries about it.  He did it lovingly and selflessly.  So this Easter remember, you have a loving God, who died for you, no questions asked, so that you could be forever with him.  Grace and Mercy is such a gift and one that I am completely in awe of, we all make mistakes, but He forgives. 

God is Love,

Reuben's

Ingredients:

• 8 slices of marble rye
• thousand island dressing 4 tablespoons
• sauerkraut, 1/2 cup
• 8 slices of roastbeef or corned beef
• 4 slices of swiss cheese

Directions

1. Preheat a large skillet or griddle on medium heat.
2. Lightly butter one side of bread slices. Spread non-buttered sides with Thousand Island dressing. On 4 bread slices, layer 1 slice Swiss cheese, 2 slices corned beef, sauerkraut. Top with remaining bread slices, buttered sides out.
3. Grill sandwiches until both sides are golden brown, about 5 minutes per side. Serve hot.

Monday Menu Planning

Sunday: Reubens with broccoli salad (Recipe to Follow)
Monday: Lemon Pepper Chicken with baked cabbage and cheesy rice
Tuesday: Pepporoni and Mushroom Pizza with salad
Wed: Pancakes
Thursday:  Chicken with Peppers and Onions and mashed potatoes
Friday: Sloppy Joes and Mac & Cheese
Saturday: Steak with mushrooms, baked potatoes and salad

If you want more ideas head over to Orgnanizing Junkie's Website.

He Did It Lovingly

I am humbled by the grace that is bestowed upon me every day.  I am not deserving of His mercy, none of us are.  When you look at how we act and react to any given situation it astounds me to no end that every morning I awake to a new day.  A day that has never been lived before and God takes my hand and says come child, with me anything is possible.  So here I am with mercies anew, undeserving of them but loved so much that it isn't even a question whether or not any of us should have them, its that our Father wants us to have them. 
I look at my own children and there are days that they make mistakes and don't listen but I still want what is best for them no matter what.  And that my friends is what God does for us.  Jesus didn't come here to be tortured and die such a horrible death for nothing.  He came here to play fair with the Devil because God is a fair and loving God.  He died on a cross that was meant as the ultimate punishment, death.  He did it lovingly and in shear agony, but did it for us.  Because we are loved more than words could every say.  He reached out his arms and said I love you this much and died.  Who does that for you? A parent, that is who does it.  A parent is to love, care, wipe tears away, to pick you up when you fall, dust your knees off and say we can do this together.  That is what God does.  So the next time you wake up remember God gave you a new day, mercies anew and did it with love.

You are good enough.

Friday, December 4, 2009

To the world you might be one person, but to one person you might be the world.

This title is so true.

Remember that we all have things going on in our lives.

But God has a plan, a plan that we sometimes don't understand.
But have faith. Because sometimes our problem is anothers lesson. A lesson that could only be learned from using us.

And when the Lord sends help. Let him. Don't fight it. I have learned this one the hard way.

Why is it we pray and pray and then when the answer arrives on our doorstep with arms full of exactly what we needed, we try to hide as if we aren't good enough.

Step aside let God be God. He sends certain people into our lives to bring us peace, laughter and most of all a glimpse of his unwavering love for us.

Nectar of the gods . . .

I have this thing about coffee. I CANNOT go a day without it.  Just cant, or maybe wont. Either way, since having my little girl 4 months ago I have found that my coffee is more than cold before I actually get to enjoy it.  I was in search of a better way.  To my wonderful surprise 2 Boys + 1 Girl = One Crazy Mom had a post about iced coffee.  MOCHA ICED COFFEE! Okay I am a sucker for MOCHA ICED COFFEE, in case you haven't guessed that within the passed sentence.  My husband does the Sugar Free Vanilla and loves it.  I am now back into the swing of things and am purposely drinking cold coffee now.  I am also enjoying my time with my sweet Lily.

Corned Beef HEAVEN!

On St. Patrick's Day I decided to make Corned Beef and Cabbage for the very first time.  I knew what I wanted had to be so good that I would want to lick the bowl.  So I set out on a quest to find the best of the best. The road I was taken on would lead me to the door of my Aunt Maryann.  I remember as a child her corned beef being so very tasty.  I called her and the following is the recipe that she gave to me for the corned beef.  The cabbage was my own recipe.

Corned Beef:
4 lbs of corned beef rinsed and put into a pot.  Fill just above the meat with water.  Put in spices it comes in.  Simmer for 2 1/2 to 3 hours. 
Take out and put in a Pyrex dish and top with a mix of Dijon mustard with brown sugar to make a glaze.
Put a small amount of water in the bottom of the dish and bake uncovered at 325 for 1 1/2 - 2 hours.  The glaze will form a crust. 

Cabbage and Carrots:
In a small dutch oven quarter your cabbage and and place inside with carrots.  Drizzle with olive oil and salt and pepper.  Add as small amount of water to steam.  Place in oven for the duration of time you have the corned beef in the oven.

Can I tell you that this was so good that I didn't want to share.  This is my new go to recipe for Corned Beef and Cabbage.  I hope you enjoy this as much as I did!