Why do we LOVE food!

Food is such and interesting concept to me! Hubs and I often say we LOVE eating! ha! Good thing we Enjoy working out too! I might even venture to say I LOVE working out! I know for fact I love the feeling after a good work out!
Back to why food is an interesting concept. Food is a necessity of life, but I often find in my own life and in counseling that food can become a stumbling block. We can begin to Love food too much placing it above the Lord and the discipline we need to not over indulge, causing us to not be healthy. We also can begin to Hate food, for fear of gaining weight. I can fall into this category as well. I often find myself back and forth in a Love/ Hate relationship with food.

I have learned over many years, and continue to learn that food needs to be balanced! I think I will always be on the balance kick! Its so important! There are many references where food is used to celebrate in the Bible! Food is a wonderful thing to celebrate with! It brings people together and is such a joy to prepare! Food also can be indulged on and we can become glutenous, which is not what it is intended for! God gave us food to nourish our bodies and give us energy! If we are not getting enough food for energy then we are not living the way God intends, if we are eating too much and it zaps our energy, it is not living the way God intends!

It is all about balance! with all that to say! Hubs and I had a WONDERFUL birthday dinner last night! We celebrated with dessert, but didn't feel stuffed and zapped afterwards!

Tonight... I celebrate again with my sisters and mom! We are having a girls night for my birthday at one of my favorites! CANT WAIT! After all I do love food! I will enjoy and hopefully not walk stuffed!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HUBS!

Today is my wonderful husbands 32nd birthday! He is one good looking man and wears 32 so well! He is the most amazing man I have ever met! He is Strong, Faithful, Godly, Trustworthy, Patient, Respected, Hardworking, Funny, Calm, Intelligent, and makes me a better person! 

Hubs has accomplished so much over the past year! He graduated with his MBA in December! He was selected as one of the Top individuals under 40 in the area! He accomplished more than I can explain at work! He has been the most loving and encouraging husband! He tutored and mentored a high school boy in calc! He faithfully survived Event Manager of Beverages at DMAF! He is quite a man! I cant imagine what will happen in the next year! But I am so excited to find out!

Happy Birthday to my best friend! I LOVE YOU!!!!!!

Today we have a full schedule of fun! I think I am more excited to celebrate his birthday than I am mine! Praying he has a marvelous day and knows how much he is loved by all who know him!

He Lifts me up everyday! Thanks for being YOU babe!

Recover time!

I am in need of Recovery! This past weekend hubs and I helped with our local art festival... we had NO idea what we were getting into...

It was a 20lb bag mix of duties that will probably leave me tired for the week... Recap to come shortly.

Today I don't have the brain power to write, so its short. But I will leave you with the way cool coffee table we bought from an artist out of New Mexico!

Tomorrow is my HUBS BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!! 32 wonderful years on this earth! YAY!

Scripture Cake

I love Baking... I really really love it. For me baking is a release and a great way to unwind when I am stressed. Before I got married and changed my work schedules from working Sundays to Fridays. I would bake every Friday morning. From Oatmeal cookies to banana bread. My favorite thing to make was Starbucks Oatmeal Cookies (REMIX Jenise Style) I subbed lots of bad stuff for whole healthy ingredients.

So because of my intense love for baking, I was super excited today when I ran across this recipe on IowaGirlEats blog. It was from her husbands, grandmas cookbook. So fun!

I cant wait to make this! So fun and strait from the Bible!

Worry Wednesday

Worry why do we do it? Worrying is such and interesting concept. I know I am consumed by it often and find myself missing out on important things because of it... like... SLEEP! I have had many sleepless nights... last night being one of them... I worry about dumb things and I worry about things that seems to be very important to me.

Dictionary describes worry as: To cause to feel anxious, distressed, or troubled

No wonder I can never sleep when I am worried!

The wonderful thing about God is he doesn't want us to worry, rather give our worries to him. He doesn't want us to be anxious but to pray and to fill our hearts and mind with pure and holy thoughts. After all worrying doesn't add an hour to our day... it most likely takes away an hour.

So when you are feeling anxious or overcome with worry. Give it over! Pray about it! Ask God to guide you and to rock you back to sleep you can rise the next morning ready to live your life for Him!

First Day of Summer!!!

Today is the Looooonnnnggggggggeeeeeeessssssttttttttt day of the year! Yay for summer! Yay for Sunshine!

In honor of the longest day of the year I think we should add an extra ingredient to our day! What will you add?

In the summer I like to add... walks at night, dinner outside, extra fresh fruits and veggies, smoothies for dessert, more time by the pool, time with family, less time in front of the TV, more time playing! I have even added a few extra summer goals... like running more, working on my blog, worrying less, and discovering what new and exciting God has in store for my life.

Today in honor of summer I am going to lunch with my mom... one request; we sit outside on a patio! I will gladly grant that request!

Its Monday...

I don't think I could have forgotten it was Monday if I tried! Probably due to our busy weekend ending with a nice walk outside that turned out not so nice! Let me explain...

Hubs and I had a great but busy weekend. Friday night was Winefest and pizza at our favorite "hole in the wall" Fongs Pizza. Saturday early trip to Farmers Market, meeting from 10-3, errands with hubs till 6:30, made YUMMY dinner (picture doesn't look so great but it was YUMMY) Sunday; Worked and church, Grill out with Hubs Family till 4, shopping and Starbucks with hubs till 5:30, Picked up my Dad, celebrated with my family at another Pizza joint (Pizza was the theme of the weekend) Then... the Monday morning Killer.. The nice walk outside started great! Then a bug or something flew in my eye. Which caused it to turn red and swell up! I have sensitive eye balls. So I did what I always do... Take a benadryl and go to sleep. Well the benadryl did a number on me...

When my alarm went off at 5:50 I couldn't move... and didn't move till 8am. Yes 8am! If you know me that is typically unheard of on a week day... so I missed my morning work out and headed to work! It was a Monday morning that called for coffee! (You might remember I am trying to give it up) The coffee helped... but I probably wont feel great till I get moving and blood starts flowing!

It might sounds Crazy but my day just doesn't go well unless I work out early and pray for my day!

What do you need to jump start your morning? I hope and pray tomorrow is better!

JR

Happy Fathers Day!

In His Steps…

Ephesians 5:1-2
“Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” (NIV)

1 Corinthians 11:1
“Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.”

The Bible is very clear that we are to be followers of Christ, living a life striving to become more like him. Not only is the Bible clear of this command it is filled with examples of how we can live our life. Our heavenly father is the PERFECT example of how we are to live.

With father’s day coming I can’t help but think of my own father and the example he has been for me my entire life. His life motto could be “follow me, as I follow Christ” As I reflect on my earthly father these are examples of how he follows Christ daily and what we can take from His example.

1. I have yet to witness a morning where he is not in the word. Whether its reading through his one year bible or reading on his phone as he waits patiently
2. He exudes patience that can only be learned from Christ. He is patient with people, he is patient with the process of life, and he is patient with decisions in order to be wise.
3. Wisdom is something I clearly remember my father praying for. He asked the Lord to give him wisdom, which took him through several trials forcing him to the lord in Prayer.
4. Prayer is a daily part of my father’s life, he is following Christ through his daily conversation with him. I don’t remember a meal that has not been blessed or decision that has not been prayed over diligently
5. Diligence is a trait that takes time and can be hard to come by. My father is diligent each day to his work, his church, his family, and his faith.
6. His faith is shown by example not by forcing the subject. He shares his faith in Love.
7. Love is the ultimate example as Christ first showed love and like Christ, my father’s love is Unconditional.

It would be my prayer that no matter what example your earthly father displayed to follow your heavenly father. To live your life as an example to others, become the example my father was to me, to those in your life.

My wedding Day... My Dad giving me jewelery to wear that day!

Friday

Its friday! We made it to the end of the week! Fridays are my FAVORITE DAY!!!

I get to relax the rest of the day, so something fun with my Hubs and tomorrow is FARMERS MARKET!

Des Moines Farmers Market is my favortie and I mean FAVORITE part of summer! I love seeing all Gods creations, whether that is food for our bodies or watching all the interesting people!

On my Farmers Market List for tomorrow!
Asparagus
Strawberries
Summer Squash!

What is your favorite part of Summer? What do you do to relax and enjoy on the weekends?

Hope you have a great one!

Beautiful!

Last night was BEAUTIFUL OUTSIDE! It was a perfect night! Hubs couldn't stop saying it is perfect outside. Not to Hot, Not to Cold!

We had decided to try a new restaurant in town called Americana, its a mere 7 blocks from our house. So perfect night, meant perfect walk! We walked down and met my dad for din din! I had salmon, Hubs had Cobb Salad plus Salmon, Dad had Burger and Fries (he is the all American boy) After dinner and a quick walk home...

Hubs didn't want the night to end... so we called a friend and night capped on the patio!

Perfect night ran into a perfect morning as the sun rose and the orange glow shined in our windows... we were up and ready for a new day!

Tonight should be another wonderful night as we have the Wine Fest Prima Dinner at Proof! Another fabulous restaurant just a few blocks walk! We are excited!

Happy Hump Day!

It is a happy day! Hump day of the week and hump day of the month!

Hump day reminds me of two things...
1. My 3rd grade teacher making us hump over in our chairs so we all looked like little humps to celebrate the day! Haha...the good old days
2. Being half way done with something... The half way point is always the hardest. When you start off on a quest; whether it be a goal, a week, a road trip, a run. You start with enthusiasm and excitement. Motivation to get to the end. Then you half way point comes, you have worked hard, but only HALF WAY! The second half is much easier... "its all down hill from here" per say. But, what gets you over that hump?

I know in my own life, I have started out on many journeys, set many goals, and haven't always made it over the hump... but I have learned that if you work hard enough, keep your mind focused, and keep working towards the end; you will get over the hump and reach the end!

When you find your self stuck on the hump, remember how good Friday feels!

Breakfast, Books, Budgets

I guess its a "B" day! Not, Birthday (SOON) rather I am posting about something I LOVE, something I ENJOY and something I DESPISE!

Breakfast: I LOVE
Today's was a great combination of Oats, Almond Milk, Almond Butter, Vanilla Protein Powder, and Cinnamon! All combined into a gooey mesh that taste like a yummy cookie! PERFECTION!

Books: I ENJOY (sometimes)
This summer I am trying to read for enjoyment and not because I have to. So I have a book on my desk at work Made To Crave by Lysa TerKeurst and a book at home R12 by Chip Ingram. Both I have enjoyed so far and am praying they will draw me closer to the Lord.

Budgets: I DESPISE! SERIOUSLY!
Hubs and I had our monthly budget meeting last night, which I always dread and he gets giddy about it! Seriously! He was singing into the office last night! I do feel we need to have them for accountability to each other and to Lord. We want to be good stewards of our money. Budgets can tell a lot about a person...where you spend your money...what does mine say about me? I like to grocery shop! No surprise to anyone who knows me. I love the experience, the creativity, the colors, the hunt for a healthy option, and getting home and organizing my fridge! Because I have such a love for the grocery store I go often. This summer I am going to try to go less and pay with cash. We will see how it goes!

Have a great day! Off to read!

JR

Back by Popular Demand...

By Popular Demand, I mean my sister and my mom! This past weekend our entire family road tripped to Wisconsin for my cousins graduations party. It was a PARTY! With lots of YUMS including... make your own quesadilla and an overwhelming amount of SUGAR!

Boy did I fall off the band waggon of no SUGAR. With so much temptation around, I fell head deep into the custard! Really it wasn't that bad, but boy did I feel the Sugar low the next day. I felt NASTY!

As Hubs said tomorrow (meaning today) is a new day and we have to jump back on to our health train. So that is what I am doing!

Because I am so passionate about healthy eating and healthy living all rolled up into a balanced life. I have decided to have you send me your not so healthy recipes and I will remix them! Make them more nutritious, few calories, and over all healthier! So send me some recipes and I will post a remix after my Ginny pig husband tries them out and gives the thumbs up!

Hope you have a great Monday!

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