Flaws

So when I think about all the things I need to work on lately, sometimes it overwhelms me. The other day, well yesterday, I hit my limit.
I had a work event and I was trying to get everything set up "just so" with the coffee, refreshments, etc.  I had set up everything, stepped back and was like..ahh, ok, perfect with ten minutes to spare.  Well, all of the sudden..BAM, the table leg collapses, and all the coffee pot, etc slides down and flew off the table spreading coffee grounds and coffee and donuts everywhere. I looked at my friend preparing the CPR and looked down and just sighed and said, "you know at another time this might have been funny, but now, it's really not funny". There was not a mop to be found and as I was desperately trying to wipe up everything people came in early for the training:)
 That's how I have felt this week, just like letting out a big sigh and saying oh well. So many times  I have stuck my foot in my mouth, said the wrong thing, sounded selfish, been a bad friend...SIGH! I'm such a work in progress. I've failed at keeping track of all my points, not losing the weight I want to lose, not being the friend I want to be, not being as a productive at work as I want to be, not being ENOUGH for everyone . So many times I feel like I am desperately trying to clean up my stuff only to be left on the floor with a pile of wet coffee stained rags. Bah! Times like these make you want to curl up in the fetal position and start rocking back and forth.  Well if it was all about me, maybe I would. It's a good thing it's not.
Romans 8: 5-10 "the mind set on the flesh is death, the mind set on the spirit is life and peace". I was listening to a sermon today and it was talking about Christ's life being the fulfillment of the law.  I will never be enough, but I don't have to. Christ died to fulfill the law so we would be able to rest and stop scrambling, so we could just be. During times like these I realize how much I need Jesus because my attitude is so easily impacted by the circumstances around me.  I am so often trying to improve myself and be better and get so frustrated when I'm not.  What is all this work for anways?
I'm praying for Joy and Peace in the midst of things not always going my way.

Roommates and more..

So I've had a new roommate, only for about a month. I've only seen her twice. Weird you say? Weird I say. She's 40 years old ..jobless and I often see posts on her facebook about "getting her creative juices flowing". Maybe it needs to flow on out to filling out a job application and getting to work like all the rest of us.
Part of me thinks, what's her excuse? Does she need an excuse? She doesn't have to answer to me I guess as her roommate. But still its weird to me.  Like I  said I only have seen her twice and she doesn't come in till well after 11:30 every night. How do I know this you say? Well because my dog growls when she is turning the key which wakes me up. I guess that makes her a good guard dog though..go kin!
Anways, with all this thinking about my roommate galavanting all over makes me think and wish I was more free...I mean what would I do if I didn't have to work? I guess I wouldn't have any money then..but what if I were truly allowed to dream, without any cost involved? Who knows what I would do?  I am grateful though..very grateful. God has been continuously reminding me in the midst of my busyness the purposefulness of what I'm doing now.  For one I have a great job in which I get to train foster parents to minister to kids, and be able to minister to kids myself. I get to work with now 13 10th grade girls and disciple them till they graduate high school, and I am now involved in an awesome church which I love love love! They are raising money for a community center, which I have always dreamed of being a part of a church that would do this, and they are such a cool group of people that are super down to earth, love God, and really have cornered the market on loving people. (maybe I'm biased)
I'm just feeling really really....blessed!

Quinoa..my new favorite thing..for EVERYTHING..

So Quinoa has become my new favorite ingredient. Here is a new recipe for you to enjoy:)

Pumpkin-Quinoa Muffins






The quinoa and canned pumpkin make these muffins very moist. The dominate flavor is pumpkin, but there’s also a subtle nuttiness from the quinoa, which also gives the muffins a protein boost. The raisins and walnuts add just the right amount of texture and crunch.







Ingredients:



1 cup whole wheat flour

1/2 cup brown sugar, packed

1.5 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp nutmeg

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 cup canned pumpkin

4 tbsp butter, softened

1/2 cup quinoa, cooked

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1 egg

1/3 cup raisins

1/3 cup walnuts, chopped

Directions:



Preheat oven to 375*F

Coat muffin tin with non-stick cooking spray or line muffins cups.

Combine all ingredients in mixing bowl; blend well.

Pour batter evenly into muffin tins.

Bake for 35-40 minutes until muffins are cooked through.

Allow to cool before enjoying.

Makes 12 muffins

Life is a journey..

There are so many things I don't have control of. I've been thinking about all the plans I have and all the ways things haven't quite turned out how I have planned. But there are so many things that are good in the here and now.
I have been given so much , and I'm the only ME I'll have and I need to take care of myself....

  Some of the goals I want to work towards in this part of my life are really committing to be physically and spiritually healthy and to work at that practically. It's not about putting  myself on another plan, recognizing that some things we do out of discipline even when our heart and emotions aren't there.

So I like to have little benchmarks for myself:  Sometimes people think I am setting myself up for failure when I do it. Sometimes I do fail. But I still like to try just the same:

1) So... I'm going to see if I can do hot yoga 30 times within the next 30 days. Hot yoga is intense and it lasts for 90 minutes in a hot hot hot room!  

If I can't do one day, I will have to double up another day..this should be interesting.  Another thing I'm going to try my best is clean eating...here we go! So now that I am done with this darn sinus infection that has had a terrible horrible ugh yucky affect on me, I've decided its time

2)I'm also making a goal to memorize scripture weekly. (I'm doing this with the high school girls I mentor so its super extra accountability)

3) Committing to prayer first thing in the morning

These are small goals. I'm not going to set any more, but they are important.

I've realized these last two weeks of not feeling well how I want to be well and healthy..and want to know how good it feels when my body is at is utmost.

Also I want to be committed to seeking the Lord at all times and be reminded what it feels like to be in a time  of ultimate surrender to Him.  I need to remind myself that he is not the means to the end in my plans and my life..he is the END.

 So all these thoughts and bloggings about singleness..guys..where is he hiding... well ....that's all going to take a backseat for a while... so that I may devote my time and my life to things that are more important anways.  So I guess you can say I'm just doing a little PAUSE with all that other stuff.  Maybe it will come back, maybe it won't but until then I'm going to enjoy the journey.

4 Exercises to Tighten Your Tush | Active.com

4 Exercises to Tighten Your Tush Active.com