Something About May...

It appears there is something about the Month of May that makes me remember I have this blog... and want to do something with it.  My last blog post was about Trim Healthy Mama in May of 2016.  I love this blog... and I know I started it for a reason... I just haven't settled into what I want it to be yet I guess.

Life has been so hectic!  Things with the boys are at a plateau... Wyatt has hard decisions to make for himself... he is to the point I can't push him to want to be better or more than he is right now.  He has got to want that for his own future... and we are working with a psychologist to get him there... but it just doesn't seem that he wants it right now.  Dylan is doing really well... I venture to say somewhat stable in all actuality... so long as my nurses are here and consistent.  They are both such a blessing to our family- they are like family.  Nurses Appreciation Week was last week.. and in all my personal craziness, I didn't do anything for either one of them.  One more thing on my to do list!

Elizabeth was cast as Belle in the upcoming community theater production of Beauty and The Beast Jr.  She is so excited!  I will post some pictures of the Belle Dress process.  Rather than buy a junky cosplay dress, we opted to buy a wedding dress at a thrift store and convert it.  That was probably the most amazing and scary process!  It is so beautiful.  We just have to add one more layer to the top... I can't express how excited I am for her!  I am also stage managing this year's production... it has been fun for me to learn something new as well.  It's also been nice to be needed and wanted.  I struggle so much in this area of my life- I desire to feel useful to people outside my family.  Service is after all my love language- so to know that I am asset in the community theater and helping the production staff and crew as well as imparting the importance of organization to these kids has been amazing and fun.

Cassidy is going to start competitive gymnastics this summer.  She is very talented, and very excited to take the next step into competitive sports.  She works hard at home and practices constantly.  I love that she has a desire to work hard toward something... because that girl is such a struggle to get to do school!  She has zero desire to sit still and do anything.  Thank goodness we are nearing the end of our school year, although we are going to do some school through the summer so that they can stay up to par on some subjects.

I am so excited about some of the changes I am already looking at implementing for next year as far as school goes.  We are looking at doing a cottage school with friends, and also some great curriculum changes are coming this year as well!  This past year was the first year I went off script and taught independent of a box curriculum.  It was overwhelming and gratifying all in one!  I think we did okay though- my junior finished Chemistry with a 92.  I will take it!

Soon, Bucky and I will celebrate 10 years of marriage together... it's gone by so fast and at the same time feels like forever.  I know that makes next to no sense.  This year also marked 10 years that I have been saved by grace, and for that I am so very thankful.  Serving the Lord has been difficult for me at times, because I have so much on me at home and to think of doing more has sometimes exhausting.... and overwhelming.  And then there is my feeling of acceptance, but that's another day's issue.

That's our life in a nutshell.. my goal is to do this more than once a year... what do y'all think?

Trim Healthy Mama Menu- Week 1 restart!

We are totally THM compliant this week and here is what we are eating:

Monday:
Breakfast- Scrambled eggs (with veggies) and sausage {S}
Lunch- Sausage and Sun Dried Tomato Pasta (use dreamfields for a compliant crossover) {XO}
Dinner- Pot Sticker Patties & Creamless Creamy Veggies (old and new cookbook) {S}

Tuesday:
Breakfast: Skinny Double Chocolate Muffins {E}
Lunch: Cold cut sandwich wraps with on plan Sandwich wraps from Aldi {E}
Dinner: Bacon Chicken Ranch Soup {S}

Wednesday:
Breakfast: Egg In A Hole (Whole Eggs and Fuel Pull Nuke Queen Bread) {S}
Lunch: Shake (not sure which one yet- my kids are having a pasta dish)
Dinner: Slow Cooker Cabbage and Beef   Roasted Veggie Medley (old book)

Thursday:
Breakfast: Scrambled Eggs (with bell pepper, onion, spinach) {S}
Lunch: Philly Cheesesteak Quesadillas (Only eating one- with one mission low carb tortilla) {S}
Dinner: Philly Cheese Meatloaf {S}   Cauli Potato Salad {S} Old Book

Friday:
Breakfast: Cinnamon Rolls {E}
Lunch: Brianna Thomas Creamy Chicken and Rice {E} Side Salad
Dinner: Green Chili Chicken Casserole {S}  Side Salad

Saturday:
Breakfast: Bacon/Eggs {S}
Lunch: Taco Salad {S}
Dinner: Wicked White Chili {E} New Cookbook

Sunday:
Breakfast: Leftover Muffins from Tuesday
Lunch: I eat at church so I do my best to eat on plan with what is there
Dinner: Black Bean Quesadillas with sliced veggies {E}

THM Week 2

Trim Healthy Mama hasn't been the easiest cooking format for me to get used to- but so far, so good.  The thing I am noticing is that we aren't eating enough vegetables- so my goal this week is to make sure there is enough incorporated in our meals.  

Last week, I managed to stay 75% on plan.  Even at a preachers wives' retreat.  Not bad, not bad.  The brownies during a late night round of Catch Phrase got me.  And then Easter.  And Chocolate.  So I will start with two deep "S" meals and get back on plan.  

Here are some of the meals we had last week: 

Breakfasts: 

Mufflets (new cookbook) 

Mozzarella and Turkey Toast (old book) 

Bacon & Eggs 

Lunches & Dinners  

Bangin' Ranch Drums (New Cookbook) 

Baked Chicken Breast 

Collagen Creamed Spinach (New Cookbook) 

Green Chili Chicken Casserole (Mrs. Criddle's Kitchen) 

Pizza Casserole (Old Book) 

Cheeseburger Casserole (New Cookbook) 

The family is doing fine with the new cooking style, because for the kids it hasn't changed much.  They still get their food the way I used to cook (One Protein, One vegetable, one starch) because I always make their foods crossovers- none of my children need to lose any weight.  

I haven't lost any weight per say- but I know how hard I was and continue to be on my body when I make bad choices on food- so I am waiting a few weeks to worry about starting to lose weight.  

I hope your Resurrection Day was an amazing blessing to everyone and this week begins finding you refreshed and loved in the Lord.  

Trim Healthy Mama Week 1

So have you heard about this not so new plan running around the internet?  Have you seen pins on Pinterest with these weird labels (E,S, FP, XO) and wondered what the heck people were thinking?  I get it. I was there.  And then I bought the books.

In 2012, Pearl Barrett and Serene Allison self published a 600+ book after years of struggling through public consensus and fad dieting.  I saw it off and on while reading blogs, and surfing recipes, but never truly gave it much thought.  I too, have struggled through my own diet woes, and yo-yo weight loss.

After failing at the 21 Day Fix, and a barrage of other things, I decided to spend the $25 and get the new revised books that came out this year.  Instead of a self published 600 page book, Pearl and Serene have divided their information into two books.  The plan book (all the information you could possibly need to start the program, including the  meal types, special ingredients, identifying your eating habits or your mama type, etc) and the greatly improved cookbook with beautiful color photos and the chatty encouragement that carried over from the first book- but in a much more organized manner.

I was very apprehensive to try THM, but I am thankful I did.  I know I have some medical issues going on, and this has been a great start to allow me some indulgence, but also some grace if I slip.  I know my body internally has a lot of healing to do, but I know when I see the doctor in a little over a month I will have been already on the way to making the necessary changes to help my body work through the healing and inflammation process.

Will it be easy? No.  After five days I caved and had a Coke the other day.  But I know that getting back on track is only 3 hours away at the next meal- and cheese and bacon and all dairy for that matter don't make me feel guilty anymore.  But I completed week one about 80% on plan which isn't bad for week one.  I still ask tons of questions on the official and unofficial forums on facebook- and I am thankful they are there.  I have studied alot- done alot- and tried alot- and I really feel over time this is going to be the best possible chance I have for success.

I wish I had the time and imagination to sit and work on original recipes to wow you and dazzle you with new recipes... but alas that is not the season of my life right now.  For now, I am settling for the vast array of bloggers out there that are providing some fantastic recipes that I can add to Plan To Eat- my absolutely favorite menu planning service.

There will be more stories ahead I am sure- recipes we love, recipes we hate- and things  we can wait to make again... and I can't wait to share them with everyone as we go.  We have been using some recipes for two weeks- on plan somewhat week one and more on plan week two and next week we hope to be totally on plan.  I am really enjoying learning to cook with new alternatives to still get what we crave without all the nasty stuff in gross processed foods and fast foods (I am a Drive Thru Sue out of necessity- but there is no place I love being more than my kitchen when there is time!).

How is your Trim Healthy Mama journey?  Are you seeing changes?  Are you totally not knowing where to start?  Let me know!

Personal Study in 2016

As I have started 2016, I found myself seeking the Lord in many ways.  I felt a profound amount of conviction toward the end of the year about if my heart was really in and serving in church, or am I "playing church."  When we had family devotion time on Sunday evening, we had a candid conversation with our children about this exact topic (along with watching the Christian documentary, Captivated.  I cannot recommend it highly enough for anyone and everyone!), and set some goals and ideas for the coming year.  Things we truly wanted to expand on in serving harder and further this year.

One of my personal goals is to study more. As I have to sit with Cassidy for the 3 1/2 hours she does school to help keep her focused, I feel like the Lord has answered my prayer and my need.  As badly as I want to be up and about the business of my home, I also have no choice to sit still, with her.  What better time to get my personal study in?

In the month of January I began two copywork challenges on Scripture.  One is on prayer (as seems to be all the rage with the new movie from the Kendrick brothers newly out on DVD- War Room- It is a good movie, I recommend it as well), and the other is an entire year, with month to month with a different theme, this one happening to be on Renewal & Refreshment.  I like both because they simply give you a scripture for the day and you go into your Bible and find it and write it as many times as you need.  For me, online studies and guides can be difficult to find, as I am strictly a KJV person.

Southern Melle's 31 Day Scripture Writing Challenge

The Purposeful Mom Writing Through The Word

Both of these have been highly effective for me, and I am loving the time I spend with the Lord on these very important topics.

Another thing I am doing to help me focus on my prayer time is that as I pray I journal.  I love these journals from Target  but any notebook will work. Loose leaf paper and a binder will work too!

Along the lines of prayer, I also found this wonderful resource on praying for your family.  Tauna at The Proverbial Homemaker has put together an amazing *FREE* resource for weekly prayers to to pray for your family.  This 89 page printable sets a weekly goal of specific scripture to pray over your family, with a note sheet that gives gives goals on Read, Pray, Love.  I am super excited to start this as well.

You can find information on The Proverbial Homemaker here.  I also follow her on facebook as well- she does share alot of great resources!

My devotion time right now is studying along with a blog series from A Virtuous Woman.  The topic is on finding the joy in homemaking.  It's helped me find my focus again!  I can't wait to see the rest of it!  She also has a great planner too, that I am seriously thinking about changing to when my Erin Condren is done at the end of this year.  You can see it here.

More information about A Virtuous Woman's series on finding Joy in Homemaking can be found by clicking here.

Lastly, I am just reading through the word.  There are many guides and outlines for reading through the Bible online.  I at the very least get my Proverbs and Psalms in for the day.

I hope you will check some of these resources out and are as blessed by them as I have been already this year!