![]() Have you heard of Operation Underground Railroad- O.U.R? Dare I say I'm like the average American that gets so caught up in my life and my little bubble that I keep blinders on to what I allow in my life. Yesterday rocked my socks, in a good way. Fifteen minutes was all it took for my heart to be broken and tears streaming and the fire lit in me to do more, to be a vessel for God and to not just be a sidelines person. I implore you to listen to this. I don't care what way you lean on the political spectrum, If you allow yourself an open mind and heart, the first fifteen minutes will rock you too. So what is Operation Underground Railroad? It was founded in 2013 by Tim Ballard, a former Special Agent for Department of Homeland Security. He now serves as the CEO, Founder and Jump Team Commander in working alongside the world's experts in extraction operations and in anti-child trafficking efforts to bring an end to child slavery. So what is an Abolitionist? It is the terminology used by O.U.R. to make a commitment to make a difference - to donate monthly. Even $5/month makes a difference. If you're not able to donate financially, there are still other ways to make a difference in the numerous ways to volunteer. If you'd like more information, check out their website- www.ourrescue.org There was also a great article recently about a Utah family stepping out to serve in a big way too!. Check it out- here. In addition, there is a film- The Abolitionists which is about the rescue of 57 children from sex slavery and the arrest and incarceration of 7 traffickers. Watch the trailer. Matthew 25:40- Go be Holy.Be.Youtiful, friends!
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These are great to make when you have bananas that are ripe and you don't want to waste them. Plus, great for a grab n' go snack!
You’ll need: 2 ripe bananas 2 cups rolled oats ¼ cup almond butter (or peanut butter, or your favorite nut butter) ¼ cup honey 2 tablespoons mini chocolate chips ½ teaspoon cinnamon . Mash up the bananas in a large mixing bowl. Stir in the rolled oats, almond butter, honey, miniature chocolate chips and cinnamon. Scoop about 2 tablespoons of the mixture and roll into a 1-inch ball. Repeat with the rest of the mixture. Refrigerate for 2 hours, allowing the oats enough time to soften. Store the energy bites in the refrigerator. It's probably more of a rhetorical question.
As I was driving and listening to a podcast (which I often do for personal development), I heard a question posed similar to this. It made me ponder the same for myself. There is the obvious- female, wife, mom, daughter, friend, etc........ and then there is the not so obvious to everyone.......dislikes seafood, loves brownies and donuts, enjoys thrift shopping, prefers showers over baths, has never had a pedicure....... All of the above make up parts of who I am BUT what defines me? Shortly after my first babe was born, hubby and I received a heartfelt card from someone offering words of wisdom. How motherhood (fatherhood too) can make you feel isolated, lose sight of who you once were, define you in a whole new way and you begin to find your identity in your child. We were encouraged in the card to continue to make other things a priority in the new season, such as our marriage. Those words have brought comfort to me over the years when I've had the mom-guilt with other competing priorities. One thing I'm certain of is that I'm not the same girl from 5, 10, 15, 20 years ago. There may be some underlying qualities that are the same but my opinions, viewpoints, confidence, self-image, interests, hobbies, priorities, etc. have all shifted in some degree. So as I thought about this question, my answer is simply, I am evolving. Each day is a fresh opportunity to mold who I am under the definition of whose I am. I am fearfully and wonderfully made and you, my friend, are too! <3 Ingredients:
SERVES: 24 (1 ball each) Prep Time: 20 min. Cooking Time: 8 min. Parchment paper 1 cup all-natural smooth peanut butter 1 Tbsp. cornstarch (preferably GMO-free) ¾ cup coconut flour 2 Tbsp. pure maple syrup Hot water 8 oz. semisweet chocolate, 62% cocoa or higher, chopped 2 tsp. extra-virgin organic coconut oil, unrefined Directions: 1. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside. 2. Combine peanut butter, cornstarch, coconut flour, and maple syrup in a medium bowl; blend well with a spatula until mixture forms a uniform dough. 3. Using clean hands, shape dough into twenty-four 1-inch balls; place a toothpick in the center of each ball. Place on prepared baking sheet. Refrigerate for 20 minutes. 4. Fill small saucepan with 2 inches of water; bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to low. 5. Place a heat-proof mixing bowl over saucepan. Add chocolate and oil. Stir for 2 to 3 minutes, or until just melted. Make sure water does not splash into the bowl. 6. Remove balls from refrigerator. Hold a ball by the toothpick and dip into chocolate, swirling to completely coat. Return to baking sheet. Repeat with each ball. (For any uncoated areas, coat carefully with a spoon dipped into chocolate.) 7. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or until chocolate has hardened. 8. Store in airtight container in the refrigerator. TIPS: • You can also melt the chocolate in the microwave. Place morsels and oil in microwave-safe container. Microwave on 50% power for 30 seconds; stir. Microwave for an additional 30 to 45 seconds or until just melted. Do not overcook. • To prevent the balls from sticking to your hands when you roll them, lightly coat your hands with nonstick cooking spray. Courtesy: Fixate, Beachbody The Beachbody Health Bet is BACK!!!!
Our Beachbody Health Bet starts January 9th and ends February 5th. What do you need to do? 1. Workout 3 times a week (does not have to be a Beachbody Workout) 2. Drink Shakeology 5 times a week and take a picture of it. 3. Log both of the above in The My Challenge Tracker App on your phone from January 9th to February 5th to qualify for your piece of the $2M pot (up to $3M). That's it! Do you want in? Message me as soon as possible. I will make sure you have exactly what you need and get you added to the group! It will be full of accountability, support, recipes and prizes. Don't miss out! From my family to yours..... Merry Christmas!
I pray your day is filled with memories that make your cup runneth over in abundance! May your lights shine bright, the carols be loud, the laughter be continuous and the food delicious! Holy Smokes! When is the last time you busted out the crayons, pencils and markers?
Our family time is cherished , especially during the weekends, and we decided to change it up this past weekend and COLOR! It was so fun to look through all the books, choose pictures and color to our heart's content. I forgot how relaxing it was to color. It made sense to me why the adult coloring books became such a hit last year. (Do you have one?) We had fun. We laughed. We poked fun at each other. We will definitely be coloring again soon. Especially during this busy season, it was enjoyable to slow down. And you know what? The entire family loved it. It wasn't expensive. It didn't require use to drive anywhere. It was all about making memories as a family. I hope during this season you can find joy in the little things too! ![]() Chances are you’ve only used ice cube trays to freeze water, and that’s cool, but this under-utilized kitchen tool has a lot more potential when it comes to healthy eating and reducing food waste. Not only can you use ice cube trays to capture ingredients at their freshest (adios, powdered garlic) but you can also use them as a portioning tool as most hold about one tablespoon per well. Ready to get freezing? Here are 10 smart ways to fully appreciate your ice cube trays. 1. Pesto Don’t let homemade pesto go to waste. Instead, freeze it into individual ice cube-sized portions. Once the pesto fully freezes, pop out the cubes and store them in an air-tight bag or container to free up the tray. Then, when a pasta dish, roasted vegetable, or egg recipe calls for pesto, simply pop the frozen cube into a pan to defrost it. 2. Tomato paste As luck would have it, many recipes call for just a tablespoon or two of tomato paste. Instead of tossing what’s left over or freezing it in a big chunk in the can, separate the extra paste into individual portions. Coat an ice cube tray with non-stick spray and scoop one tablespoon of tomato paste into each well. Use the cubes as needed to add flavor and depth to soups, sauces, and casseroles. 3. Herbs Tired of using dried herbs when a recipe calls for the fresh version? Freeze fresh basil, cilantro, parsley, mint, and other herbs. Fill an ice cube tray about three quarters of the way with chopped herbs, then cover with water, oil, or broth. While the herbs’ appearance will change, their flavor will not. 4. Minced garlic or ginger There’s nothing fun about chopping up garlic and ginger every time you want to add aromatics to a dish. The next time a recipe calls for ginger or garlic, chop the whole garlic bulb or ginger root, and freeze whatever you doing use in an ice cube tray. Most recipes don’t call for large amounts of these ingredients, so consider using a smaller tray to create smaller portions. Add some oil or water to the well so the chopped pieces bind together. Once frozen, store the cubes in an air-tight bag or container in the freezer. Incorporate the flavorful cubes into soups, stews, and veggie dishes. 5. Lemon and lime juice and zest Fresh lemons and limes are great, until they sit in the fridge too long and dry out. Squeeze out the juice when the citrus fruits are fresh, and then freeze it in an ice cube tray. Use the cubes in main dishes, or use them to flavor cocktails, water, and seltzer. You can also save the zest of the citrus fruits, by filling the ice cube well with the shredded rind and adding a bit of the juice to hold it together. 6. Coffee To prevent the buzzkill that is diluted coffee, freeze cooled, freshly-brewed coffee into cubes. Toss them into home-brewed iced coffee for a morning glass of Joe that won’t get watered down by regular ice. 7. Wine The same principle applies here: Watered-down wine (or warm white wine for that matter) isn’t exactly ideal. Avoid diluting your vino by using wine cubes, or add frozen wine cubes to homemade sangria. 8. Eggs Bought too many eggs? Freeze them before they go bad. Scramble whole eggs or egg whites, then freeze in an ice cube tray. When it’s time to use them, take out as many cubes as you need, thaw them in a refrigerator, and cook them up as soon as they have defrosted. 9. No-bake energy bites For a healthy snack or a not-too-filling breakfast before a morning workout, opt for no-bake energy balls. Whip up a batch, like these birthday cake or carrot cake energy balls, and freeze the leftovers into an ice cube tray. This will help them last longer, and they’ll be a cold and refreshing treat that’s easy to take on the go. However, the calories will be slightly different than those in the recipes if the portion size isn’t the same. 10. Single-serve desserts Need a little something to satisfy your sweet tooth? Freeze single-serve desserts, such as peanut butter cups and no-bake cookies into separate wells based on the recipe’s serving size. Before dinner, pop one out and let it defrost a bit in the refrigerator while you eat, then enjoy it after your meal is over. Bonus: Because the dessert stays in the freezer, it’ll be out of sight and out of mind. Courtesy: Beachbody {{ Friday Challenge }}
Find someone to show kindness towards today! It doesn't have to be expensive- think word of encouragement, a smile, a hug, help loading/unloading groceries, opening the door, etc. Go see how many people you can make smile today! People won't always remember things, but they will remember how you made them feel. Make someone feel important, loved and like they truly matter. Go be Holy Be.YOU.tiful <3 The Mr. and I recently had the pleasure to attend a charity event in Dallas for Mercury One. It was a phenomenal experience to be a small part in making a difference in this world and to hear the life-changing stories that are taking place. Women and children being saved from sex trafficking. Persecuted Christians being rescued and relocated away from ISIS. Disaster relief in States.....the list goes on and on.
Mercury One is dedicated to providing love and aid to those in need. As believers in “malice toward none and charity for all”, the Humanitarian Fund enables Mercury One to support those who are in crisis situations. 100% of donations go directly to provide humanitarian aid and relief in the areas of: natural disasters, veteran support, Israeli humanitarian initiatives, human trafficking, and domestic abuse, as well as crisis support. If we want the government to do less, we need to do more for one another. www.mercuryone.org It's so easy to live in a bubble but getting the opportunity to serve others outside of the bubble is quite gratifying. This charity is one we truly believe in and stand behind. Most organizations have astronomical administrative overhead costs so the amount of your donation that actually serves is quite little. We love that 100% that is given to the Humanitarian Fund goes to the efforts! Make sure you do your research on whichever organization you give to! Also, it just so happens that we won a 7-night trip to the Caribbean on a raffle ticket. Saying we were shocked is probably an understatement but a great way to the cap the event! |
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