Take every thought captive..

Every thought. Every lie. Every hurt. 

Every rejection. Every fear.  

 

    EVERY. 

ALL OF IT. 

CAPTIVE

And think on THESE things which  are true, these which are noble, and right. What is PURE, what is lovely, what is admirable. Whatever is excellent or praiseworthy... think about such things.

I am accepted... Psalms 139:1-6

I am someone's child... John 1:12

I matter... John 15:16

I have purpose... Jeremiah 29:11

I am a friend of Christ...John 15:15

I am justified... Romans 5:1

I am confidant... Philippians 1:6

I am satisfied... Psalms 107:9

I am free... Romans 8:1

I am redeemed... Job 19:25

I am cared for... Matthew 6:26

I am secure... Romans 8:28

I am complete... Colossians 2:9-10

I am healed... Isaiah 53:5

I am beautiful... Song of Songs 4:7

I am chosen...Ephesians 1:3-8

I am loved... John 3:16  

Keep carrying me Lord-Pt 1

One night I had a dream...

I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord, and across the sky flashed scenes from my life. For each scene I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand; one belonged to me, and the other to the Lord.    
Scenes like when I was 6 years old and my daddy grabbed me so hard he broke the blood vessels in my arm and then threw me into a wall-he was on the phone.. I was being too loud. I was 8 years old and curled up on the top of  my dresser staring out at the night sky crying and praying for a new family. I had my headphones on and was singing along to Carmen's "hunger for holiness". There was the scene in the hospital room when I was 9 and my mother prayed out loud that my daddy would die during his open heart surgery. Then she packed me up and we moved  away while he was still in the hospital recovering. I was 11 when I sat out in my backyard of overgrown weeds and sang songs like Rich Mullins "Step by Step" to the Lord well into the night. I was 12 when my mother encouraged me to "date" a 16 year old and then later called me a whore because of it. I was 13 and worked 30 hour weeks to pay my mother's bills. I was 14 and stood in a courtroom while my mother lost her rights to parent me, and my father signed his rights away. I was 15 when I legally became the foster daughter of a couple who never loved me. I was 16 when I fell in love for the first time. I was 17 and anorexic - I wanted to be thin and beautiful and make my foster mother proud to call me hers.  I was 21 when I got married. I was 22 and had my first son. My foster dad wrote me off , bye, see ya, have a nice life, all the while saying he was called to "father this generation". I moved across country from everything and everyone I had ever known.  I was 24 when I watched my biological father, who by all accounts was a complete stranger to me, die, and I attended his funeral alone. 5 months later I was told I had a 40% chance of losing my 2nd child during the course of the pregnancy, and that I ought to consider an abortion. And a few months after that I spent a week with my oldest in a children's hospital after he was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. I was 25  when I delivered a beautiful perfect and healthy baby boy that a specialist told me to abort. I praised God for that precious baby! I was 26 when my oldest spent 3 days in the PICU due to diabetic complications.  I was 27 and on the other side of the world when he spent another week in the hospital.  I was 28 when I left my two children for 3 months to finalize an adoption that I wish we’d never pursued to begin with. I was 29 when my heart broke in a million pieces. When my children had their innocence stolen and when I was betrayed and used by someone I considered to be like a mother to me. When I had finally had enough and "happily ever after" fell apart for the world to see, judge and criticize. 
 When the last scene from my life flashed before us, I looked back at the footprints in the sand. I noticed many times along the path of my life, there was only one set of footprints. I also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times in my life. This really bothered me, and I questioned the Lord about it. "Lord you said once I decided to follow You, You would walk with me all the way; but I have noticed during the most troublesome times in my life, there is only one set of footprints. I don't understand why in times when I needed you most,  you would leave me. The Lord replied, "My precious precious child, I love you. I would never never leave you during your times of trial or suffering. When you saw only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you."

All those times I locked myself away and cried and prayed and screamed until there was nothing left. When I couldn't explain how I made it out of the locked closet I was hiding in- YOU CARRIED ME OUT. And you'll carry me through now, and always.... I know that because You haven't left me once since I was 8 years old...

 You've been walking with me all this time! 

I needed this reminder

I AM BELOVED. 

Nothing more, nothing less. 

Doesn't matter what I feel.

Doesn't matter what people say.

Doesn't matter where I came from, or what I came thru.

Doesn't matter what the future holds.

I AM BELOVED.

Boys Favorite Casserole Dish

I love this recipe I adapted from clean eating, or cooking light magazine. Can't remember which one it was now... It's SUPER easy, high in protein and low carb, and it's pretty tasty.

Added bonus, the boys all cheer, actually CHEER when we have it. =)  TOUCHDOWN for mama!

You'll need: 5 slices of P28 or 5 cups whole-grain bread-if you can find one with flax in it grab that! Cut the bread into 1 inch "squares"

1 tbsp olive oil

1 pkg low fat turkey sausage. I used the Jeanio Sweet Italian Sausage this time, which is a bit higher in fat, but couldn't find what I typically use.

1/4 cup chopped onions

1 1/2 cup milk - I use almond breeze

1 can green chili's

6 egg whites

1/4 cup Parmesan/ Romano cheese blend

2 tbsp parsley

2 large tomatoes

How to: Preheat oven to 375.
Spray a 9x13 glass dish with non-stick spray and line bottom with bread crumbs.

Remove casings from sausage and brown in skillet along with onion.

Meanwhile, put 1/4 of the milk, and the can of diced green chili's in blender and pulse until finely chopped.
Add remaining milk and egg whites and 1/2 of the cheese and the parsley, pulse until combined.

Pour mixture over top of bread crumbs. Put sausage/onion mix on top. Finish with think layer of tomato slices. Use your hand to press tomatoes down until covered with liquid mixture to moisten. Sprinkle remaining cheese on top of the tomatoes and bake until puffed and golden brown, about 40-45 minutes.

Enjoy the deliciousness!

Thanks Pinterest!

I now have to find a way to clean these up, otherwise I am SO gonna have to indulge as is. Recipe compliments of: http://www.seriouseats.com

I LOVE peanut butter! =)

Peanut Butter Ice Pops

Notes: If you want to add more flavor but don't fancy chunks of bananas in your pops, you can also blend them into the Peanut Butter Ice Pop Base

If you add the mix-ins to the molds before the ice pop base, you may need to tap the molds to remove any air bubbles. If you add them after you pour in the base, you risk a little overflow.

If you add the chocolate chips to a vertical mold, they will most likely sink to the bottom. To solve this problem, if you are using a mold that has individual cavities that are removable from the base, try leaving it on its side in the freezer for a half hour or so until it is semi frozen. Then, place it in the vertical mold holder and all of the chips will not sink to the bottom of the mold / top of the ice pop.

Special equipment: blender, ice pop mold

Ingredients

yield: serves 6, active time 20 minutes, total time 5 hours

• For the Peanut Butter Ice Pop Base:
• 2 cups lowfat vanilla yogurt
• 1 cup milk
• 1 1/4 cup smooth peanut butter (I used Peanut Butter & Co. Smooth Operator)
• 1/4 cup honey (optional)
•  
• For the Berry Swirl-In Base:
• 1/2 cup lowfat vanilla yogurt
• 1/2 cup raspberry, strawberry, or blueberry preserves
• 1/4 cup milk
•  
• Freeze-Ins:
• Mini chocolate chips (I used two tablespoons per pop)
• Sliced bananas (I used about three 1/2 inch slices per pop)

Procedures

1. To prepare the Peanut Butter Ice Pop bases, combine the yogurt and milk in a blender and pulse until smooth. Use the lowest setting to continuously blend the mixture and gently add the peanut butter by the spoonful and then stream in the honey (if using). Transfer the ice pop base to a large mixing bowl and clean the pitcher and repeat process for the Berry Swirl-In Base.
   
   
2.  To prepare the ice pop, fill each mold about 2/3 with the Peanut Butter Ice Pop Base. Gently add the Berry Swirl-In Base until the mold is almost, but not quite full. Remember that the ice pop handle’s stick will take up some of the volume, and the liquids will expand slightly during freezing. Use the tip of a spoon or butter knife to gently swirl the contents of each cavity, lightly scraping the inside walls of the mold to create a marbled or swirled effect.
3. Freeze for at least four hours or until firm. To unmold, run outside of mold under warm water and then gently pull handle. Enjoy immediately.

Quick Savory Soup

This was originally supposed to be a recipe I tore out of a clean eating magazine-yes, the magazine was mine. ;p

However, after coming home from the grocery store I realized I'd forgotten to get about 1/3 of the recipe actually called for. I'm told this will happen more frequently as I get older. Not looking forward to that. 

Anyhow, I decided to improvise and create my own soup. I must say turned out pretty good, although I'd add zucchini or spinach next time around. 

You will need:

2 Tablespoons Olive Oil

1 Cup Chopped Onion

2-3 Tablespoons Minced Garlic (I LOVE Garlic-feel free to scale back here)

1 Package Sweet Italian Turkey Sausage (Casings removed)

2 cans Vegetable Broth (You can sub Chicken or Beef, I just happened to have Vegetable in the pantry)

2 cans White Beans (rinsed and drained)

1 can Diced Tomatoes

Heat pan over Medium High Heat and add Olive Oil, Garlic, Onion and Sausage. Cook until Sausage is browned. Add broth, water, tomatoes, and beans. Bring to a boil. 

Add 1 Tablespoon Grated Parmesan as a garnish. 

*Optional-when adding beans, just add one can. Take the second can and puree them - then add to broth. This will give the broth a thicker consistency. 

Enjoy!

So.....

Aidan got his first Valentine (from a GIRL) yesterday.... Augghhhhh!!!! Mommy was not ready for that. 

During his Valentine's party, the upper-class students were delivering "candy grams" and they brought in a bunch to Aidan's class to distribute to various second graders. Before I knew it, he was holding this:

Then the mama of the little girl, says "She insisted, there was no getting out of it. I think someone has a crush"

So.... I asked Aidan more about this particular girl. His response? "She's a really great encourager mom"

Awwwww! How sweet is my little bug!?!?

Then he decided he should give her something in return, made a card and inserted his $5 bill inside. I suggested he make something, or come up with something that involved a little more thought. About 10 minutes later he brings THIS to the kitchen:

A lego rose! Ok ya'all, my son is absolutely precious! I mean just look at this thing. 

And then his sweet little card:

 He was very careful to write "from, Aidan" and not "love, Aidan". 

He says to me, "mom, I don't want her to think I want to be her boyfriend or marry her, so I can't put love on the card. And plus I only write that on Virginia's cards." Then I got the explanation of the difference between "liking" and "LIKING" someone... I love his innocence! Can he stay this way forever. Please!?