the will to go on...

It's been a roller coaster up and down couple a days.

This morning I spent a little time here- to get myself grounded and focused again...

I love this page, the Psalms, my notes, reminders of God's care and provision and prayers answered. <3

• And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.  Philippians 4:19 ESV
• Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us... Ephesians 3:20 NIV
• I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.  Psalm 27:13-14 NIV

Random Puppy pic~

I kinda derailed myself yesterday.  After eating the below {delicious} popcorn for my afternoon snack I realized I had totally screwed up. Well not totally, every thing I had eaten was healthy and on the plan. But not paying attention I had messed up the container counts. Putting me over one yellow (at that point) however instead of making good dinner choices- I was frustrated and had tacos... with chips and salsa. And ... then ate some coffee bean M&M's followed by BB coffee at DD.

But I'm trying to get things back on track today.

Lunch (yesterday):
  Loaded Sweet Potato -can be made ahead of time and reheated (just keep yogurt mix separate)
• 1 medium sweet potato
• 1/8 cup fat free Greek Yogurt (plain)
• ¼ tsp taco seasoning
• ¼ tsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• ¼ red bell pepper, diced
• 1/8 onion, diced
• ¼ tsp. chili powder
• Pinch of paprika
• Pinch of cumin
• Small pinch of salt (kosher or Himalayan)
• ½ cup of canned black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1/8 cup of salsa
 • 2 T shredded low fat cheddar
• sprinkle of green onions

Directions:
• Poke holes in the potato with a fork, cook on your microwave’s potato setting until potatoes are soft and cooked through (about 8-10 minutes on high for 4 potatoes). If you don't have a microwave, bake about 35-40 minutes at 400°F.
• Combine yogurt and taco seasoning in a small bowl, mix well.
 • Heat oil in a small pan over medium heat. Add peppers, onions, chili powder, paprika, cumin and salt; cook until the onions have caramelized slightly, about 5 minutes. Add black beans, stir to combine and heat through (about another 5 minutes).
 • Slice the potato lengthwise down the middle, use a fork to pierce the top in an oval shape, then remove the top of each potato. Top with 2 tbsp shredded cheese, black bean mixture, 2 tbsp Greek yogurt mixture and 2 tbsp salsa of salsa. Enjoy!

On Saturday I made this Spicy Thai Shrimp Stir-fry- It was really yummy! I also made the same thing with chicken as well as we don't all like shrimp....both were equally yummy!

I have started a pin board of Successful 21 day fix recipes!



-You're invited! Feb 24 at my house- followed by a virtual reveal on the Facebook Event =)

Want to have your own party in February? I still have a few dates left! Message me for details and to reserve your bonus prize! Remember you don;'t have to love close by! As long as you are in the great USA we can party together ONLINE! =D

FREEZE OUT

Last night was our first race of the year!  I ran it with my mom, brother and sister-in-law.

I started to get nervous when I was freezing all afternoon at work and then walked outside into the wind and was like "holy crap- its SO COLD!"  I opted to add an extra layer.  I was wickedly nervous- I don't know why.  Its not like I'd never run a 5K before...and in fact had run this very course before- twice.  

Mom got us all these sweet light up gloves.

Pre race selfie

Outside- pre race- FREEZING.  The wind was so so cold.

I struggled a little bit but kept telling myself- it was all good.  I was outside...I was running (mostly), I helped raise money for the Rescue Mission.  I was enjoying my family.  All good.  

Official Results-- just a few seconds slower than last year... so not too awful ;-)  Even though my bib had last years age... not sure why.  Mom and Becca's did too.  Goal-- to get my pace back down in the 11's this year...and then 10's.  Placed 199 out of 307.  So definitely a back o the pack runner...But hey I was out there! And for today I am happy with that. As I was running I was thinking back to those runner envy days in Quntico when I never dream I would actually be a runner.  That fateful night sitting around Grammy's kitchen table when Eric told my sister and I that he and his sister were running a Half Marathon that summer and I got the crazy idea in the head that maybe- just maybe I could run a 5K?  The rest is history.

Post race- #happyhappy

Team Nemitz

Mom and Dad-- pretty much the best people on the planet!  Thankful my Dad- he always comes out and spectates when he can <3

Last Year's Recap

Dinner was mostly a fail.  The crock pot quiche ended up being way over cooked and very unpalatable. I might try it again and just have Mik put it in after school on high- or forego the crock pot all together and do it in my trusty RockCrok instead ;-) We were all pretty disappointed as quiche is one of our favorites. You win some, you lose some I guess.  As a result I ended up eating mini tater tots and then a cupcake. :-/

This guy- he cracks me up.

He also kept me company while I did Yoga-

Steps- Meh- I definitely lost the daily competition.  But apparently its a record for me...Let's see if I can beat it today  ;-)

This morning was Total Body Cardio Fix-

...followed by greek yogurt and strawberries.         

Rhett opened his new supplement order and gave me his freebies. #Ifeelsoloved

Tomorrow's Freeze Out! So excited- first race of the year!

Complete SideNote: There are some really awesome things in my Pampered Chef OUTLET right now!! Go check it out!!  I'm trying to get to level one in the FREE-FOR-ALL again this month! When I do I will give away another NEW spring product at my Spring Reveal!
**Outlet orders are online only and CANNOT be added to a Party order**

Today will be better

“It was a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.” 

― Judith Viorst, Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

Yesterday was just one of those days.  I found myself completely discouraged and overwhelmed- to the point of tears. It was a bit ridiculous but I just could not get a handle one it.  The afternoon was a bit better than the morning. It was everything and nothing.

• It was the day before payday $$ I was feeling the crunch
• I found out I have to take Mikayla for an overnight interview/event at Houghton- the whole thing so very overwhelming- leaving me wondering if I am have some much trouble just with the application/acceptance process how the heck are we ever going to be able to send her away. Emotionally. Physically. Financially. Trying to trust and not overthink everything.
• I feel like am falling behind on everything.
• The kids were home, which always makes me miss the days I could be home with them :(
• I'm sick of my hair and glasses

But its a new day I guess. The world is still spinning. I'm still alive and breathing. So there is that :)

I made broccoli soup for dinner last night--- another 21day fix win

Quiche in the crock pot for dinner tonight--- this is before.  We'll see how it turns out.

Another Cafe Latte shake... so looking forward to getting my new bag of vanilla.  I'm a little sad I didn't particularly care for the cafe latte...as evidenced by its the only one left.  I thought it would be my fav.   Vanilla seems to be the most versatile  flavor.
  

Veggies and dip for an afternoon snack.  The dip is simply Greek yogurt with a sprinkle Pampered Chef seasoning... I used Chili Lime Rub- my favorite and sadly discontinued flavor.

A friend and I started competing in our daily steps.  Mine have been pretty pathetic... but I was excited to have already gone well beyond yesterday's steps before 10 am... maybe there is hope yet!  Although truth be told- I didn't really start counting until after lunch yesterday since my phone spent most of the morning sitting on my desk. Any tips on getting those steps in when you sit at an office desk all day.

snow day =/

For Today... {Tuesday, January 24}

Outside my window... winter is back- snow and ice. Lucky kiddos got a snow day!

I am thinking... its going to be a looooooong day

I am thankful... I made it to work safely, so did the Mr and the kids are home, safe, warm and snug.

I am wearing... my favorite new comfy cozy sweater my mr gave me for Christmas

I am creating... happily quilting away--- hopefully some quilt time tonight.  I was hoping to finish it by out February date but I don't think I'm going to make it...shooting for March

I am wondering... why some days seems so much harder... when really nothing is different

I am reading... Simply from Scratch a library find

I am hoping... tomorrow will be better

I am learning... about prayer. =)

In my kitchen...



A peek into one of my days... Chance loves stealing your seat if you  leave the room.  Even if he was already on the couch, he'll move into your spot when your back is turned.

One of my favorite things... going HOME

A few plans for the rest of the week: Freeze Out 5K on Friday! Jazz night on Saturday.

From the board room {Pinterest}... * A reminder I have needed over and over today :/

Pinned: amen

This is WAR

Last night we began our new session of Moms Connect. I hope I did an OK job.  They say I did. I rather enjoyed it.  We had good discussion. I so love this book.  I love that the study guide is chock full of scripture.  I wasn't sure how to get started but we just dove right into the study questions.

There is a WAR and you are in it!  Make no mistake about it... whether you want to believe it or not- there is a war going on. 

But the important thing is God (2 Samuel 22:32)/Jesus (1 Corinthians 10:4) is our ROCK. The foundation on which to build our very lives and prayers.  Luke 6:47-49-- (S)he is like a house built on the ROCK- STRONG

I love, love, love this verse- If you are following God's ways- though there will be storms- you will not be shaken.

When the storm has swept by, the wicked are gone,    but the righteous stand firm forever.   Proverbs 10:25 NIV

Where do these wars and fighting come from? Uh- our own selfish desires.  So why don't we have what we want? Well (a) either you never asked or (b) you asked with the wrong motives. James 4:1-3

The more you seek and study His Word (truly and honestly seeking) the more you will grow and the more your desires will begin to align with His desires for you.

How do you even know if you are cut out to be a prayer warrior?

In this life we will have many struggles. You're fooling yourself if you think you won't.  Life can be hard! In the midst of it all though we know Jesus is there. Our Rock. Our solid foundation. In the midst of it all we are also commanded to have J O Y.  (James 1:2-4).  If we are trusting in Him we will come out stronger on the other side.  He will give us the strength we need to get there.

"As prayer warriors, we must remember that no matter how hopeless a situations may appear to us, God gives us power in prayer to do something about it.  We maybe overwhelmed by it, but God is not.  We may not see a way out, but God can.  Because of Him, we can make difference!" {Prayer Warrior, pp 17}

The good news is you don't have to fight alone. When you are at a loss and don't even know how to pray- the Holy Spirit is there to stand in the gap. (Romans 8:26)  We also fight and intercede for one another.  (Galatians 6:2, also see page 23, bottom half of the page).  We are to help carry one another's burdens.

I am so thankful for the prayer partners I have in my life.  People I know I can call on at any time and they will lift me in prayer.  Thankful I can be there in turn when they are the ones who need lifting.

Here are the prayer prompts that were interspersed through out the study chapter-

• Write out a prayer asking God to help you build your life on the solid foundation of Jesus.  Tell Him you want to be someone who obeys Him and why.
• Write out a prayer asking God to help you draw closer to Him and away from the world system the rejects Him.  Ask Him to help you be clearly aware of the anti-Christ spirit that is in the world today so that you do not support it in anyway.
• When we pray as prayer warriors, we are not alone because God had called people all over the world to pray as well.  Write out a prayer asking God to raise up more and more prayer warriors who will hear his call to pray.
• Write out a prayer asking God to prompt you when something is important you should be praying about.
• (Read John 17:14)Write out a prayer asking God to help you be a great prayer warrior for Him so you can say those same words to the Lord at the end of your life.

"Start by saying, 'Lord use me as your prayer warrior,'
and the Holy spirit will lead you from there."

-Prayer Warrior, Stormie Omartian pp. 24

Next Week: Chapter 2- Know Your Commander and Stand By His Side

round one- DONE!

My first round of 21 day fix is DONE!  It just flew by. Mostly I enjoyed it- I am definitely feeling so much better-  I lost 5 pounds and accumulative 3 inches. My clothes are fitting a bit better and I just feel healthier over all.  Which is my real goal- of course I'd love to be super skinny with chiseled abs but we all know that's not going to happen :P I really want to feel good, know I am healthy-- doing my best to set a good example to my kids and hopefully get them turned on to some healthier food choices.

The biggest changes being-

• actually getting my butt moving and exercising 5 days a week
• eating breakfast 
• being more mindful of portions
• realizing I am completely full and satisfied with the allotted portions

I finally found a recipe Hannah actually enjoyed. Broccoli stuffed chicken...it was pretty yummy!

This weekend was so gorgeous! It felt like spring!! Chance and I got in another run- we were both pretty happy about it.

Last night I started to get really HANGRY! I was frustrated trying to think of a good snack-- then I remembered I hadn't had a shake yet. I planned to have one after my run but didn't have time before Mom's Connect. Problem solved.  Vanilla with banana and strawberry. =)

Round 2 starts today! I'm pretty excited about it...

Back at my morning workouts today- Cardio Fix... I thought it was never going to end. :P But it did and I feel great now. Plus it makes me hungry enough to actually want to eat breakfast.

Oatmeal for breakfast with a side of Bible reading ;)

Making an effort to do the hair and make up thing this week...

Cafe Latte shake-o this morning...

Looking for a way to try it out and get your feet wet- this 5 day (free) challenge is starting January 30 (next Monday) on Facebook. I'd love for you to join us!

Successful Saturday!

Chancey got his bark box today...we were all pretty excited...

I made a little "office space" so I can more easier access my PC paperwork. I hung up a calendar. My poster I got at National Conference way back in '05 and my incentive tracker- even though I stand no chance of earning the trip... its fun to dream.

I feel like a had quite the productive Saturday.  I also cleared the piano bench, gave the fridge a quick clean, cleaned the bathrooms. Did some quilting. Worked on some pampered chef-ing.  Caught up my laundry and washed my sheets. =)

Chance and I went for a little run...It was gorgeous- 50+ degrees in January!! Yes please! Chance delcined to take a selfie with me.  He laid down in the drive to avoid the camera. :P

Chocolate shakeology w PB and banana.  Super yum!

Mini Meatloaves for dinner- in my brownie pan.  Another pinterest/21 day fix win!

Happy Saturday! I hope you had a great one!

Looking forward to Church tomorrow and Mom's Connect tomorrow night!