Gratefulness. My List of 1,000 Things to Be Grateful For. (Ongoing)

        


                                                       Blessings come in all kinds of packages!!


             So, I have heard so many sermons on being thankful. I've read blogs on being truly grateful. Goodness, one of my favorite songs to sing to the kids is "Count Your Blessings". I really only sing the chorus to it when they are falling asleep ( one of the songs they like).
            It all makes me wonder, am I truly thankful for what I have. Do I consistently yearn for more? What am I modeling for my kids? Are they content and grateful? Well, we really had a test recently about being grateful for things, money, etc. And a few times we have been tested by how grateful we were for health as well as the little things. We know that God has blessed us with everything that we have. Every breath we breathe, every heartbeat, every second of everyday, God has blessed us with. I have seen photos of people in Rwanda and other 3rd world places that people walk for miles to get water. That isn't our life. If we have to drive 6 miles to a grocery, to choose what we feel like eating this week, we get frustrated. My husband and I have an ongoing debate as to which Trader Joe's to go to. The one that is 1.5 miles or the one with the nicer employees, and better parking that is 2.5 miles (can you tell which side I am on?). This is a luxury problem. Not even a problem. Why do I forget or overlook that it is a blessing to disagree on which Trader Joe's to go to. Some people don't have a grocery or the ability to choose what they eat even. I don't need to preach to you. I am just putting my own heart in the right place.
            With that said, I know many people; celebrities, teachers, preachers, friends, even family, have encouraged us all to write down what we are grateful for, or maybe what makes us happy. I have a friend that for the month of February, wrote everyday on what she loved. So, I have really thought about this and have decided that I, as well as my kids, (we'll see if hubby wants to do it) will be making a list. (I know I love lists). The list will be 1,000 things that we are grateful for, thankful for and count as a blessing. Big things, little things, anything.
            I will keep a running list here of mine and share some of the kids blessings they write down as they come along. I'm sure they will come up with some great ones.
I will add to it as time goes one. I am wondering how long it will take me to get to 1,000.


             My Blessing List!

1. Clean Water
2. Clean air to breath (used to live in Corona! Stinky and smoggy).
3. toothbrushes and toothpaste
4. my incredible husband
5. my wonderful children (I never dreamed of having 4!)
6. a warm house to live in
7. a car that is paid for
8. my ocean view
9. being saved
10. our church
11. dear friends 
12. a full pantry and refrigerator
13. a great natural Doctor
14. Dr. Bob
15. the beach
16. internet
17. chocolate (I would put sweet tea but, I am fasting from it right now. I'll save that one).
18. my car that is big enough to put everyone and still have room for groceries
19. Trader Joe's
20. Heat (it's cold today. Ha ha! 55.)
21. home-schooling
22. pounds dropping (albeit slowly) from the scale
23. My grandmother is still alive and my kids have been to her place. (wish we could go more)
24. That I can pick up the phone and talk to my mom 
25. Showers
26. swimming pools
27. books
28. The Bible
29. Prayer
30. Learning a lesson quickly rather then banging my head too many times first.

Well, here are the first 30. It may take me a good long while but, I really think that this is a fantastic exercise for each of us. I am hoping to do some everyday but, we'll see if that happens.

Really, They Were That Good!!

Who knew they could be so yummy?!

          



            I never thought I would say that my family loved brussels sprouts. But, I found a recipe from my favorite blog, A Year of Slow Cooking , or as I remember her as The Crock-pot Lady.  I get the best recipes and ideas from her. You see, I have always liked my crock-pot. Then as I had more children, less time, and more mouths to feed, I started using it more and more. My friends actually think my fondness for- my crock-pot is a little strange, but, they always call me when they are looking for a particular kind of recipe. Now, I don't like the retro recipes with the onion soup mix and the cream of whatever soup. I use it all natural and fresh just like when I cook regularly.
              O.K. enough background. Here is this weirdly yummy recipe that I got from Stephanie O'Dea (which is her real name).

BRUSSELS SPROUTS


(I actually doubled everything for my family and there was only 8 sprouts left. I'm not kidding.)
1lb brussels sprouts
3 TBL Butter (I used a little more. I wonder if you could use Olive oil instead).
1TBL Dijon Mustard (Used Trader Joe's Aioli Garlic Mustard Sauce)
1/4 tsp Sea Salt
1/4 tsp Black Pepper
1/4 cup water

Directions:
Use a 4 quart slow cooker. Wash and trim the ends off of each sprout and cut in half.  Put everything in the slow cooker. Cover and cook on low for 4 hours or high for 2 to 3. When it is all done mix it well so the sauce gets on all of the sprouts (we had a few with too much mustard). The edges of the sprouts and the pot will get a bit brown and crispy looking. That is exactly what it is supposed to do.

Enjoy. I am not exaggerating when I tell you that only one small dude didn't enjoy them. He did eat them though. Everyone else (including my husband who hates brussels sprouts) had seconds. Little girlie started stealing little dudes when he was talking. I am not making this up. We made 2 lbs and I put 8 sprouts in a container for left overs.

Well, let me know if you make this and how it turns out.

The Daniel Detox

          

My Daniel Detox

           I have been MIA for a long while. I am finding it difficult to get on my computer when there is so much going on around me. I am going to make an effort to blog again. So, here I am. Last time I was here it was just turning into the holidays. Always a busy time for us all. Rather than skip back I will move forward from where I am at now in life.
           I just finished a 7 day body detox. My church is doing a church wide health change. It is obviously voluntary but, it is a good way to change your health. (It is part of their Decade of Destiny). They have brought in 3 big name Dr.s to come up with the menus, and all of the particulars for us. There is a website if you want to look at what they are doing. The Daniel Plan 
          One of the Dr.s involved, Dr. Mark Hyman, has written several books and is a believer in functional medicine. Basically, the belief the food can heal you as well as make you sick. I agree with this belief. So I started looking at his books and found out he published one that was a 7 day detox or a kickoff to his other diet plan. The 7 day detox is called The Ultra Simple Diet . Well, it is all about toxicity and inflammation and getting rid of those things in your body that make you feel bad as well as fat. It is a lead up to his other book, Ultra Metabolism .
           I was going to use this detox as a worship or fasting for God. I knew that doing this by myself (my husband got pneumonia and couldn't do it completely) was going to be next to impossible with 4 kids in the house. Not to mention the sick husband. I tried to recruit others to do it with me but, only got one taker to do it at the same time. My dear friend jumped right in. I really think it went great. It wasn't so hard until half-way through day 4 and all of day 5. I was exhausted and grouchy. Terrible grouchy. I had already given up my sweet tea (for the time being) several weeks before. As well as sugar, most gluten, and processed foods. This wasn't the hard part. (Although, I still think about drinking my tea on a daily basis). I wanted to eat something, anything other than brown rice and vegetables. I was tired of chicken. The usual problems on any diet. Well, I made it through with lots of  prayer. I fizzeled out half way through day 7. I was done. I texted my friend- "DONE. I am through."
          She calls (she was a day behind me and now that was 2 days she didn't have a companion to dream of chocolate), "You can't be done. I need a partner. Misery loves company. I'm Misery, you are company. Get it!?"
           Well, I should have blogged the adventure but, I was wanting my sweet tea and looking at the title of this blog made me cringe every time I got near doing it. I lost 4 pounds, and a couple of inches on my waist. I felt better day 8 then I have felt in awhile. And I am ready to jump into the next phase of Hymans diet. It should be way easier then the first one so I will be excited I think to do it. The next phase lasts 3 weeks. So, I will blog as I go. Hopefully, it won't all be about sweet tea and chocolate.
           I think tonight and tomorrow in preperation of the next part of my Daniel Plan, I will read and spend time praying about Daniel and remind myself that this is about God and his incredible strength and power. It is about my absolute inability to do this on my own. I want to loose all of the weight that has accumulated over the last 2 pregnancies, and the huge stress of the last 2 years (we all know nothing puts on weight like stress that we have no control over). I also want to feel good. I want to wake up ready to chase my 2 year old and 4 year old around the park. Not just stand there directing where they can go. I want to encourage others that with God's infinite power, you can truly do anything.