Cake Mix Applesauce Muffins

For Food Storage Friday I whipped up a batch of these today. I got the recipe over at The American Homemaker. They are delicious!
In my short term storage I have a bunch of cake mixes I got on sale for .50 a box and I'm trying to figure out some different ways to use them up. The applesauce in it is also some I home canned last year.

Get Fit

Did 10 minutes on my step today. Trying to move at a faster pace to get my heart rate up.

Small Thing

Todays Small Thing is to clean your cutting board. Very easy...got out the vinegar and now 2 of them are sanitized and packed in boxes.

Small Thing

Today's Small Thing is to take Isaiah 51:1 and print it off, post it up, or use it as desktop decor. Meditate on the process the Master is using in your life and know that He is preparing you as only He can.

Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness
and who seek the Lord :
Look to the rock from which you were cut
and to the quarry from which you were hewn;
Isaiah 51: 1.

Independence Day Challenge

It’s hard to stay with this challenge with getting ready for our move, but here goes:

Planted something/Community food systems: Cucumbers at the work site

Want not/Prep: We are eating from the freezer and our food storage to lessen what we need to move. Also picked up free grocery bag of asian pears, lemons and zucchini from a neighbor. Added 25 pounds cornmeal to preps (yes, I know I’m trying to pare it down, but it’s driving me crazy to see my food storage dwindling). The cornmeal has been vacuum sealed in jars and boxed to move. Practicing with solar oven.

Solar Cooker Challenge

So here I go adding another challenge. Over at Preparededness Pro a challenge has been issued to prepare your meals in your solar oven for two days. Today I made the rice for our meal and a peach cobbler. This is the second time I've made rice and each time it comes out sticky. It was still edible but I'd like to figure out what to do to make it a little more dried out. Or is that possible? Hmmmm....



The peach cobbler was very good as usual...although I think I'll use a little less butter and none of the juice from the can so it's not so soggy on the bottom.

Clean Heart Challenge

This weeks Clean Heart Challenge is about learning to trust in God. This can be very difficult to do because throughout our lives we learn not to trust in people…we get let down all the time. But, that’s because as people we are not infallible. Your expectations might be that someone you trusted very much has let you down…so maybe God will too? But, we need to remember that God is always there. We may not be able to see it when we are in our most difficult situations, but He is there.

Here is the verse for the week:
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5 (NIV)

And a prayer from The Clean Heart Devotional that I will be praying:

Dear Heavenly Father,
There is so much to done and the task seems so overwhelming. I pray that you would give me the strength to start, and finish, what needs to done. I give myself to you to make the changes in me that need to begin. And as I go about each day this week, I pray that I would not drift from You, but lean on You for understanding and for you to direct my path. I submit myself to You and trust You with my life and all my heart. Direct me Lord. Be there to catch me when I fall, and give me the strength I need to continue on. I trust you Lord. Be with me now and throughout this week, and the rest of the year, as I look to You to finish the tasks that are ahead of me.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.

I hope you all have a blessed week.

Menu Plan Monday

Breakfast: Oatmeal
Biscuits and eggs

Lunches: Leftovers (I’m at work so the family feeds themselves)
Pb&j’s, fruit
Tuna sandwiches, fruit

Dinners: BLT tortilla wraps
Pasta with ground beef/ salad
Spaghetti/ cornbread/ salad


Desserts: Applesauce coffee cake
Peach cobbler

Small Thing

This Small Thing was to do something fun to relax. We went and saw the Eagle (ds25) in this play. It was a very intense play..but, I am so impressed with my sons acting abilities. It is interesting to watch him grow and wondering where this will take him in his life.

Small Thing

This Small Thing is to put away something that doesn't belong. I'm working on my kitchen table that is the family dumping spot. No pictures...way too embarrassing. I'd really like to be able to sit down and eat a meal there. The problem is keeping it clear. We all seem to drop things on it...and once one thing is dropped on it..it becomes a clutter magnet.

Ok...changed my mind...how about an after picture? It took 30 minutes and everything on the table was tossed or put where it belonged. Now to keep it clear...

Get Rid Of It

GROI #15 is cleaning out the silverware drawer. Mine really needed it. Can't remember the last time I cleaned it. I threw out a few things, donated a few knives (didn't put these in the free box because of kids browsing through it) and moved some canning lids. One thing I discovered is I have a number of non-working can openers. I haven't found a really good one that's easy to use and doesn't break after a short time. Anyone know of a good brand? I didn't think to take a before picture...but did take an after picture. Looks pretty good, huh?.

Get Rid Of It

I'm been behind on doing the GROI projects so I'm going backwards in trying to get them done. GROI #17 was to get rid of something you could possibly use some day, but you know giving it away would bless someone else. I couldn't come up with anything specific...but, over the past weeks of decluttering for our move I've realized how much I've been hanging on to stuff because I can always think of a reason to use it in the future. It has felt really good to put stuff out in front of our house to give away instead of trying to sell it at a garage sale. I know that some of the people I've seen can really use what they've taken. And I also know that we just have too much stuff. There is no way I'm going to allow so much clutter into our new home.

Get Fit

I did one set of 12 of these http://www.squeezeitin.com/2009/07/new-exercise-crayon-kicks/

And two sets of 12 of these http://www.squeezeitin.com/2009/07/new-exercise-scribble-and-squeeze/

And, 10 minutes on my step.....

Small Thing

Todays Small Thing is to get your entertainment center together. We don't have an entertainment center, but I have gotten all vhs tapes and dvds in their cases and in the plastice shoeboxes. Can we say organized!

Small Thing

Todays Small Thing was to do something square to improve your home sanctuary. Sooo...I made brownies! My family really liked this assignment. As you can see from the picture...one disappeared before I could even get to the camera.

Shelf Reliance Giveaway

Free on Friday: The Providence Essential Two Person 72-Hour Kit!
Shelf Reliance is excited to offer you a chance to win the Providence Essential 72-Hour Kit. This kit includes supplies for two people.

The winner of this great prize will be ready to go with items like an AM/FM radio, a tube tent, sleeping bags, ponchos, water, and a deluxe first aid kit. You can check out the entire list of included items by clicking here. The pack is valued at $119.99. A great thing about this kit is that it’s designed for a quick getaway. It would be great to keep in the trunk of your car or in a closet by the front door, where it can be easily accessed in an emergency.

http://www.shelfreliance.com/blog/index.php/2009/07/20/free-friday-providence-essential-person-72hour-kit/comment-page-1/#comments

Small Things

Today's Small Thing is to put an ironic twist in your life by doing ONE THING that has been plaguing you. (What have I been putting off?)
Well, there is a bag of magazines that I've been meaning to take to my job so the kids could cut them up for collages. However, the handle on the paper bag broke so it seemed like such an issue to pick it up and get it in the car. It's sitting right in the entry way creating an eyesore. Care to know how long it's been sitting there? Over a month... It's now in the recycle bin. I just decided I needed to get rid of it...instead of telling myself I was going to get them work.

Clean Heart Challenge

I decided to take part in this challenge because I truly believe that you have to be “clean” on the inside before being able to be “clean” on the outside. I’ll be talking to God this week about cleansing my heart of the anger and discontentment that is so difficult to get rid of. Here is the prayer for this week.

Dear Heavenly Father,
I’m so sorry for the things in my heart that have hindered me from doing what you have called me to do. (Take a moment to list the heart issues you need to bring up to the Lord). I have procrastinated and ignored my duties, things have piled up, and I’m suffering, along with my family, because of it. Lord, please forgive and my attitude toward keeping my home. I’ve looked at it as a burden, instead of a blessing and a way of showing Christ-like love towards my family. Please help me as I pursue cleanliness in my home, to find peace in my heart. I pray that as I seek You throughout this journey, that you would reveal to me any issues in my heart that may still need to be addressed. Please guide me Lord and help me to get my home in order, but most importantly, let my heart be one that speaks of selflessness, happiness, and contentment in my words, as well as my actions. Create in me a clean heart Lord, and bless me as I pursue a clean home as well.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen

Prayer is taken from a page in the Clean Heart devotional.

Get Fit!

Today I took the dog for a 25 minute, brisk walk. I'm gonna have to start going earlier (before 9) because I was sweating and Abby was panting pretty quickly into our walk.

Also did one set of 12 of this... http://www.squeezeitin.com/2009/07/new-exercise-towel-time/

Peanut Butter Balls

Todays Food Storage Friday recipe was very simple. The Hawk (age 14) actually put together this one. This recipe uses only three ingredients...peanut butter, powdered milk and honey.....one cup of each. Yummy!

Technology

I really enjoy being on the computer and all that the internet has to offer. I've decided to use my love of Twittering and reading others blogs to help me get more organized and in better shape.

I've been using Twitter already to record some stuff I'm doing, but I'm going to use it more on a regular basis to record things that are "done." I'm following Fly Motivator...she sends out reminders on Twitter that I try and follow. http://twitter.com/FLYMotiv8r

I also follow a number of blogs out in blogland that have different challenges going on. I'll be doing different challenges on different days.

http://www.homesanctuary.com/rachelanne/ I do the Small Things...

http://sharonastyk.com/
I also follow Sharon Astyk's blog and try to keep up with the Independence days Challenges.

http://safelygatheredin.blogspot.com/2009/07/its-tuesday.html
On Tuesdays it's time to look at our 72-hour kits, 3-month supplies, and longer-term storage and on Fridays it's time to test a food storage recipe on the Safely Gathered In blog.

I'm trying to get back into shape, so I'm going to have four days out of the week for some form of formal exercise. I will be following several blogs that emphasize getting fit.
http://www.squeezeitin.com/
http://fitnessistaworkout.blogspot.com/2008/08/august-24-2008.html

http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/aCleanHeart/ This a wonderful devotional blog...

Starting August 1st I will also be doing... http://www.reviveourhearts.com/pdf/30DayChallenge.pdf

I'll also be doing Kathi's Project as she posts them...http://blog.kathilipp.com/


Think I've got all areas covered? :)

Organization

I've been trying to figure out a way to use this blog to help me get a little more organized. I figure I'm on the computer so much I should it well. More later....

The What Ifs?

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about why it is so difficult to make a full commitment to some things. Why is it that we do “just enough” but can’t give of ourselves 110%? Why do say “yes” in our heads that we’ll commit to something then find ourselves doing just enough to “get by"?
I believe it’s fear that holds us back…of failure, of being hurt, of not being right all the time…

This impacts everything we do. We may avoid relationships or we don’t fully give of ourselves in ones we are already in because we are afraid of getting hurt again. We set ourselves up for failure when trying to lose weight because we’ve tried it so many times over and it always comes back. We set up situations in our jobs that cannot possibly come out well. We take on project after project knowing that there’s no way we can successfully do them all.

But, it doesn’t have to be that way. God doesn’t want that for us. He doesn’t want us to have a spirit of fear, but a heart filled with peace.

For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
2Timothy 1:7

Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.
John 14:27

Vegas pictures

I finally was able to get the pictures off my camera of our trip to Vegas. Sorry, but they're not the best quality because I have a cheap digital camera.



Wind turbines on the ride down at 6 in the morning.



The Excalibur hotel is beautiful all lit up.




This is the ceiling of the Bellagio. They're glass flowers. Stunning!

Out of shape!

We just got back from several days in Las Vegas. That place is pretty spectacular but it sure feels good to be back home. One thing I learned while I was there is that I am terribly, terribly out of shape. If you want to see all the beautiful displays and shows they have going on in front of the hotels you don't drive...you walk. There are just too many people. We did so much walking up and down the strip...I can't believe how tired I was. And it was a little embarrassing because I had to ask dh (who is in great shape) and ds14 (also in great shape) to slow down because I was having a hard time keeping up. This is so ridiculous.... I have to stop making excuses and get myself in gear.
I got a stairstepper last week from a Freecycler. I pulled it out today and pulled some Youtube videos on the tv (thinking I could time myself by how long the videos were). Hmmm...I did 8 minutes...yes, that 8 minutes and I was so out of breath I had to stop.
I don't know what's happened to me. I used to be in pretty decent shape.

Challenges

I haven't been posting the challenges daily but I have been doing at least one or two of them each day and they are making a big difference.

GROI Challenge So far I've cleaned out my inbox, gotten rid of 21 things (some really gross!) from the fridge and cleaned out my purse.

Independence Day Challenge: I've been using the solar cooker regularly instead of the oven. I read in one of my books that you can't burn something in a solar cooker. Well, you may not be able to burn it, but you can sure make something inedible. Sunday, when it was 111, I put out some pork chops to cook. normally they take 1 1/2 to 2 hrs. I checked after 1 1/2 hrs and they were shriveled up and dried out. The inside of my cooker was 475! I tried again on Monday when the temp was 99 and they turned out juicy and tender after 1 hr and 15 minutes. Lesson learned: Don't wait to use your solar cooker...there is a learning curve just like there is in gardening.

Shmily Challenge: Yesterday we ended 30 days of prayer for our hubby's. As I look back I can see the difference prayer has made. It's hard to be mad at someone when you're praying for them (jk). I will continue doing this daily on my own.