Chelli's Giveway

Chelli is having an awesome giveaway.  It looks like a great way to study the Bible.  She's a homeschooler - and even though I don't home school I would love the teen study to do with my son.  Check it out!

7 Layer Dessert

This is one of my husband's favorite desserts.  It's a plus that it's so easy to make.  I'll be making this for him this weekend and thought I'd share the recipe.

7 Layer Dessert

Crust:

1 stick butter, softened
1 cup of all purpose flour
1/4 cup chopped pecans

Middle:

8 oz package of cream cheese, softened
1 cup powdered sugar
1 cup cool whip

2 (3.9 ounce) packages of instant chocolate pudding
3 cups milk

Toppings:

1-2 cups cool whip
Additional chopped pecans
Coconut
Grated chocolate

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 

In a bowl mix together the flour, pecans and butter until the mixture resembles cookie dough.  Spread into the bottom of a 9 x 13 baking dish.  Bake for about 20 minutes.  Cool completely.

Mix together the cream cheese and powdered sugar until well blended.  Add 1 cup of cool whip and mix together.  Spread this over the cooled crust.

Mix together the two boxes of pudding with the 3 cups of milk until thickened.  Spread over the cream cheese layer.

Spread the remaining cool whip over the top.

Add a layer of chopped pecans.

Sprinkle grated coconut over the top. 

Add a layer of grated chocolate.

Cover and refrigerate.

Checking In

It's time for me to let you know how I've been doing working towards a healthier me.  I was a little nervous about getting this all started.  But it started pretty smooth.  I decided to tackle exercise before food choices and portion sizes.  I read somewhere it helps get your metabolism going and is a good way to start the change.  I really don't know if it's true or not but knew I had to get myself moving. The good news is that I was able to uncover the exercise bike in the garage and get myself going at 5 AM at the beginning of the week.  The bad new is that over the weekend I hurt my back.  Not exercising.  I'm not sure how I did it.  But for the last 3 days I haven't been able to do much or even move much at all.  I was really nervous to jump on the scale this morning.  But I have a start! 

Today's weight:  176
Starting weight:  178
Loss so far:  2 pounds!

I'm pretty excited about the start now to just keep it going.

Still going strong in my Read the Bible in 90 Days Plan and I also started the Colossians Bible Study this week with the Good Morning Girls.

All in all it's been a good week even with the back injury!  

This Week's Dinner Menu

I plan out my menu each week.  But sometimes it's hard to think of what to fix or maybe it just seems like I'm in a rut.  I thought it might be helpful to post the dinner menu for the week.  Not only to remind myself but also to give someone else an idea and hopefully others will join in and post their menus.  Maybe we can help each other make this an easier task.  I'll also be sharing some recipes along the way. 

This Week's Dinner Menu

Monday:  Grilled Pork Chops, Broccoli and Corn on the Cob

Tuesday:  Beef Stir Fry

Wednesday:  Ravioli, Salad, French Bread

Thursday:  Beef Burritos

Friday:  Leftovers or Eat Out

Saturday:  Chicken Wings, Celery and Carrot Sticks

Sunday:  Steak, Baked Potatoes, Green Beans and Salad

Working Towards A Healthier Me

As I mentioned earlier part of the purpose of the blog is accountability for me.  I want to become more complete, whole, energized, connected, focused and healthy.  That's a tall order!  And it can only be done a step at a time. 

It's really not rocket science.  I just need to do the things I know that I should do.  I'm sure I'll be learning new things along the way, but really there's a lot that I know I should be doing that I'm not.

Inspired to Action has a great free e-book that gives tips to starting the day out right with prayer, Bible Study and exercise all before anyone else is up - at least that's the goal. Along with that I'm joining the Good Morning Girls' Bible Study on Colossians.  If I can get going in the mornings first thing, then no more of the "oh, I'll do that a little later."  A little later usually means it's not happening - - at least for me.

Once I have these first things in place first thing in my day, I think I will be able to focus more on things like eating healthier and portion control. And then on to some other areas of my life that needs some focus. 

I saw Meredith's blog a few days ago.  I think we share some of the same goals.  So I'm  linking up with her and will be updating my progress here on Wednesdays.

Starting Weight:  178

Thanks for the encouragement Meredith!!!!!  We are in this together.  Please join us.

Meditating on His Word

I wish I could tell you I'm calm, cool and collected.  But the reality is I'm a worrier by nature.

About a week ago I came across a tip from a fellow blogger.  I wish I remembered who you were, but I don't.  I'm really sorry.  She was using this tip to help her memorize scripture.  I don't think she said which passage she was memorizing.  But I've had a couple of family emergencies lately and have been a bit frazzled.  I really needed to remember that God is in control and that He is with me - no matter how things looked.  So I used her tip to help focus my mind on Him and not the situation.

Her tip was to read the same passage of scripture each hour on the hour 8 times a day for 8 days.  I know it sounds like a lot but it only takes a minute or two to read through a passage.  I set everything aside and focused all my attention on really reading the passage and meditating on it each hour.  The result:  peace, calm and security. Even though my passage was something I had memorized long ago, just focusing on the words and really taking it in brought the calm I needed.

Read with me from His Word....

"The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.  He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quite waters, He refreshes my soul.  He guides me along the right paths for His name's sake.  Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.  You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.  You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.  Surely Your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever."  Psalm 23 (NIV)

 I hope that you'll try this tip, and if you do I'd love to hear about it! 

What's on your bookshelf?

I love to read.  I hope to share with you some of my favorite authors and books, and I hope you will share your favorites with me as well.

There is a wonderful series of books by Robin Jones Gunn called the Sisterchicks Series.  If you have not read these books, I encourage you to grab one!  You will laugh and cry.  And then run to find the next one in the series!