Give yourself a pat on the back...

I mean it. Do it now. Do it....... there ya go! Great job! You deserved that pat! For what? Something. I'm sure of it.

Over the last few days, I've been trying to be more mindful of how I'm nourishing my body. I am not on a certain plan or system and don't intend to be. I'm simply making better choices. Well, in the last 3 days, I've weighed in...3 times. 😆 You're not supposed to do that, but I can't help myself. We already know I have issues, right?
Anyway, today when I got on the scale (mid afternoon mind you), I was down 5 lbs.  I don't care if it's water weight, it's 5 pounds people! I turned around, smiled big and gave myself a big ole' pat on the back and said "you're awesome!" No lie. I did...and it felt great! And I'll tell ya, it's made making good choices this afternoon much easier, cause I want to be able to do that more. It felt good to tell myself I did a good job... and really hear it.

Listen- you deserve to know when you've done something awesome. Even better, you deserve to give yourself some credit and say, "yeah I did!" and give yourself a proud pat on the back!

I don't care whether it's something super ginormous like a promotion at work or something itty bitty like not freaking out when a spider crawls across the floor, be proud of yourself!


If you helped your kids with their homework and didn't say a bad word

For doing the chore you  hate that no one notices anyway.

If you cooked dinner tonight and 3/4 of your family members ate it

If you made a phone call you were scared to make

If you stepped on the scale and were down even just 1 pound

If you managed not to strangle someone (which means you also stayed out of jail today)

PAT THAT BACK!

YOU DID THAT! No one else...YOU! That's awesome!

We cheat ourselves out of this a lot. We are told not to be prideful, but I really feel like there is a difference in feeling pride in something we've done and being prideful. Prideful is an attitude of arrogance or "being better than", but have pride in your work simply means you are proud of what you've accomplished. What you do matters!

Today, I want to do something a little different. After you read this blog, I want you to share it on Facebook. Then, in your share, I want you to give yourself a high five for something you've done today. If you're not on Facebook, add it to our comments section below.
 Shout it out! Let us hear it! Show yourself some love! You don't have to wait for someone else to give you the credit. Sometimes, just being able to really give it to ourselves means more anyway.

So...what did you do today?

Her gypsy soul...

Last week, I shared with you more about our oldest, Katie, and her love of archery and the fight she's fought with reaching her goals. If you haven't checked that out, I want to really encourage you to. It is such a story of determination and something, even as adults, we forget about sometimes. 

Today, I want to tell you about our littlest, Abby.

It's funny how when you're expecting your second child you tell yourself this insane lie that the second will be like the first. I'm sure it's because there is a lack of experience, but none the less, we assume they'll behave the same way, think the same way, even look somewhat the same.

But oh how wrong we are and we certainly were when Abby arrived.

Katie was very timid as a little one. Cautious, quieter, more inquisitive than investigatory. She questioned everything (and still does, just in that obnoxious preteen way) ;)

Abby, however, is her complete opposite. She was the one climbing on the couches, getting into stuff she shouldn't and has the energy we all wish we could bottle. It would be easy to label her as hyper or a wild child, but it's not unpurposed energy. She knows exactly what she's trying to do. 

Raising Abby is such a different experience than raising our oldest. Admittedly, an overwhelming one when we'd been used to quiet, reserved Katie.

I mean how could two girls raised in the same house with the same parents be SO different?

I remember a day last year as we were driving to church where Abby made me really appreciate who God created to be. I was trying to talk to her about something and I could tell she wasn't paying any attention. Super frustrated, I said, "Abby, why aren't you paying attention to me?"

She replied, "Because I'm busy looking at the world."

*gut check*

In that moment, I got it. I understood, better, my girl. It wasn't that she was purposely ignoring me. She was busy looking at the world, taking it in, seeing what it has to hold for her. 

And that's what she does. Constantly. She is more of what we need in this world. Her day revolves around making people happy and is rarely seen without a smile. She also has her very own sense of style and it is very...unique. :) But in her words, "She makes it look good." 

It also isn't rare to see her busting a move wherever there is music. School, stores, often an impromptu ballet in the living room and she couldn't careless who's watching. A prime example of her personality is found in last year's basketball pictures for school. The first picture she had to pose as they directed. The second, they said she could do whatever she wanted. So she did this...

  The her, the more people watching her do her thing, the better...because she's making them laugh. We joke and say that the rest of us are just in Abby's movie acting as supporting cast. She just truly loves life. She also loves others well.

Abby doesn't like seeing people struggle or upset. She doesn't hold grudges or stay mad long. She cares deeply for her friends and loves Jesus a whole lot. Outside of the normal frustrating kid stuff, she is such a light in an often dark world.

As a mom who admittedly really values being still and quiet, I have to be careful not to dim that light when I need her just to be calm. That's not who God created her to be.

Does He expect her obedience? Absolutely! Does He want me to change who she is? No.

I tell her all the time when I'm working on correcting bad behavior that I don't want her to change who she is, just how she's acting in that moment.

You see, Abby, just like Katie, just like me and just like you, is created the way we are for a purpose. I've talked before how we all have a place or purpose in this world. There are things Abby will be able to do  that Katie won't because of their individual personalities and vice versa. If I make Abby feel less valuable because she just won't sit and be silent, then I could possibly be cheating the world of what God has planned for that exploring soul of hers. Her little gypsy soul.

We call her our "wide open spaces" girl (referring to the Dixie Chicks song of years ago). 

So while I get frustrated, tired and some times a little crazy from the whirlwind that is our Abby Grace, I wouldn't want her to be any other way. I pray that God reminds me in those times that He loves her and is creating in her someone who has a big purpose in His plan. That I find balance in training her up without dulling her spirit. That I remember that some times, it's okay to be more like her.

She is confident. She is loving, She brings joy. She is bold. She seeks adventure. She loves Jesus. 

She's busy looking at the world.

Look at the world baby girl. It needs more of you in it. 

Thursday Yummies...

I. Love. Food.
I really do. Too much maybe, but I just love great food.
Through our travels with our Scentsy business and family trips, we've been able to travel to some awesome cities in the US and really get a taste for what they have to offer. Every time we travel, I do research on places on the way and in our destination city that offer the best eats. If I'm going to waste calories, I want it to be worth it.

I also want to raise great eaters and so far, sans preteen hormones ("I hate this today, but will probably love it tomorrow"), they do a pretty good job of not being chicken nugget and french fry kids.
From the day they started being able to eat table foods, we introduced things that were different than typical kid food. We also implemented a rule in our house called the "No Thank You Bite".
If I cook something they're not so sure about, they have to at least take one bite. At that point, they can say no thank you and then their choices are a PB&J or whatever is  in the cabinet they can easily fix.
This rule has been great for our table because plates they'd immediately whine about and turn their noses from, get that one bite and, 9 times out of 10, finish with clean plates. They just need to try it.
You might not like everything, but you could be missing out on something awesome just because it looks funny.

That being said, there are some things I am picky about. Chili is one of those things.
I grew up hating chili. Greasy, sloppy, full of mystery ingredients I couldn't identity...no thanks!
It wasn't until I'd been married a few years that I decided to give it another try. I asked friends for their favorite recipes and saw one that didn't look scary. I made it the next day and that was it. This chili...this chili I could eat every darn day.

Over the years, it is the go to recipe I make when a cold day is upon us, for family Christmas, or for those occasional chili cook offs. It is so simple, but is so full of flavor and so far, is a pretty great crowd pleaser, even for the pickiest of eaters. It's a recipe my kids get super excited about and can even make themselves now, which makes my heart super happy. If you're a beginner cook, this recipe is for you!

So today, with another cold snap upon us here in Oklahoma, I thought I'd share the recipe with you. My oldest would protest as she feels like it should be a secret family recipe, but since someone else shared it with my first, I feel it's only right to pass it on.
Should you decide to give it a whirl, I pray it warms your belly and puts a miserably full, satisfied smile on your face.

Ingredients

1.5 lb of ground beef or ground venison

1- Large can of tomato soup

1- Can of red kidney beans

1- Can of chili beans

1- Can of Ranch beans

1 packet of taco seasoning

Optional: diced fresh jalepenos or red pepper flakes if you like your chili to have some heat 

Brown meat in a pan and drain well. Really well. We don't want greasy floaters in our chili.:)

In your crockpot, combine your tomato soup, beans and taco seasoning.

Fill your empty tomato soup can half way with water and pour into crockpot.
Stir well.

Once meat is browned and drained, add to your crockpot

If you like your chili spicy, add your jalepenos or red chili flakes to taste.

Cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4.

You can also do this same recipe on the stovetop in a deep pot and simmer on low-med heat for 15 minutes. Since everything is already cooked, it's ready when you are.

If you like your chili to be thicker and not soupy (we prefer thicker), take a cup of water and add a couple tablespoons of cornstartch. Mix until all the clumps are gone and 

then add to your crockpot and stir. This will thicken your chili.

With that, dinner is ready! 

We love to top ours with sour cream and shredded sharp cheddar on top. 

I recommend making a double batch and putting one in the freezer for those surprise snow days or whenever the craving hits.  The bonus of this recipe that if there is any left after dinner, it's even better the next day.

Do you have a food that you hated as a kid, but love now as an adult when you were able to make it your way? Let us hear about it in the comment section! Happy Eating!- Amanda

Proverbs 31:25

Resolution. Blech. Even the word makes me want to break it.

Hi there! My name is Amanda. Sworn resolution non-maker (is that even a thing?) 

 I mean, I get it. I get the desire to start things when a new year begins.

It's freshness, purity, a blank canvas waiting for us to make our mark.  The idea that we have a brand new set of 365 days waiting for us to own them, but what is it about "making a resolution" that immediately makes our guts want to turn into rebellious little children being asked to clean up our rooms. "NO!" "NEVER!" (said in a gravely pirate voice waving my sword high into the sky in revolt).

So resolutions aren't my thing. 

Last year, I tried the trend of choosing a focus word. Can I tell you a secret? Come close.....I don't even remember what it was. #focuswordfail

Listen, life happens. Words come into my head and then other words fall out. It's how my brain works. 

This year, I have big goals though and for big goals to be reached, there has to be a plan of action, right? Now, I could make a resolution to achieve these things, but let's go back to paragraph 1 of this post...ain't happening. 

Focus word? Nope. We've also discovered that won't work. 

So what do I need to do to be able to walk boldly into 2017 with my head high, shoulders back and a list of things on my "Let's Rock This Year" to-do list?

I look to the Word.

This year, I chose to find a scripture that best not only spoke to my heart, but also desires I have for this year. Some of those desires will be simple. Easy to grab a hold of and own. Some, eh, not so much, but how important it is to have a little of both.

Today, in my first official blog post, I want to share it with you. Whomever it is that decided to click and read this while taking a bathroom break. (I won't tell anyone)

See, this blog, in itself, is part of one of those goals. To write again. To share my heart in a way that isn't translated as well on social media. To encourage, to bring laughter, to bring joy and to let you know, on the days where you feel like you've gone absolutely bonkers, that there is that blogger gal who's crazier than you. In that, I hope you find comfort. 

With that being said, I give you now, my life verse for 2017. 

May we take this walk together with strength, dignity and laughter...    

Do you have a resolution, focus word or life verse for this new year? Share it with us!