great grub 12

This is actually a new one for me...I just made it up last night! It is super healthy and it turned out great. Couldn't ask for more, right? Wrong! It is also a beloved crock pot meal!!! I hope you like my:

Crock Pot Chicken and Black Eyed Peas

Ingredients:
- 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1/2 lb. black eyed peas (rinsed, not soaked)
- chicken or vegetable stock
- 1 onion, chopped
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1/4 tsp. pepper
- garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp. thyme
- 1/2 tsp. rosemary

Directions:
Dump it all in a crock pot, using enough chicken stock or water to cover it, on low for 7-8 hours. I like this dish with carrots and biscuits!

Enjoy!

your hands

Just listen to these words. Such a sweet reminder of God's love for us.
"Your Hands" by JJ Heller

lost and found

"What strength do I have, that I should still hope? What prospects, that I should be patient?"
- Job 6:11

"Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart."
- Psalm 37:4

I learned from a pretty young age not to put much hope in things. Now I am not saying that I had a terrible childhood or anything, but it just wasn't filled with much in the way of hope. I did not know the Lord until I was 12, which I know played a huge part in how I dealt with loss or disappointment or grief. There were big things that made me lose hope, like my parent's divorce and my grandfather's death. Lost hope. There were little things too. There was this time when I thought I was going to be able to spend the night with a friend for the first time...for some reason or another it didn't work out. Not a big deal in hindsight, but devastating at the time. Lost hope. It seems like all these things just added up, and the more disappointments and let-downs there were, the less and less I hoped.

Fast forward a few years when I meet Jesus. He gives me a new song to sing, and a renewed hope in people, circumstances, and life in general. He becomes my everything. He teaches me how to dream and achieve the things He wants for my life. However, sometimes I feel that 5 year old girl mindset just creeping back in. So here in lies my struggle. Go back and read the two verses above.

Some days I feel like this: I am so sick of hoping and being let down. We are promised the desires of our heart right? I don't know God's reasons (and I may not until I meet Him and then I probably won't care! I will be hugging Jesus!!!) and I try REALLY hard to trust Him and His decisions for my life. I have little patience. I begin thinking things like "maybe I am not reading my bible enough" or "maybe I need to pray more often" etc. Yes, these things are both true. Then I remember that what God gives me is not based on what I do for Him. All my righteous acts are as "filthy rags" to him!!! I didn't earn His love, His grace, His mercy, His forgiveness, and the list goes on! It's not like school where you work hard and that hard work pays off in the form of a good grade or even a scholarship. Why can't I get this through my head? Like my pastor says, I am human and I leak. I leak all the good stuff that I get from reading His word, praying and hearing from Him.

Other days I am just thankful that He loves me. I am happy that He wraps his arms around me and comforts me. I am glad He keeps me from harm, hurt, and rejection. I trust His plan for my life. I also know that He is never the cause of my sorrow. He is the source of everything that is good in my life.

My question is, why can't I feel like that more often? Or all the time? Why does my gratefulness fade over time and I revert back to old ways? Why do I lose hope in a God that commands the universe?

The answer? Selfishness.

I am a selfish and ungrateful person by nature. I choose to lose my hope, it doesn't just happen. The worst part is I know when I am doing it and sometimes I don't try to stop it! Man do I just love a Heather pity party.

So where does that leave me? On my knees. Actually on my face on the ground asking for forgiveness and feeling utterly unworthy of it. Slowly God is changing my heart, even though I go kicking and screaming most of the time.

Slowly He is teaching me to hope again. In Him, not in anyone or anything else.

Found hope.

hold my heart

This song just sums up how I feel about 90% of the time.


inexpensive etsy 8

Halloween can be a little controversial. I prefer to think of it as a fun day to decorate your house and let your kids dress up and eat candy, end of story. So here are a few super cute halloween-y things I found on etsy this week!



One of my favorite things to do growing up was to help my mom paint the windows in our house for Halloween! (We used tempera paint, don't worry!) Basically this transformed into a full blown love for decorating throughout the seasons. I think this pillow from TheMaterialGirl would look awesome at my house!







I fell in love with this little cloth pumpkin from SeaPinks as soon as I saw it. This is one of those pieces that could last all the way through Thanksgiving too!








That is all for now! Happy shopping!!!!!

great grub 11

Remember those recipes mom used to make when you were little? I am the oldest of 4, and there were a lot of times we didn't have a lot of money and my mom had to be pretty creative. Those recipes (which she dubbed "mom surprise" when we asked "what's for dinner?") have become some of my favorites! Thanks for some awesome recipes mom!

Texas 'Taters

Ingredients: (recipe for 2, can be doubled)
- 2 large baking potatoes
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 1 Tbsp. butter
- 1/2 cup salsa
- salt and pepper
- 1/4 lb. ground turkey, cooked (optional)

Directions:
Bake potatoes in the oven for 1 hour or until soft. Allow potatoes to cool to the touch. Split the potatoes open on top, being careful not to ruin the shape of the potato. Scoop the inside of the potatoes out into a bowl, leaving the skin intact. Add the rest of the ingredients into the bowl with the potatoes, excluding a small portion of cheese. Mix all ingredients well and the scoop back into both potatoes. Yes, they will be overstuffed! Top with the remaining cheese. Place back in the oven for 5-10 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Enjoy!

life coaster


When I think about my walk with Christ I often wonder why we call it a "walk." I mean to me it feels much more like roller coaster, with ups and downs, highs and lows, twists and turns. The only part that is different is the fact that I won't end up right back where I started. Even though I may be anxious on this "ride" I can rest in the fact that I will learn and grow in the knowledge and love of my saviour.

So basically I equate my life to a roller coaster on a continuous upward climb with a few dips along the way. I think part of the journey is figuring out how to still rely on God during the ups and how to not lose faith in him during the downs. Theoretically we should get better at this the closer we get to the "top." Yes, we will backslide (technical difficulties) but it all part of the ride.

Where is God on this roller coaster? Well he is the vehicle I sit in, my seatbelt, the track, the electricity that is needed to run it, etc. Most importantly, he is my best friend sitting right next to me throughout the entire ride.

Remember, the front seat is always the best ride!