FAITH

4James 1:2-4 (New American Standard Bible)
2(Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,
3knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.
4And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.



I have had a blessed week, at times tough but I always reflect back to when Dan and I had to go through some serious trials losing things that we thought were important. Once I reflect on some of life's pains we experienced I am thankful. I am thankful, over and over again. I am thankful to have gone through those pains. Now when life throws us a lemon we choose to walk WITH God and NOT with the world.

Dan has had a particular tough week, he has been in a major “FUNK” as he says. We usually balance one another out and I love that about our relationship. I love the verse above, because we have to keep the faith always and that is what our marriage does. When I am down Dan reminds me and vice versa.

So today honey, I continue to pray that you know God has an amazing week ahead for you and many blessings.

I Love You Daniel LeVeque

From the Inside Out

( I picked the picture of the color pallet above, because I believe that no matter how much we change the outside, if we don't change the inside our spirit will grow darker and darker. We have to change both. We have to seek him so he can change us from the inside out there is no other way to change ourselves without giving it to Christ).

I was reminded this weekend about the fixing from the INSIDE OUT. It was through my conversation with my aunt that I thought about this song. My Aunt wants her house to get painted since Dan and I are painting our house. She said this, I asked my son but he said no the outside needs to be painted first. She said but that's what I want.

I thought it was strange and I wasn't sure why but then as I couldn't sleep in the middle of the night I kept thinking about what she said. I asked God to reveal to me why this is sticking to my heart. Then it hit me, he was more concerned in what the outside of the house looked like to other people but wasn't concerned or it wasn't as important as the inside. I know this is just a house however, we do that with ourselves daily. We sometimes are more concerned with our outward appearance that we forget about the inside. We have to work on both the inside and outside appearance they should flow together.

If we walk with Christ the two should come together beautifully. Right now I am on a journey working on changing the outside of me, making me healthier and taking care of the gift God has given me. However, in order to do that I have had to do some changing from the inside out. I know that God brought this to my attention because I am going through some growing pains as we speak. I so love this journey I can't even begin to express how much I love it. I see changes in my mind, body and spirit and I love it. I love it more when he talks to me like this !

The song verse below says it all.


Hillsong "From the Inside Out"

My heart, my soul, Lord I give you control
Consume me from the inside out Lord
Let justice and praise become my embrace
To love You from the inside out

The song verse above says it all!

New Wardrobe and Loving It !!!

Well, I love the life changes that are happening I actually love my closet!!! My closet looks like this picture above with all different sizes but now I am heading down in size and my clothes are fitting better and it is the greatest feeling ever. I woke up today and I tried on this beautiful blouse and it fit. I was dancing around I was so happy. My dogs looked at me like I was crazy Dan came out of the restroom and said are you okay? Then he noticed the new blouse and said new clothes? I said yes Praise God !!!!

I know this is all God, I couldn’t have done this without him I gave it to him. I daily have to give it to him to keep me going!

CRAVINGS

I am having a lot of different crazings lately. No not the ones for chocolate,ice cream or bread bur for more excercise. Is that crazy HA HA ??? It is for me, never would I think I would want more shred time lol but I do. Twenty minutes isn't enough I feel that I can do more however, I need to take it slow and and not get burned out I just need to move forward and keep going and work hard. As my good friend says "Its all good"

2 Samuel 22:33

33 It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect.

Jeremiah 29:11 Fits for this New Birth Year !

Eating Clean

Well, I didn't think I would ever hear myself saying this but I can't wait to start eating clean again. Dan and I celebrated my birthday all weekend, we did so many great things and we even stepped away from eating clean for a few days. We didn't over indulge we split every meal choose to have tea rather then soda but I can tell you I can really feel the difference from eating clean to eating "JUNK". The Sugars and Salts and anything processed I consider "JUNK"

So today we are back on the eating clean plan and I am so excited to do it. We also started out a new workout program of Jillian's Last Chance Workout it is so good ! I love it, I feel pain in every part of my body the good kind of pain! HA HA!



New Year


Well, now that I am another year older I have lots of personal goals for myself:

1) Seeking God more daily

2) Getting more involved in serving God

3) Being a better wife

4) Take more photography classes and by middle of next year start w/weddings again.

5) Start to get back into Soccer by October of Next Year.

6) 3rd Most IMPORTANT ONE being in the best physical shape I can be in!

7) ALSO GOING ON A MISSION TRIP

I have lots of goals and I can't wait to see God move in my life it will be fun and exciting. We serve and awesome God!


11'For I know the (A)plans that I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans for (B)welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a (C)hope. Jeremiah 29:11

FEELING GREAT



Dan and I are FEELING GREAT you know like Tony the Tiger GREAT! We are truly feeling good and making lots of changes and we really can feel the changes and it has been a huge blessing.

We do attribute the way we feel to the way we have been eating and exercising. I know, it has only been 7 days into the eating clean program. However, I don’t feel sluggish or tired after I eat I feel fueled and ready to go. We are only doing this for 30 days, but I am sure this will impact the way we eat from now on. I listed below a few recipes and I hope you enjoy them. We are being really creative these days. We don’t feel deprived and that is a good thing just eating fresh.


Listed below is one of our eating clean recipes I hope you enjoy it!

Eating Clean Recipe

3 Slices of 12 Grain Bread (day old to crumble)
1 Large Egg (beaten)
1 tsp Garlic Pepper
Flour (for dredging)
1 tsp of Chile Flakes
12 Slice of Chicken Breast

Crumble Bread and place in a dish and set aside, beat egg set aside in a separate bowl. Place flour, Garlic Pepper and Chile Flakes in a separate pan mix. Dip Chicken strips into flour then into egg mixture then dredge through panko bread crumbs, (I would also put garlic pepper in the panko bread crumbs). Then place on cookie sheet and spray the olive oil pam on them and cook for about 15 Minutes on each side and spray each side until it is crispy. It is a easy and good recipe.


The Dish below is not my recipe but it is a good one and I hope you enjoy it!


Ingredients
• 3 good-sized sweet potatoes, scrubbed and trimmed of fibers
• 1 1/2 cups / 360 ml apple juice
• 1/3 cup / 80 ml agave nectar
• 1 tsp / 5 ml ground nutmeg
• 1 tsp / 5 ml ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp / 5 ml freshly grated lemon zest
• 1/2 tsp / 2.5 ml sea salt
• 3 Tbsp / 45 ml best-quality olive oil
• Juice of one half lemon
Preparation
1. Preheat oven to 375ºF / 190ºC.
2. Prepare a large baking dish by spraying with Eat-Clean Cooking Spray or a touch of olive oil.
3. Place sweet potatoes in a saucepan and cover with water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and let simmer until just tender. Don’t overcook the sweet potatoes – you want them a bit firm. They will finish cooking in the oven.
4. Drain sweet potatoes and set aside to cool. Peel if desired. Cut into rounds 1/4-inch thick and lay them in the baking dish. Don’t overlap the pieces of potato.
5. In a heavy saucepan place apple juice, agave nectar, nutmeg, cinnamon, lemon zest and salt. Simmer over low heat for several minutes. Add olive oil and lemon juice. Stir well. The liquid should now be syrup. If not thick enough, simmer a little longer. Pour the warm syrup over the sweet potatoes.
6. Place the baking dish in the oven and bake the sweet potatoes for 20 minutes or until hot and fragrant.
7. Serve hot.

"Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear and respect the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones." Proverbs 3:7-8

Wow, it has been 6 days of eating clean and I really do feel better. Is it easy? It has been. We have gone from no frying, canned or boxed items at all, to everything fresh. For instance we are going to make spaghetti it will be fresh not from a can and not from a Jar. I was shocked to see all the things that are in a Jar of Spaghetti. For instance the average intake is 2400 milligrams of sodium a day however, the older we get the less sodium we should take in.

One of my favorite spaghetti sauces I use has 450mg of sodium then I add a package of seasoning and that has 650 mg of sodium and then we add the Parmesan Cheese and that has 150 mg of Sodium WOW that is 3650mg of Sodium and we have even added the noodles or the meat and that is just one meal. Yes, I know your not going to eat the entire meal but lets face it Americans eat more then a normal portion as it is. If I divide it up into 4 servings we are consuming at one meal 912.50mg of sodium in one meal. We know that on aveage that is on the low side because as I stated earlier most americans don't eat the correct portion of food. With that said, that still puts us over by 300+ mg of Sodium a day. I haven’t even touched on the sugar or any of the chemicals that are in jar or can of spaghetti.

Dan and I are only doing this for 30 days, however I will do my hardest to be more in tune with what I am putting in my body. I will still like to have all the yummie food I like but I would like to do in moderation because I love cooking. I don't want to go back to eating the way we did or intaking all the sodium and sugar we have done. We wonder why we all feel so tired and people have high blood pressure becasue we are killing ourselves. After all what do we have to gain ? EVERYTHING!!



Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 2 Corinthian 5:17

The next 30 Days

Woo Hoo , we have made it 30 days of the Jillian Shred so now we are on the road to 60 days of Jillian and we are going to eat clean for 30 days. Meaning no processed foods,less sugar intake. We never eat salt however,looking at all the foods there is so much salt and sugar in processed foods. So we will see how the next 30 days goes. I keep praying for God to lead me and protect and help me get through this because I know without him I won't be able to do this.

"The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song.
Psalms 29:11

LET THE PACKING BEGIN

Oh the joys of packing! Why is it that Dan, can pack so light and I have so many clothes and every kind of shoe possible? However, the best part of preparing for a trip is that I get to buy some new clothes. He is so good at keeping us on a budget and that he even remembers to stash a little for my 3C's (CAMERA,CLOTHES AND COSMETICS) In that order!

Maps, Maps and more Maps

Our house if full of maps!!!

Dan went to AAA and got every map under the sun! It will be an adventure that is forsure! I sure hope we don't get lost. Oh wait we will have the maps! I think I will just use my GPS on my blackberry and save a tree! wish us luck !!! =)





Jerh 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Road Trip to Texas

Jeremiah 29:11 (New International Version)
11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future

We are so excited to take off on our trip to Texas. It is going to be so fun! We are going to visit some of Dans family on the way and the best part will be that we will get to see our son graduate.

We will post pictures of our adventure on here daily. It will be a adventure because we decided to take a little longer trip and drive. However, we will be with God so it will be amazing forsure!

So please keep us in prayer in this week as we prepare for our ROAD TRIP!!