Fitness and other stuff

I've gotten lazy the last couple of weeks, so today I'm starting again. 

Today, I did a 60 second plank, and 50 squats. I am going to keep doing that until I get caught up with the month of February and then continue building up again each day.

Using coconut oil, I did oil pulling for 15 minutes while I put rice in the cooker, changed Sarah and did my plank. 

Now I am catching up on some Bible reading and thinking about my day. I need to call mom, and also call the phone company.

Today I read Proverbs chapter 25. Verse ^{28 "}He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls." Self control is so important. What we say or do, especially to others, makes marks both on our on characters as well as theirs. 

1 Kings 21:9 But they hearkened not: and Manasseh seduced them to do more evil than did the nations whom the Lord destroyed before the children of Israel.

Manasseh had no self control and led the people into idolatry by building altars and high places of worship.

On the other hand, Josiah followed God and led the people to follow Him.
23:3 And the king stood by a pillar, and made a covenant before the Lord, to walk after the Lord, and to keep his commandments and his testimonies and his statutes with all their heart and all their soul, to perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people stood to the covenant.

As it was though, they still reaped the consequences of their years of sin, by being taken captive by Nebucchadnezar.

The choices we make always have consequences of good or bad. If we choose Gods way, we show our love for Him and are not separated from Him. If we choose our own way, we are separated from God, and that means death. Satan is a cruel master. 

Psalm 92:12 The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.

13 Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God.

14 They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing;

15 To shew that the Lord is upright: he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.

Our choices have consequences. Who are we going to follow? Who are we honoring and giving glory to?

Last week, I made sauerkraut and it's very yummy. I think I will make more when this batch is gone.

I found this article in my email box this morning about the benefits of the probiotic properties of fermented veges. 

http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_29135.cfm

Wel, time to get moving and make some healthy and good choices, for my health and for The Lord!

Inspiring reading.

Todays Bible reading was so awesome, I just had to share my thoughts with you, my readers.

1 Thessalonians 4-5

These chapters are so full of meaning and promise this morning for me.

4:1 Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.

This is my prayer for myself, and my family and my friends this morning, that we could abound more and more in our walk with God.

7 For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.
8 He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.

When we think that we cannot be holy, we are saying that God is not powerful enough to change us, to make us holy, to guide us into holy living.

11 And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;
12 That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.

Steps to living, successfully. A promise and an encouragement all in one.

The last verses of the chapter are the promise of the resurrections and the soon second coming of Jesus. Amen!
And we know it is coming very soon.
5:2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.

God has given us His Word full of signs and promises pointing to Jesus soon return. We must watch and pray, lest we enter into temptation. This is the way to be ready. The relationship with Him.

5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.
8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.

He is our salvation, and He will keep us safe. We must be clothed in Him, to be saved, to be holy, to live the life He wants us to, to be ready for His soon return.

9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.

And our job is to share this with others to lift them up to Christ, to bring them to Him.

14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.

A list of admonitions that are essential to keeping our relationship with Jesus alive.

16 Rejoice evermore.
17 Pray without ceasing.
18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

19 Quench not the Spirit.
20 Despise not prophesyings.
21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.

22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.
23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

24 Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.

And He does it in us. He sanctifies us, He creates His character in us. He has promised it.

Awesome God!

Yummy things!

So the last few days, I have been off and on with my exercise and smoothies. Definitely need to get back into the exercise more regularly. Smoothies, I just didn't have the ingredients for awhile, since I forgot to go shopping for them. So now I have the ingredients and have had a few of the last ones, with some substitutions since we used up some of them in regular eating. 

I made several different recipes this week.

This one was the makings of a lentil Dal recipe located here. http://www.pennilessparenting.com/2014/01/guest-post-crock-pot-lentil-and-sweet.html

Trying my hand at homemade sauerkraut. We'll see how it turns out.

This was just a leftover dish made of quinoa, stripples, and mixed veges. Seasoned with garlic, onion, chickenish seasoning and braggs liquid aminos.

Today's lunch I followed this recipe,  http://www.nutritionmd.org/recipes/view.html?recipe_id=276

and adapted it somewhat to follow this one here. http://glutenfreegoddess.blogspot.com/2006/03/african-coconut-chick-pea-soup.html

It's almost done, and we can eat it.

Serving this with rice. Yummy!

Today's reading.

I was just reading Ezekial chapter 33 was inspired. It is a clear picture of Gods great love for us. 

Ezekiel 33:5 He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul.

The watchman blows a warning trumpet in case of danger. The people who are saved are those who listened to that trumpet.

33:6 But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman’s hand.

7 So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me.

The watchman is at fault if he does not warn the people of their danger. This is important for us as Christians. If we know the dangers of evil and the safety of salvation and don’t want warn those who don’t, then how can they be saved?

33:11 Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?

12 Therefore, thou son of man, say unto the children of thy people, The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him in the day of his transgression: as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall thereby in the day that he turneth from his wickedness; neither shall the righteous be able to live for his righteousness in the day that he sinneth.

13 When I shall say to the righteous, that he shall surely live; if he trust to his own righteousness, and commit iniquity, all his righteousnesses shall not be remembered; but for his iniquity that he hath committed, he shall die for it.

God does not want anyone to die. He wants all to be saved.
We cannot be save by our own righteousness, but by turning away from evil and accepting Christs righteousness.

33:18 When the righteous turneth from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, he shall even die thereby.

19 But if the wicked turn from his wickedness, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall live thereby.

Repentance is key here. And what brings us to repentance? Not us ourselves.

Rom 2:4    Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

I love this passage here in Ezekial. It shows the plan of salvation so clearly.

2Pe 3:9    The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

This is the good news! God is calling us away from our sin and lawlessness, to forgiveness and holy living, by His Grace! Will we accept? Do we accept His life as ours, daily? Are we heeding His call to repentance? He is knocking and seeking us as a shepherd. Open the door!

Rev 3:20    Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

Jeremiah 3:22-23 (KJV)

22 Return, ye backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings. Behold, we come unto thee; for thou art the LORD our God.
23 Truly in vain is salvation hoped for from the hills, and from the multitude of mountains: truly in the LORD our God is the salvation of Israel.

Ezekiel 34 is a continuation of the salvation story, the shepherds were not doing their jobs at warning the flocks, so many were lost. Jesus himself came and searched for the lost flocks and saved them.

11 For thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out.

12 As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day.

13 And I will bring them out from the people, and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land, and feed them upon the mountains of Israel by the rivers, and in all the inhabited places of the country.

14 I will feed them in a good pasture, and upon the high mountains of Israel shall their fold be: there shall they lie in a good fold, and in a fat pasture shall they feed upon the mountains of Israel.

15 I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord God.

16 I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick: but I will destroy the fat and the strong; I will feed them with judgment.

36 contains the promises of what He does for us after He finds us.

36:22 Therefore say unto the house of Israel, thus saith the Lord God; I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy name’s sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went.

23 And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the Lord, saith the Lord God, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes.

24 For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land.

25 Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.

26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.

27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.

28 And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.

29 I will also save you from all your uncleannesses: and I will call for the corn, and will increase it, and lay no famine upon you.

30 And I will multiply the fruit of the tree, and the increase of the field, that ye shall receive no more reproach of famine among the heathen.

31 Then shall ye remember your own evil ways, and your doings that were not good, and shall lothe yourselves in your own sight for your iniquities and for your abominations.

32 Not for your sakes do I this, saith the Lord God, be it known unto you: be ashamed and confounded for your own ways, O house of Israel.

Food and fitness

Yesterday I made a couple of yummy dishes for breakfasts and lunch and today I made a stew for lunch.

This was a recipe called Sweet and Smoky Tofu. Find it here: http://www.vegkitchen.com/recipes/tofu-tempeh-and-seitan/sweet-and-smoky-tofu-or-tempeh-strips/

This was a yummy oat potato patty made be a wonderful cook friend of mine. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=258808104157327&set=a.108293185875487.5000.100000844183286&type=1

The next one I adapted from here. http://www.cherylstyle.com/showcase/healthy-kale-quinoa-patties-recipe/?utm_source=facebook

It actually worked better in the griddle rather than on the stove because it pressed it together nicely.

I used flaxseed instead of the eggs and nutritional yeast instead of Parmesan. I also didn't have any kale so I used Swiss chard. And for bread crumbs, I whizzed up a couple of gf rice waffles. 

The second batch on in this picture, the light colored one, I used cabbage instead of Swiss chard, and added some oat flour to bind it a bit more.

We served this with salad. So yummy! 

Next time I'll add oat flour, use kale in tiny pieces, and do them in the griddle iron. Should be perfect. We'll see!

Today's lunch. http://ethicaldeal.com/blog/2012/10/lentil-and-butternut-squash-vegan-soup-recipe/#.UtRuo3-9KK3

Serving with homemade popcorn. 

While we were making lunch, the kids were doing various things.

And I did 40 squats and a 60 second plank while Victor worked on unemployment and a time card. 

So there we have it. Someone said, what is the point of blogs? They are boring. Who want to read what someone ate for breakfast? Or what you did all day?

I do. I want to read what I did a year ago, and remember. And I like to see sometimes what someone else had for breakfast. It inspires me with new ideas.

And actually, the same could be said for Facebook or MySpace. Who wants to have a play by play of everything a person does? Not me, usually. But it's fun once in a while to go through and see what other people are interested in, or what they have been doing. Its kind of a public journal and for some a ministry.

That said, I always say, if you find it boring or offensive, you don't have to read it. I am who I am, and the only thing I'm going to change will be what God wants me to change.

Be who you are, and what God wants you to be, not what other people think you should be.

Sabbath rest.

God gave us a day of rest for a reason. He knew we would be workaholics, letting the cares of the world creep into our lives and take our energy and our spiritual relationship with Him away. 

It's hard to have a long distance relationship with someone we may be able to see sometimes. Hoe much harder is it to have a relationship with Someone we can't see. 

But God in the very beginning set aside the seventh day, sanctifying it with His presence, just for us to spend with Him. A date day, if you will. If we don't want to spend time with Him, ok. He won't force us. But how do you have a relationship with someone you won't meet on date day? 

That's like telling the person who you have been writing too forever, that you can't meet them for lunch, when they came all the way from across the country. It's not important to you, thus they are not important to you. 

Anyway, today was a nice, peaceful, beautiful, restful Sabbath day. 

In Sabbath School we learned about Israel following God instructions about the Passover, and how it was to save them from death. The blood on the door posts looked forward to the Lamb on the cross.

In church we learned about being a witness. Our lives are a witness for or against God. Who are we following? Do our lives show that? The only way to be sure that our lives are showing that we follow God is to have that relationship with Him. "Turn your eyes upon Jesus". Deep in the letters of His Word,  and lifting our hearts in prayer, the breath of the soul.

For lunch, grandma had made a yummy nut loaf. Victor made mixed up a batch of instant mashed potatoes and steamed some frozen mixed veges, while the boys decided they would make a salad. So Sarah and I sat and relaxed.

Fitness challenge and doings

Feeling accomplished today.

 I skipped the daily smoothie because I didn't get all the ingredients, but I did make a smoothie for on top of pancakes today.

But I did 50 second plank.

40 squats in am.

40 squats in pm.

30 squats in evening.

We did laundry and got most of it put away. Cleaned the kitchen and living room. Then we worked on the shelter for the pickup and mounted the tv in the bedroom. Put the boys back in their room and washed our sheets. 

So the house is mostly clean, needs some more decluttering and a good vacuum and dusting. The boys did good with helping.

Lunch was supper since we had a very late breakfast. It was Barley and mushroom soup with cabbage. I used the rest of the bok choy and it was yummy. The recipe came from my copy of Love Soup. John decided he wanted to make something 'special', so he recruited Joshua's help and the made a yummy salad, with spring greens, tomatoes, olives, cucumber, avocado and then a dressing of salsa and mayo. 

I think I shall head to bed now. It's late and I have a headache. I've been using thieves/on guard for my cold and it seems to have been working. 

Anyway, I'm glad tomorrow is Friday, cause that means Sabbath is almost here and I can rest. No more cleaning! 

Good night y'all.

Blessings and fitness

Monday

40 second plank

40 squats

2 sit-ups

10 crunches

My abs were sore. I skipped Tuesday and today's exercise. I skipped the exercises because I had the start of a cold and yesterday we had the excitement of a big blessing. 

I missed the smoothie today because I didn't have all the ingredients and was too lazy to figure out one myself. 

Mondays smoothie.

Day 6: Healthy Orange Julius

• 1 fresh or frozen banana
• 1 orange, peeled
• 1 lime, peeled
• 2 cups spinach
• 1 cup almond milk

Tuesdays smoothie

Day 7: Peach Perfect Ginger Delight

• 2 cups fresh or frozen peaches
• 2 cups arugula
• 1 celery rib
• 1-inch piece ginger root
• 1 cup water or coconut water

So, the last couple of days, we have said, we are going to clean this or do that, and then just sat around, or done something else.

Monday, I thought I wrote a post, but it seems to have disappeared. Rats, ok now, I will rewrite it.

We ran out of propane on Sunday. Since we haven't yet paid for the last fillup, and really can't do another, we were just going to wait a week and when the unemployment came in, see if we could get something done about it. 

It was windy and cold, so we built a fire and after the kids finished helping clean the living room, we brought the futon mattress from their room so we could "camp" out there while they are in our room.

Monday, I was cooking breakfast and my stove went "pchizzz" there was a spark and some smoke and the whole thing died quickly. Victor got out the propane camp stove, and I finished cooking breakfast. 

Tuesday morning, as I was standing at the sink, I heard the propane truck pull up. Victor was outside and spoke to the driver. I thought it was just coming for grandma since she had said something about needing to fill her tank. Victor said, Sasek. So I assumed the driver was just asking who we were, maybe he was new and don't know which house was which. Anyway, grandma came over and spoke to him as well. Turns out an anonymous person ordered us some propane. Even grandma didn't know who it was. What a blessing that was. 

In the afternoon, we went looking for a stove. Haven't found one in we liked, let alone in our price range, so we are going to keep looking and using the camp stove and the crockpot. We are camping out in our own house! How about that? 

At least now, we have the furnace and hot water. The furnace is on its lowest setting, so that it keeps  most of the house in the 40's and 50's without using too much fuel, while the wood stove and electrics space heater makes it comfortable. 

Tomorrow, we are going to put the boys back in their room and put the foam in the windows, since we have it warmed up some, so we can go back to our own bed. The floor in the living room, even with the mattress down makes my back hurt. Someday, I am going to get a hammock and try that instead!

Also, tomorrow, we are getting back on track for exercise and chores. Need to get a few more things done, so that when we come back from vacation, we can come home to a clean house.

This is the boys helping me make lunch in the crockpot on Monday.

Yummy!

Fitness and challenges

Today I did:

30 second plank

30 sit-ups

12 crunches

12 leg lifts

Another 20 second plank

40 squats (didn't make the 80 I was supposed to. I may do the rest before bed.)

Made a yummy blueberry cilantro smoothie.

Day 5: Banana Berry Energy Smoothie
 

• 1 fresh or frozen banana
• 1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
• 1 cup green leaf lettuce
• ½ field cucumber
• ¼ cup cilantro
• 1 cup water or coconut water

Breakfast was chili and salad with artichoke hearts, and salsa with vegenaise, a favorite dish!

Lunch was an adaptation of a soup recipe I got out of my new cookbook called Mouthwatering vegan. It was so yummy!!

Tomato vege with okra and vegan grilled "cheese" gf sandwiches. It's amazing the things you can eat on a limited budget and make them healthy and tasty too!

The living room got cleaned up and vacuumed. The boys helped out a lot.

Victor got most of the shelter on the truck built and I got the kitchen cleaned. The laundry even got washed, dried and put away. I put up a sheet in the hall to stop some of the heat from escaping down that way, and Victor got some wood chopped and sawed for the stove.

Wow, we got a lot done for a Sunday. Feeling accomplished today!

Sabbath and today

Ok, yesterday was a rest day. I didn't do any exercises at all. But I did get my smoothie made for breakfast. Surprisingly yummy! 

Day 4: Mango Mint Digestion Booster Smoothie

• 2 cups fresh or frozen mango
• 3 celery ribs
• 7 leaves fresh mint
• 1-inch piece ginger root
• 1 cup water or coconut water

Typically the frozen mango I get isn't very sweet, so I was afraid the celery would be very strong. But it wasn't and the smoothie was very good. I didn't have any mint and walmart was out when I went shopping on Friday, so I added some parsley to up the green factor. 

Anyway, we had a good Sabbath and had potluck afterward so enjoyed some time visiting with friends. The. Since all the kids have not been sleeping very well from coughing all night, all the kids and daddy took a nap. I rocked Sarah and sang some hymns for awhile, then I sat on the couch and read for awhile until I decided to take a nap too. 

When everyone finally woke up, we had some worship and the kids all headed for bed. Their room was cold and the heater cord needed to be fixed, the wind was blowing sucking the right out of the house and the propane tank was almost empty so the furnace was not keeping up at all.

So the boys slept in our bed,Victor fixed the cord on the heater and put it in there, and we built a fire in the stove. Victor took the big chair and I took the love seat. Turned out somewhat uncomfortable when Sarah wanted to sleep with me, but we got a few hours of sleep. 

Today we are going to get some work done. Victor wants to build a shelter on the truck for our trip to Texas next month, and the boys and I are going to do laundry and bring the futon mattress out here for us to sleep on tonight. The propane tank is now empty, so the furnace is not on. We will be using the wood stove more now until we can get some more propane.

To help insulate the house, Victor brought home some scrap foam and styrofoam and we are going to put some in the windows and maybe on some of the walls, especially in the boys room where the wind comes through the most. Then, I am going to put up a blanket in the hall, to block off that end of the house so we only heat the part we are using. We were thinking of downsizing the stuff we have to fit the area we are using, then when it warms up and we go back to using the whole house again, it will be roomier. Quite a good idea, if I do say so myself. :)

Well, time to do my exercises and get breakfast going. I'll post on that separately so I can track my progress easier.

Fitness challenges

Today I did:

25 second plank

25 sit-ups

10 crunches

10 leg lifts

10 second plank (was supposed to be 15 but I forgot to look)

70 squats

Loving the burn and feeling like I am getting more fit!

Making waffles today and doing laundry. Going to start a pot of beans tonight for potluck at church tomorrow.

Yesterday had a nice massage and a yummy bowl of lentil soup last night. 

The smoothie today had bok choy in it. I am not a fan of the flavor of it, but in the smoothie it was hardly noticeable, and kind of good.

Day 3: Banana Soother Smoothie

• 2 fresh or frozen bananas
• 2 heads baby bok choy
• 1-inch piece ginger root
• ¼ cup parsley
• 1 tbsp chia or hemp seeds
• 1 cup water or coconut water

Even Sarah likes it!

Happy Birthday to me!

Well, today I am 35 years old. So I slept in, then made breakfast. Then after that did some laundry and took a nice soak in the bathtub with Sarah. Victor did the breakfast dishes. He's such a sweet husband and has some sort of surprise up his sleeve for this afternoon. Actually, I know what it is. One of the boys, who shall remain nameless because I said I would pretend I didn't hear what he said, let it slip. So I shall pretend to be surprised even though everyone knows I know. Ha! (Whispering: it's a massage, which I kind of suspected anyway) !!

My exercise challenge went like this. After my oil pulling and lemon water, I did (with difficulty toward the end) 60 squats, 20 sec plank, then 20 sit-ups, 8 crunches, 8 leg lifts (also with difficulty), and another 10 sec plank. It was a bit hard to do some of these toward the end, even though I have already been doing some before I actually started the challenge. We'll see how it goes for the rest of the challenge.

For my smoothie challenge with Young and Raw, who by the way have some really great tasting recipes, I made this yummy blueberry smoothie! I used almond/coconut milk and added a bit extra because it was very thick like ice cream since I was using frozen berries. 

Here's the recipe:

Smoothie of the Day Day 2 : Berry Blast Smoothie 1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries 1 cup fresh or frozen strawberries ½ field cucumber 1-inch piece ginger root 1 cup almond milk

Fitness and other challenges

Starting this day, the 1st day of January 2014, I will be journaling a few lines each day of what I did for each 30 day challenge that I am doing.

I am doing squats, http://www.curlynikki.com/2013/10/so-hot-to-squat-challenge-november-2013.html?m=1

planks, a sit-up challenge, https://fbcdn-photos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc1/1150243_674120505945471_983141048_n.jpg?dl=1

 and a smoothie challenge. 

Today, I did 50 squats, a 20 second plank, 15 sit-ups, 5 crunches, 5 leg lifts, then a 10 second plank.

One of our Christmas gifts from my parents was a set of devotional books, so we have set our minds to read them each morning and evening. 

Also, I am reading through the Bible in a year with my friend Amy. She has a blog for it. http://letsreadthebibleinayear.wordpress.com/2014/01/01/week-27-psalms/comment-page-1/#comment-2447  

We are about halfway through it now. 

As part of our morning devotion time, we have a jar for praises and blessing. We will write down one on a piece of paper and put it in the jar. At the end of the year, we will take them out and read them. 

I came across a blog today that a friend shared on Facebook with another challenge that I intend to try. Each week I will put in a an envelope a bit of money that will be saved for some purpose, yet to be determined.

http://thehousemadehome.blogspot.com/2013/06/52-week-money-challenge-are-you-game.html

Finally, a challenge to myself is to rise each morning early for prayer. That didn't happen today, but tomorrow is another day.

Now, time for bed. 

Here is my smoothie for today from www.Youngandraw.com and their January 30 day challenge.

Smoothie of the Day Day 1: Green Dream Pineapple Smoothie 2 cups fresh or frozen pineapple 2 cups green leaf lettuce ¼ cup cilantro 1 lime, peeled 1 cup water or coconut water   It's very yummy.