October 31, 2012: Identity in Christ and garbanzo peanut butter cookies

During this season, Christians may have a difficult time deciding what to do with Halloween. Do we celebrate it? What do we think it means to us? Would God want our children to go trick-or-treat-ing?  I think that there are different convictions for different families and that we should all respect each others' decisions. For us, our daughter is still under two and either way, we believe she's still too young to go toting around in the cold for candy we don't want her eating.

We must remember that regardless of how we choose to engage in the festivities, we are children of God. We've been adopted into His family as sons or daughters. We have been chosen before the foundation of the world. We are co-heirs with Christ. We have been declared justified in His eyes and that when He sees us, He sees the imputed righteousness of Christ. There is no more condemnation; we have been promised eternal life because of His Son Jesus. We can relax, fully knowing that because He saved us, because He loved us, we will complete the work in us until the end. There is perseverance for His saints. He does not save us and leave us to do all of the work ourselves. That would be contrary to what His Word teaches.

So, whatever you decide to do with your children, remind yourself of His wonderful deeds, rejoice in His everlasting covenants and hope in His expectant return.


On the other hand, you can make your little monsters a delicious and healthy treat to enjoy. This recipe is a combination of many recipes I have found. Big thanks to my sister-in-law for giving me recipes for tasty treats that involve beans! Below is a recipe I made today that is gluten-free, can be vegan depending on the chocolate you use, and made with garbanzo (chickpeas) beans.

TT's Peanut Butter Balls (chocolate chips are optional, but oh so good!)

1 1/4 c garbanzo beans ( I use the reduced sodium or no salt added.  Whole Foods has these options)
1/4 c honey
1/2 peanut butter (I used Smuckers natural creamy. It does have added salt so I didn't add salt to the recipe)
1 t baking powder
2 t natural vanilla extract.

I added all the ingredients into my food processor and let 'er rip. I did not add any chocolate chips while this was 'processing'.

I refrigerated my dough overnight, as I had yet to get my chocolate chips.
If you're vegan you can use non-dairy chocolate or leave them out altogether and use agave instead of honey. *Vegans debate on whether honey is considered vegan.

I made twelve 'balls' of cookies on a cookie sheet. I used parchment paper. I baked them at 350 for about 15-20 minutes. Keep checking on them. They will get a little brown on top and will remain really mushy until they cool. You could try making smaller balls than I did, and then bake them for less time. If you do that, let me know how they turn out. I plan on making these in the future, so I will keep you up to date.

October 29, 2012: Easy fried potatoes

The other week I had made a bunch of pierogis. I had bought a bunch of potatoes and had two of them left. I decided to make some fried potatoes and they turned out delicious.

Potatoes have got a bad rad with the whole 'low-carb' fad diets and no 'white foods'. The problem with these diets is that they eliminate plant based foods. A plant-based diet done with careful research is extremely beneficial. One can get almost entirely all the nutrients they need from a plant-based diet.

Fried potatoes...EASY!!!

Two potatoes diced into cubes

About a t of rosemary

A few sprinkles of nutritional yeast (a good source of B12)

Enjoy!

October 27, 2012: Artichoke garbanzo salad with sun-dried tomatoes

Tomorrow is our church fellowship meal.

A few of the members are sensitive to gluten. I felt that there was more to gluten-free food than wheat substitutes and quinoa.

Today I made artichoke garbanzo salad with sun-dried tomatoes.

Recipe:
1 can of artichokes
about a can of chickpeas
1/2 t of rosemary or oregano
about 7 chopped sun dried tomatoes ( I did not use the ones with oil)
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 onion
1 clove of garlic
juice of 1/2 a lemon

I sauteed the artichokes until they were brown with a little oil. I added the lemon while they were cooking. Take the artichokes and add to the beans. Set aside.

Sautee the onion and garlic in a little oil until brown. Add to the bean and artichokes. Add everything else and enjoy!

Yummy and good for you too!

October 26, 2012: Memorizing verses

Have you ever thought about memorizing scripture?

Memorizing scripture is very beneficial for you as a Christian. It can remind you of God's promises, who He is, and can encourage you in times of sadness, trouble, despair, etc.

Memorizing scripture can sound daunting, but it's actually an easy task.

If you have ever had to memorizing anything in your life, you may know that memorizing a large chunk of material can best be done by breaking it down into smaller parts.

For example, if you plan on memorizing an entire book of the bible, commit yourself to one verse a week depending on how well you can memorize. I started memorizing Ephesians and started out memorizing just one verse a week. Every day, I would write the verse on a new post-it note and memorize the first few words on Monday and Tuesday, the middle chunk of the verse on Wednesday and Thursday, and the rest of the verse Friday through Sunday.  However, I also recited the entire verses before that verse as well.

Sometimes, the language is awkward, making it more difficult to retain. Try finding a way to remember certain words. I do this by memorizing the sequence of letters in the sentence if there is a list of things, such as in Ephesians 1:21.

I encourage you to start with a book of the new testament, like Phillipians, or Ephesians. Maybe you want to memorize a psalm as well.

If things start getting difficult, don't be too hard on yourself. Take it day by day. If it takes you two weeks to memorize one verse, that's ok too! Remember that God's Word is powerful and that knowing even one verse by heart will make a difference in your spiritual life!

God bless!

October 24, 2012: Taking breaks

My husband and I recently returned from Scottsdale for vacation. Arizona is one of my true loves. I revel at the majesty of the desert and hope to call it home someday. I haven't really had a real vacation since we first got married and haven't flown for over five years. This was truly needed.

However, I think the vacation planning, executing and return were a little stressful. Getting home to unpack is like a reminder of why you left in the first place!!!

I am a person of precision, organization, exact-ness, cleanliness, and management. I run my home like a well oiled machine and I always know when someone 'messes' with it...aka my husband!:) So when we got home, I found myself anxious and ready to put things back in their place. My motto is 'everything has a place'. My parents taught me this mentality and I am very thankful for this. Although my personality type can get the best of me and I tend to stress out easily, I have found that keeping your home running smoothly is the best route to avoid even more stress. Bottom line-stress no matter what!

I don't like to be idle, as Proverbs teaches. I have to constantly be moving and my to-do list is always being crossed off, with more to add on. With that being said, I have found it difficult to relax.

Breaks are needed. We are commanded to rest on the Sabbath. However, I do believe that taking more frequent breaks, however much you need are necessary for sanity.

I have decided to set apart certain weeks throughout the year, about one week every three months to take off of exercise. This is huge for me, considering I exercise very religiously and get stressed out when I don't. By taking scheduled breaks, you can anticipate them and be prepared to enjoy them.

Ask yourself if you need to implement more breaks in your life. Is it daily breaks? Or are they weekly ones? Quarterly ones? You know yourself. God knows you, Pray and ask how to go about this and truly enjoy and rest in Him.

October 17, 2012: Tips for saving $$ and TT's pockets recipe

One of the things I taught my husband when we got married, was checking the price/oz on the tags where items are priced at a store. He was completely unaware that this was available to consumers and started checking it before making a decision on what size to purchase. Most of the time, buying in larger sizes will save you money. However, this is not always the case so ALWAYS do the math!;)

One way to save money is to buy yogurt in the tubs. If you go through yogurt a lot, this is a great way to save costs not only on money, but saving waste as well.

I shop at a grocery store that offers three packs of soy milk. It's much cheaper to buy it this way AND it has a longer shelf life than dairy milk.

Another point to keep in mind is to use everything that you buy so that you truly are not wasting. You don't save money if you buy in bulk and never use what you have. Use it before it goes old!

Now, on to the recipe for the day. I was debating on what to share with you. I had made black beans and rice for lunch, but that is boring. I am sure most of you have made this before and it's so easy. I decided to put a recipe up that would save even you single men out there some time and money with a delicious, easy holiday appetizer.

In the spirit of not only Christmas, but Thanksgiving coming up, I will post this recipe for TT's pockets.
What you need is about two small tins of crescent rolls. I buy the generic kind. EXACTLY the same. Just cheaper.  I buy about two 8 oz. cubes of cream cheese-sometimes you have too much. To make it healthier, get the neufchatel, the light cream cheese.

And...whatever else you want to go inside. I like artichokes, tomatoes, basil, onions, etc.

Roll out a square piece of dough, about 5 x 5 inches at most. Stuff with a brick of cream cheese. I sometimes use the food processor and add everything together and then spread it on to the crescent roll. Take another piece of crescent roll dough and cover the top and pinch sides together. I bake at about 350-400 and watch until the top is golden brown. You can also brush the top with an egg white.

October 16, 2012: Natural scents for your home and pierogis!

One of the nice things you can do for your home that is relatively affordable is invest in some essential oils. Around the time my daughter was born, I was a heavy coupon-er. Well, our printer broke and I started experimenting with more natural living, and I found it harder to find products that I approved of for my family's health.  One of the things that goes on sale with coupons is air fresheners.  I started thinking about how toxic that could be, especially since we not only had a newborn, but a small animal living with us (our kitty Katherine- Lizzy).

I decided to experiment with natural smells. I tried boiling lemon peel in water. I used to make lemon poppyseed muffins every morning (hence the lemon peel idea) from scratch for the family, but that got old as it became time consuming.

The lemon peels did not do much for the family, so I bought some essential oils. I used rose oil, and dropped about 30 drops into a small pump bottle. I added a few tablespoons of water and use that to spritz around my house.

Try doing this as you can feel more comfortable that you are not breathing in toxic fumes and benzene derivatives. Now, I do have a degree in biology with a lot of background chemistry. I worked in industry for a little bit for a very well known drug company. I also got my certification to teach science. On the other hand, I am not an expert to say the least so please do your own research on essentials oils and which ones are best for you and your family.
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I made pierogis for my family this Sunday and they were a hit with the baby, my husband and myself.

Pierogi recipe
2 cup flour (I used King Arthur's unbleached)
1/2 t salt
1/2 c Greek yogurt (I used Chobani plain non-fat)
1/4 c butter (I haven't bought butter in a long time, but it's worth it:) )
1 egg

Mix flour, salt and egg together. I beat my egg before putting it in the mixture. Add yogurt and butter. Soften the butter and add in small chunks.

I make small 3-4 inch circles with my pierogis and filled them with mashed potatoes and sauteed onions. I wish I would have tried cabbage or sauerkraut but I didn't have time.

I boil them until they float to the top.

I then fry them until golden brown in grapeseed oil. I topped mine with cheese and more yogurt.

Photos to come!

October 12, 2012: Taking inventory and the Storey family pancake recipe

Hello!
Like I was talking about before, organizing your life can be complicated and....unorganized to say the least.

As a mom, I try and juggle all my family's needs and be attentive to things that are 1) almost gone, 2) needing replacement, and 3) need fixing.

For example, when I have a spare moment (while the baby is napping), I like to go around the house and take 'inventory' on our family's things. For example, let's start with clothing. I am a HUGE rummager/thrift store junkie. I've done away with purchasing a lot of things new (except for underwear, socks and other undergarments). I've saved hundreds of dollars by doing this. I've got a men's green winter Timberland jacket for 75 cents, a women's Patagonia fleece for the same, a pair of Hanna Andersson tights for 25 cents, a Restoration Hardward duvet for $8, three men's Calvin Klein dress shirts for a total of $1, and the list could go on. I find many name brand items for nearly 99% off of their original prices.

I start off by making a list. I go through closets and write down things that are getting low or are in need. I also do this for areas of the house. Let's say the mattress you have is on it's last year. Start looking NOW for new mattresses. Need a new kitchen cutting board? Start looking now at rummage sales. Bring your list with you to the garage sale (keep it in your bag at all times) so you have a purpose when you shop.

Other areas to take 'inventory' are bathroom goods: shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, razors. I frequently coupon, but let's face it, who has time to spend scouring and stacking ads/deals? I have a tip! I use Craig's List and in the search button, I type stockpile. Many times, coupon-ers will sell what they call 'stockpiles'. They sell their items, which they've purchased for what you'd probably pay with your double coupons. I call it one stop shopping, baby!

If you're looking to save your family money and you buy a lot of 'new' items, I encourage you to get into rummaging. Craig's List (for those followers in the United States), is a great place to start. You can look under the 'garage sale' category and type in your city/suburb and search.  I will warn you, I believe that you should try to bargain before settling on the sticker tag. Another tip: if the item is not priced, don't ask how much they're asking. Make your offer confidently. You will be amazed on what you can get for a few bucks. I recently purchased eight pieces of toddler clothing for $2. Brands included were Talbot kids, Land's End, Gymboree and Gapkids.

I will be neglectful of my duties if I did not leave you with a great recipe!
Starting off the weekend, why don't you make your family some pancakes for breakfast tomorrow morning-

Kathleen P. Storey's Pancake recipe
1 egg
1 cup milk (can be subbed for soy)
1 cup flour (I used whole wheat pastry)
1 T oil
1 t baking powder
1 t sugar ( I used honey)
1 t salt

Mix ingredients together. Ladle onto griddle and wait until the bubbles appear to flip. Serve with 100% real maple syrup.

"Your first kid is like the first pancake..it doesn't always turn out how you wanted it"-Tom Storey

October 11, 2012: Meal planning tips and fall potluck ideas

More meal planning tips!
I started brainstorming a bunch of ideas for tips on meal planning. Not that I am the best meal planner, or that I have a great grasp on this thing called motherhood, but sometimes when you do something a lot, you forget the nitty gritty details that come naturally to you. These details need to be spelled out to others. In my case, I am horrible at technology. I need every detail!:)

One of the things I like to do is lists in general. Every morning I have a make-shift to do list that has things I need to get done that day, as well as things that could be done within the next several days to weeks. One thing I like to do in my down time, is to write companies for coupons. Since our family buys a lot of natural products, these oftentimes do not have coupons as readily available as non-natural products. One of the great products I regularly write to is Method. This company has been gracious to send me lots of coupons for their products. I do write more than once, as they only send a specific amount.

With that being said, I like to stock up on supplies that our family regularly uses while I grocery shop.  For example, if I see a coupon for yeast, I pick up some yeast jars, even though I may not be making any breads in the next week. That way, I buy when it's on sale, and have the products on hand when I need them, avoiding to pay full price.

Another great tip is to always have an easy prep meal on hand for those days you do run out of food, or you are just too tired to cook. One of the things I like having on hand is a box of whole wheat pasta, some frozen vegetables and a jar of natural spaghetti sauce. I try to avoid brands that contain any refined sugar. If your grocery store is having a sale, coupled with some great coupons, you have yourself a nice stock of easy prep meals at hand.
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Fall potluck ideas
Seg-waying off of the last topic, one thing to keep in mind for fall is potlucks. Everyone loves the idea of a nice hot-dish/casserole filled with cheesy goodness, or a nice pot of chili in the fall. A lot of people like to have football parties and fall get togethers for the sole purpose of enjoying great comfort food with their friends.

Our church has a fellowship meal every last Sunday of the month. I like to have a few ideas of what I would like to bring. Three things I keep in mind are 1) cheap, 2) easy, and 3) healthy. Our city has a natural foods store with bulk bins. One of the bins I love is the vegetarian chili mix. It's about $3 for the mix (enough to make one batch) and about $2 for the remaining ingredients (two cans of beans...I use black, the recipe calls for kidney). All you do is add water and the ingredients and you have a delicious pot of chili that feeds about 5-7 people. If you're bringing it to a potluck, chances are not everyone will be eating some of the chili. The idea is to pick and take a little of everything...at least that's my opinion:)  I encourage you to take a trip to your local natural foods store and explore around and visit their bulk bins. A lot of these stores have their own recipes in the store or online.

Another great recipe I recently made with wild rice pilaf with squash.  I got the recipe off of Whole Foods' website. This recipe is gluten-free and vegan. The total cost of my meal was about $6 total.

I hope all these tips helped. I think the key to any success is planning.
Just like as Christians, we prepare for the day that we see God. Careful planning means making time to spend with him daily, reading His Word, prayer, studying scripture and memorizing scripture. Our time is important. It's not how much time you spend doing x,y,z, but how you spent the time you're given. God bless everyone and happy cooking!!!

October 10, 2012: Menu planning and Vegan oatmeal and chocolate chip cookies

Menu planning is essential if one wants to eat well and maintain their budget.
Being a good helpmeet is doing well with the resources you've been given.

What I like to do is create at least three lunches and three dinners for the week. I plan the dinners around a few main ingredients so that way I can minimize spending. For example, a few weeks ago we ate squash. We had wild rice pilaf with squash, squash risotto and squash lentil stew. I ended up buying some rice among other vegetables for all the dinners, along with a squash that was .58/lb.

Lunches often include the leftovers from the night before. Sometimes three lunches and three dinners will be too much for the week and sometimes it's too little. It takes troubleshooting and experience to get a good feel for how much food you'll need. Our family eats a ton (well, just me actually...haha).

I make mostly vegan/vegetarian meals, so costs are down already since I don't buy meat at all. I stock up on beans, lentils, and various rices and grains to plan my meals around.

Make lunches simple. Since we don't eat meat during the week (I'll take more about this later), we don't do a whole lot of meat sandwiches. We do however, have grilled cheese sandwiches. I tend to buy a lot of fixings for salads to fill in as sides. I always have a few kinds of fruits and veggies available, as well as frozen veggies for sides.

Yogurt is a staple at our house. I tend to stay away from dairy yogurt and eat soy yogurt as the rest of my family eats low fat Greek yogurt. I buy the tubs, as it's cheaper and I stay away from brands that add refined sugar. I do buy brands that use evaporated cane juice.

My goal is to include as many plant based foods that are chock-full of nutrients, minerals and antioxidants to nourish my family. Take note of your family's favorite foods. Make them often to show you love them.

Once I have my meals set, I make a list. I organize the list according to how the grocery store is laid out. I get all 'cold' stuff last to make sure that it stays as cold as it cans for as long as possible. I also like to buy a few 'convenience items' like Boca burgers, a package of Alexia sweet potatoes, etc for those days you may run out of food. It happens!!! We eat at lot in our house!!!

Keep eating out to a minimum. That means, planning ahead wherever you go. For example, my husband is involved in politics on the weekends. Last weekend, he had a political get together about an hour away. The night before, I packed him a sandwich, some fruit and a granola bar, along with something to drink. Every little time you  'grab a bite to eat wreaks havoc on your budget. Five dollars here and there can add up to hundreds in a year.

Don't get me wrong. Some weeks I am exhausted from cooking, prepping, chopping and doing insane amounts of dishes. I get tired of being creative and sometimes, darn it! We have a pizza. Don't beat yourself up if you are meal planning most of the time and doing what you can to save money. Our family does buy a lot of natural and organic foods. We spend around $50-$70/week on groceries. That's about $10/day for three people, making that about $1 per meal. That's cheap!!! I hope I did the math right!:)

I recently made some vegan oatmeal cookies with chocolate chips:
Here's the recipe. They turned out great.

Vegan oatmeal cookies with chocolate chips

2/3 c grapeseed oil
2/3 c organic white sugar
1 c brown sugar
1 t vanilla
1/3 c soy milk (unsweetened)
1 3/4 c whole wheat pastry flour
1 t baking soda
1/2 t baking powder
1/2 t salt
2 2/3 cup Better Oats quick oats
1/3 c chocolate chips/chunks your choice

Add all oil and sugars together. Add the flour and the soy milk slowly.  Add the oats and the chocolate. Bake for 350 for about 8-10 minutes. The edges will get brown. That's when you know they're done. I made the cookies into tiny balls, about the size of golf balls. I think I made mine too big, but they turned out just fine! Husband approved!

October 8, 2012: Scheduling and black bean brownies

One of the things that I think all people struggle with is scheduling/making time for things/organization.  Even the best of us 'organized' people struggle from time to time.

I do have a relatively good handle on the day-to-day of my household in that things run smoothly most of the time. It's definitely not by chance, but in good planning. Good planning does require sacrifices of some kind.

The sacrifices I had to make were sleep. I go to bed as soon as my daughter goes to bed. This is about nine at night. I get my teeth brushed, face washed and contacts out when she is getting ready for bed. After she is put down in her crib, I do some kind of small devotion, set my alarm for about an hour and a half before the baby gets up and I go to sleep. Sacrificing time with friends and being away from the house is also a must. Family is first and keeping a home is a full time job with many obligations.

These same guidelines can also help single women too. Keeping a house ready to serve and be hospitable is something important as a Christian woman in that we can serve others and our families as well.

In the morning, devotions usually come first. I get my breakfast made, latte steamed and get the necessary materials out for study: Bible, pen, journal and the current book I am reading related to theology/doctrine/or other biblical study.

I do prayers first and I write everything down. It takes me longer and it makes it more intentional. That way I am not easily distracted as I am praying. I make categories: Praise, adoration, thanksgiving, confession, Thom, Belén, salvation, healing, marriages, babies!, comfort, provision/supplication (personal), and general.

Praying for your husband is crucial. Rather than nagging and telling him how to do things, run to Jesus, the Author of Life and present your requests to God. Pray for their daily protection, spiritual and secular wisdom, safety to and from work, health, financial provision, etc.

Pray for the salvation of your children; pray they know Him at an early age.

Pray for the salvation of the children in your church.

Pray for family members who do not know Him.

Pray for all of the marriages in that they glorify God, whether in your church, friend circle, etc.

Pray for healing for those who are sick.

Pray for expectant mothers and their babies.

Pray for daily provision: food on the table, clothes to wear, bills to be paid. Thank Him for the groceries you were able to purchase because of his mercy and grace!

Memorize a book in the bible. I am currently memorizing Ephesians. Every week I learn a new verse and recite everything I previously memorized. Sometimes I do this while I am cleaning.

I read a commentary on the Davidic psalms. I am currently studying psalm 22.

All this takes me around 20 minutes. I like to get a base-line done and then spend more time in the Word throughout the day while I am not busy with the baby.

After devotions , I clean up my dishes and wipe counters. As I do this, I plan for the breakfasts for the rest of my family to be made. I prep the French press for Thom. I get my daughter's coconut milk ready. I put dishes away from the night before.

I make a to-do list for the day and for the week. I prep any veggies to be used that day and get things ready for lunch if I have time.

Belén, my daughter wakes up. I get her breakfast ready. She eats, and I clean up immediately. My husband wakes up. I leave to go to the gym. I am usually gone for one hour.

The rest of the day, I clean as I go. If I am walking into another room, I grab something that was left out in the living room that needs to be put away in the bathroom. Keeping a neat home doesn't have to be hard. It's definitely more difficult to spend hours cleaning after messes pile up.

Try to be busy all day. It's important to take breaks but make sure your time is not consumed with a lot of time on the internet, watching TV or other things like that, especially if you haven't spent time in the Word.

If you're not getting everything done-if your house is always messy, if you never have time to cook, if you always forget to ___________, ask yourself if your time could be better spent, and if certain 'activities' could be done away with. Again-I am simply trying to help. Sometimes I know that having people over or going to people's houses can really eat up one's time. Staying home is OK. Our homes are places of ministry and they are very important. You aren't missing out on much if you only make one play date a week.
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Black Bean Brownie Recipe

Black bean brownie recipe...this is a great one, courtesy of my sister-in-law. It's gluten-free and easy to make...and relatively good for you. If you don't have children or have very small children, don't ever find yourself saying, how come I can't get my kids to eat healthy? It's probably that there has been too many opportunities for children to not eat healthy. Make eating healthy the norm so that vegetables are seen as a staple, even in 'desserts'.

1 can black beans
3 T oil
3/4 cup sugar (I used 1/4 of that honey)
1/2 cup chocolate chips
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa ( I used dark)
1/2 t baking powder
3 eggs
a pinch of salt ( I don't use if my beans have salt added)
about a t of vanilla

Put everything into a food processor. Make sure you drain the beans. Add 1/2 of the chocolate chips. Pour into a baking dish of some kind-I use an 8 x 10 metal dish.  I also oil it with grapeseed oil. Bake 350 for about 35 minutes. Add the remainder of the chocolate chips on top before baking. ENJOY:)

October 5, 2012: Living intentionally

I first came across these words about two years ago. Living intentionally. I thought this was a hipster phrase of sorts. It actually became real to me through the scripture Colossians 3:17, and whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything  in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. This meant, to me, that even the most mundane things, like cooking and cleaning, and even shopping should be viewed through the lens of the gospel. I felt more of a purpose in my life, aside from going through a lot of motions.

The purpose of this blog is to share any wisdom and knowledge that I have. 
I must assert to you, that I do not wish to be misread. Literally. Like Paul says in Ephesians, 'to me, though I am the very least of all the saints this grace was given'....I do not want to be mistaken as arrogant or a know-it-all. I struggle daily with feeling like the worst of the worst sinners of all...the last thing I feel is that I have everything together. Please analyze and read my posts with grace and humility, as the last thing I want to do is make someone feel something other than encouraged. Please pray before reading my posts in that your own heart will be examined as well.

So, to live intentionally, I am sharing the wisdom I have gained through studying God's Word, and living intentionally as a helpmeet to my husband. 



**Disclaimer-Please note that I do write to a specific audience: Christian women, or anyone else who is interested in getting to know Jesus. My blog is coming from my own life and that may be very different than your own. Everyone has their own struggles, likes dislikes, etc. Please respect that.