Bruised but not Broken

Oh, how I have missed this place!!

I haven't taken the time to be still long enough to verbalize thoughts and happenings for quite some time. I apologize to the 3 of you who actually read my blog;}

 

Something happened a few days ago that really made me pause... like literally... the wind was knocked out of me for a brief moment and I didn't move.

 

I rushed down my front steps, as I do most days, to get the mail.  Only on this day I hadn't taken into consideration that it had snowed...then melted... then froze.  Oh, I'm sure you can imagine what happened next. 

 

I bit it!  I mean... REALLY BIT IT! 

 

As in, if someone had seen it, had a camera and posted it to youtube, it would have millions of hits because folks would be laughing hysterically at my misfortune {once they realized I wasn't really hurt, of course;} 

 

You know when people say "it happened so quick!", well this happened so quick!  Thanking God now that it wasn't worse and I can laugh at it, but I actually hit my head on the stair and didn't move for a moment.  There was no one around to see me if I had been really hurt {unless they were peeking out their window laughing hysterically!}

 

After a moment, I got up, dusted myself off and rushed back inside.  Didn't bother with the mail... that would have required walking further and in the event that someone did see, I wanted to save myself the embarrassment:/ 

 

So, now I have a bruise on my right elbow, my left forearm, my thigh, my back and my pinky {which I swore was broken because I couldn't move it for about an hour and then it swelled up to double the size!} but I am just fine!!! Thank you Lord!!!

{Random fact: I love battle wounds!  I was thrilled when I lost 5 toenails while training for my first half marathon...disgusting, right!}

 

Funny how random scenarios lead to profound insights.

 

Hence the title of this post... one of my fave Joss Stone songs, "Bruised but not broken"

 

So many thoughts of this past year in particular, came to mind. 

 

Things not happening the way I had hoped

 

Being hurt and disappointed by others

 

You know, just life sometimes!

 

But it reminded me too, as in this particular situation, I may be bruised but certainly not broken!

I am still very much alive and as long as I am, there are SO many things to be thankful for!

 

So I wanted to take a minute to show you a few things that I am thankful for right now...

 

Fall

{pinterest}

 

Encouraging Words 

  {all quotes from my my pinterest board WORDS}

 

God's work in the lives of my children!! and the amazing youth leaders at Rockford First who put so much time and energy into these young lives!! {That's my Mikah in the yellow shirt;}

 

 

 There are so many more things to be thankful for... I'll add more later;}

Blessings to you all!

 



Need a Boost? Juice!

The New Year always inspires good intentions... plans to eat better... do better... be better!

Juicing is something that I love doing all year long, but am especially inspired to do at full throttle in the New Year!

{This is a repost from my old blog, Papermellie}

I would say it was about 9 years ago that I invested in my Jack Lalanne Juicer.

At this time, juicing was not as popular as it is now, and this juicer was only available via infomercial.

I remember this was my very first informercial purchase and I was so excited about it.  I was a young mother of 3 with little energy (I believe the middle boys were 1 and 2 at the time and Mel was maybe 7)  It was one of those late nights and I was entranced by what this juicer had to offer!  It was LIFE CHANGING, it claimed!

So I made the call and waited for that delivery!

Remember how I told you about myCricut and what a great investment that was...

THIS JUICER WAY SURPASSES MY CRICUT LOVE!

I will admitt, sometimes I'll go through phases, but for the most part I use my juicer on a weekly basis.

At first I was just juicing fruits.  Let's be honest, it just sounds SO much more inviting.

Then I started researching all of the different vegetable juices and their incredible benefits and I was sold on those too!

I want to tell you about the #1 benefit of this juicer for us.

POPSICLES!!

My 10 year old will only eat raw apples and carrots and not even very often, so very early on, I would juice an array of yummy fruits and sneak in a little carrot and spinach and freeze them in the popsicle molds (yes, these molds generally come with their own holders... they have since been lost and simply replaced with popsicle sticks). The kiddos go crazy on them! (nowadays I even add a little  ground flaxseed and chia seeds;))

They can enjoy a cool treat and I can feel good about what they are putting into their bodies! That in itself has paid for the juicer a hundred times over!

Often, I will juice a large batch of fruits and vegetables...

and then freeze them in these ball freezer jars... perfect for a single serving that I can thaw overnight.

Obviously, fresh juice is your most beneficial option, but I love the convenience of freezing them because it's hard to keep a large supply of fresh fruits and vegetables "fresh" for too long AND cleaning the machine takes a little time, so it is nice to do it once a week rather than every day!

There is a certain vegetable that I have avoided fro a while... I don't know why I was so timid to try these!

Beets seem to be all the rage right now, so I found a recipe and decided to give it a try.

I won't say it is my favorite thing on earth, but I actually quite enjoyed it.  The color is gorgeous and I think the fact that there is ginger in it made a difference.  I do love me some ginger!

Here is the recipe I tried (from this pin):

Energizing Beet Juice

(recipe is for 2 people)

1 large beet with its greens

2 Red Delicious Apples

1 Large Red Bell Pepper

1 Large English Cucumber

1 small slice of fresh ginger root

Juice and Enjoy!

Read about the benefits of Beets here and here

and the tremendous benefits of juicing here

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Linking up at:
Someday Crafts

No-Bake Energy Bites

{This is a repost from my old blog, Papermellie.  This was one of my most popular posts and I wanted to tell you that after almost a year of making these on an almost weekly basis... this is one of my family's most fave {healthy} treats!!  Whether I make 1, 2 or 3 batches at a time, they are gone within a day!}

No-Bake Energy Bites {PI #60}

This has got to be my favorite Pinterest recipes thus far!

I am always looking for ways to satisfy both my sweet tooth and love for things that nourish my body.  As I've gotten older, I've been more in touch with what fuels my body and what shuts it down.

I LOVE sweets, but always regret eating certain things because I physically feel so horrible.  I'm slowly transitioning into a place where feeling healthy and energetic is much more enjoyable than a few indulgent moments of sweet treats.

Don't misunderstand, I find so much joy in baking that I will not be giving that up anytime soon, but am trying to find a better balance.

These No-Bake Energy Bites will definitely be a new staple in our home! They are the best of both worlds!

This is something that my children {and myself} can enjoy and I can feel good about putting this in our bodies for fuel AND I know exactly what is in there. These are honestly better than any store bought granola bar/ bite that I have tried {and we buy a LOT of bars here!}

Here is the recipe courtesy of gimmesomeoven

No-Bake Energy Bites Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 cup (dry) oatmeal (I used old-fashioned oats)
• 1 cup toasted coconut flakes
• 1/2 cup chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup peanut butter
• 1/2 cup ground flax seed
• 1/3 cup honey
• 1 tsp. vanilla

Method:

Stir all ingredients together in a medium bowl until thoroughly mixed.  Let chill in the refrigerator for half an hour.  Once chilled, roll into balls of whatever size you would like.  (Mine were about 1″ in diameter.)  Store in an airtight container and keep refrigerated for up to 1 week.

Makes about 20-25 balls.

In case you are not fully convinced, I thought I would share with you just a few specific benefits of the bites.

The Oatmeal {courtesy of Care2.com}

Low calorie food; stops cravings.

Provides high levels of fiber, low levels of fat, and high levels of protein.

Stabilizes blood sugar and reduces risk of diabetes (type 2)

Removes your bad cholesterol (without affecting your good cholesterol).

Contains lignans which protect against heart disease and cancer.

Contains unique antioxidants beneficial for heart disease.

Protects against heart failure.

Enhances immune response to disease.

The Honey {courtesy of organicfacts.net}

Antibacterial and Anti fungal Properties.

Antioxidants.

Good Source of Vitamins and Minerals.

Good source of energy {easy to digest} Improves Athletic Performance.

The Flax seed {Courtesy of flaxhealth.com}

Fights Cholesterol, Diabetes, Constipation, Inflammation, Heart Disease & “The Blues”

High in lignans, Omega 3’s & Fiber

I went ahead and packaged these in little baggies for the kiddos to grab on the go!

Other Mothers

I debated whether or not to even write this post but I needed somewhere to share.

I'm sorry in advance if my thoughts are scattered and jumbled.

Right now, we are going through something hard.  Painful.  Heartbreaking. Confusing.

I want to talk about it, but I don't want to talk about it.

With the few people I've shared with, I can't seem to speak without completely breaking down.  

If we are close and you're not sure what's going on, please don't feel like you aren't important in my life, I just need some time to be able to sort through and make sense of some things. 

I know with God, our pain is never wasted.  He will use this season to strengthen us and make us more compassionate towards others. One day, he will place others in our lives that we can help.

The few people I have spoken to have been mothers themselves.  No one understands a mother like another mother.  As mothers, we are used to holding things together.  But what happens when we fall apart?

These mothers have weeped with me and offered words of hope and encouragement.  

It's amazing how, as mothers we don't even have to be going through the same thing or even have experienced the same thing, but as soon as we hear what is going on and put ourselves in that situation as a mother, our hearts are broken just the same. 

I'm so thankful for the few that have been brave enough to share with me their own similar struggles.  

I know that these conversations are not random.  They are intentional and on purpose.

I went to the hospital yesterday.  Not to visit but to drop something off.  I wanted to be invisible.  I wanted to be in and out without having to speak with anyone.  I had been alone all day and just wanted to continue to keep it together.  As long as I didn't open my mouth I could do it.  God had other plans.  As I was walking in, I ran into a couple that used to attend church with us.  I hadn't seen them in a while, but they are a couple that my husband and I loved dearly.  My heart began to race as we approached.  I didn't want to tell them why I was there.  After just a minute of small talk, it came out.  As soon as I opened up, she and I were embraced in a hug and crying together for what seemed like 20 minutes.  That hug meant the world to me in that moment.  I think we all just need to be heard and desire to know that we are not alone.

{Please feel free to print my image for your own use}

{created in PSE using elements from the Lori Whitlock Fresh Air Collection from Jessica Sprague.com}

Senior Year... from Mom's perspective

This is a big school year in our home.

All four children are in school and coincidentally this is the one year that all four will be in a different school! 

Of course my baby has begun Kindergarten this year, but surprisingly this is not what I am having the most trouble with.

 If I can be honest... I'm a part time blubbering mess.

As long as I don't think about it, I'm OK.  But the moment I think of all that this milestone means, I have this uneasy, queasy feeling inside and often will tear up when I start think too much about it.

My little girl is a Senior this year

{dog gone it, I'm getting choked up just typing the word} 

Where did the time go???

What do you do when the person that you grew up with is no longer with you every day?

She became a part of my life when I was a child myself.

All of the great things that happened in my life, happened while she was with me.

I see her venturing her way into adulthood...toward a more independent way of life.

I know that these transitions are necessary.  But they are still hard {at least for mom}

This year will be the last of so...many...things.  Homecoming dresses, prom dresses, fun sleep-overs, Girls sports.

Yes, I still have the boys and cherish our relationships in a different way, but this is MY GIRL!  

I will surely treasure the time that we do have this year.  

I will listen intently to the stories of "this class" and "that boy" {all of which start out with "oh my gosh, mom..."}

I will offer words when needed and a shoulder when they're not.

I will take advantage on those random days to squeeze in one more hug and one more "I love you"

I will trust that she is in God's hands and that our futures will present so many more wonderful chapters together... 

Happy Senior Year, Sweet Girl!

Bittersweet Segue

It is now day 3.

It has been 13 years next month, that I have been home with my babies.

This week marked a brand new chapter in our lives.

All four of those "babies" went back to school on Monday.

I am now the mother of a Senior in HS {where on earth does the time go}, a 7th grader, a 5th grader and my baby is in Kindergarten this year. 

I AM BLESSED

I am so thankful that I was able to be here for my children all of these years.

My amazing hubby is one of the hardest working people I have ever met and without him my life would have looked so different. 

I wouldn't have thought to stay at home with my children.  Work was always the only option.

I would have missed so much!

My longing has always been to create for a living... whatever that might entail... I wanted to make beautiful things and prayed that others would love to buy said beautiful things:}

So this week I have been researching, sketching, designing and networking away and am loving it, but there is a subtle void in my heart.  

I have found myself also longing for the long days of rocking a tired baby {or 3 year old}, cuddles on the couch with Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, coloring and playing Candy land.  

I actually miss the "mom, can you make me a..." and "mom, can you play with me"

These times go by so quickly.

These babies grow right before our eyes.

Sometimes segues are just bittersweet.

Our lives are in God's hands and I know His plans are amazing.  

I can't wait to see what He has in store for our family