30 Day Encouragment Challege

I happend to stumble across this "30 Day Encouragment Challenge" today. A day when I woke up angry at the world and started to take it out on the one person in my life who is my rock, my love, and my strength my Husband. I tell you more and more God has been speaking and I have been listening it is truly an amazing thing. So starting today I am going to do the challenge. Day 1 is the start to an amazing journey.

I am so blessed to have my Husband as MINE!! He chose me over everyone else and I don't know where I would be without him. He is so caring during all my rough times especially during "that time of the month" he is always making sure I am taken care of and have everything I need. He is just the best and I don't know where I would be without him in my life.

Have a blessed day!!

Word Filled Wednesday

Happy WFW!! For more visit The 160 Acre Woods

Fruit of the Spirit

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
—Galatians 5:22-23

I am sitting here at my desk thinking about my day and what is to come, and what I can do to make my days/weeks more interesting, more spiritual. I am trying to find my place and to learn from the Lord more and more each day and each week that comes. So I decided I am going to focus the next few weeks on the Fruit of the Spirit. Each week i will focus on one of the fruits and post what I am doing to follow it and to learn what God wants from me with it! Since I have just thought about this today I am not going to post Love until next Tuesday.

Have a blessed day!

Menu Plan Monday

Yea! Another wonderful week with wonderful food!! Here is what we are eating this week...

Monday - On our own, I have Bible study

Tuesday - Chili Cheese Chicken

Wednesday - Tuna Helper

Thursday - Chicken nuggets and tater tots

Friday - We are going out! It is such a treat when we get to enjoy each others company and not cook!

Saturday - Husband cook day!!! (he makes some of the best food!)

Sunday - Leftovers

Cancer Awareness Week 4

This is the last week of Cancer Awareness Month! I have enjoyed sharing all the tips I have recieved and hope you have learned something as well! This last post is for you to list what steps or step you have currently taken to prevent cancer! I would love to hear what you have to say!!

Cancer Awareness Month
Week 4

Take One Step

The last 3 weeks you have received an email each week concerning different ideas and suggestions to be cancer aware and focus on cancer prevention.

Now it is your turn.

Think about all of the suggestions you have received over the last 3 weeks and decide on one – just one – lifestyle change that you are going to make in the interest of cancer prevention.

If you decide to make more than one – that’s great! But 1 is all that is asked for. Just as a reminder, here are some suggestions to help you take that One Step:

· Increase the amount of fruits and vegetables you eat each day
· Reduce your intake of red meat by one meal each week (but if you don’t eat red meat, think of something else!)
· Reduce your alcohol intake by one drink each week
· Clean out your refrigerator and pantry – focusing on stocking up on healthy food choices
· Go to the grocery store with a shopping list and stick to it
· If you have a sweet tooth, direct it to fresh fruit
· Walk or exercise – and if you already do, either increase the number of times each week – or the amount of time each time you walk or exercise
· Enjoy the New Mexico sun but be careful of overexposure
· Pick out two foods from the ‘foods that fight cancer’ list and add them to your shopping list
· This is your choice – come up with your own One Step…..

Good luck and be healthy!

At the Well

Today's at the Well discussion is about mentoring. Here are the discussion questions.

How can we mentor in ways that are pleasing to God?

Mentoring can be a hard task and a hard way to serve God. I for one never feel i am "worthy" enough to mentor another Woman! But with help of the Lord and through prayer I know I am able to do it!!

Here are some ways that I think I can mentor to others that would be pleasing to God...

1. Read scripture to others in time of need and just to share the word of the Lord.

I know I am definietly at fault when it comes to reading the word. I always have the same excuse of "I am too busy" or "I need to finish this book first" If we take time to read alone it will make it easier to share with the ones we are mentoring. Also, if we read with the ones we are mentoring it will be helping them gain knowledge!

2. Share my experiences where God has helped and guided me in the right direction on my Blog.

Although I am not directly talking with someone I can share the word of the Lord and how the Lord has helped me in my blog posts. I know I visit many blogs a day and if only one person visits mine I can at least share what I know with them and hope they share it with others.

3. Pray with and for others

There is no right or wrong way to pray, it is just your discussion with God and asking for guidance or support when needed. If we take time each time we are in mentoring position to pray with the ones we are mentoring that would definitely be pleasing to God.

How can we be sure the word of God is not maligned in the way we mentor and learn?

I think one of the main ways to make sure the word of God is not maligned in the way we mentor and learn is to follow the word and not just read it.

I have known many Christians, and I can admit I have been like this before, who know the word who teach the word or share the word with others, but when it comes down to their own lives they are not following the word. We all need to follow the fruits of the Spirit and follow that in our lives so we can be a great mentor to others.

Proverbs 24:11, 12
Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter. If you say, “But we knew nothing about this,” does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who guards your life know it? Will he not repay each person according to what he has done?

Have a blessed day!!

To read more responses or to add your own visit At the Well

Keeping Albuquerque Beautiful

Many of you may know and some may not but my home town is Albuquerque, New Mexico. I was born and raised here and currently work for the Albuquerque Convention and Visitors Bureau. I am proud to call Albuquerque my home!! This afternoon our office has teamed up with the City of Albuquerque to "Keep Albuquerque Beautiful" This entails all of us going out and cleaning up a part of town. Although this task is not the most glamorous I am happy I am able to pitch in and make our city look its best.

There are so many misconceptions about Albuquerque and why it is "beautiful" many don't understand how a city in the middle of the desert is beautiful, and some are not even aware we are in the United States. To help answer some of your questions here are five reasons I find Albuquerque Beautiful

1. Our sunsets will beat any sunset anywhere hands down

2. We have some of the most beautiful mountains called the Sandia Mountains. Sandia in spanish means Watermelon. They are called the "watermelon"mountains because they turn a pretty pink during sunset.

3. The desert may not be the prettiest in some areas but our desert is different. There are cactus that bloom beautiful flowers there are different plants that grow in the area such as the Yuccu.

4. Not only does the scenery make Albuquerque beautiful the food makes Albuquerque Beautiful our locally grown green and red chili makes and authentic New Mexican Food makes Albuquerque what it is.

5. Finally one of my favorite parts of Albuquerque that makes it so beautiful is our Hot Air Balloons. Almost every morning if you look to the west you will see a sky colored by the balloons flying above. Every October we host the largets International Balloon Fiesta it is defnietly a site to see.

These are just some reasons why I find Albuquerque Beautiful!! I would love to hear why everyone thinks there city is beautiful please share!!

Have a blessed day!!

Happy Administrative Professional Day!!!

This is to all me and all my fellow Administrative Assitants out there!! Enjoy the day after all we work hard for it!!!

Have a blessed day!!

WFW

"While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease" Genisis 8:22

Since today is Earth Day I thought this was a good Bible verse!!

Have a blessed day!!!

Cancer Awareness Week 3

As I mentioned before this is Cancer Awareness Month. Each Monday I have been posting tips on how to stay healthy and hopefully prevent cancer. This weeks tips are for staying active and in shape. There is no time like the present to change and make our lives healthier.

12 Ways to Live a More Active Lifestyle

Recommendations from the American Cancer Society:

1. Use stairs rather than an elevator.

2. If you can, walk or bike to your destination.

3. Exercise at lunch with your co-workers, family or friends

4. Take an exercise break at work to stretch or take a quick walk.
(Remember to check the employee handbook for rules about breaks)

5. Walk to visit co-workers instead of phoning or sending an email.

6. Go dancing!

7. Plan active vacations rather than sit-down trips.

8. Wear a pedometer every day and increase your daily steps. Try for a goal of 10,000 steps.

9. Join a sports team.

10. Use a stationary bicycle or treadmill while watching TV

11. Plan your exercise routine to gradually increase the days per
week and minutes per session.

12. Spend quality time with those you love.

I hope these tips help you and hopefully help others!!

Have a blessed day!

Menu Plan Monday

The weekend has been so busy I am happy to have a quiet week this week!! Here is the menu for this week enjoy!

Monday - Baked Ziti

Tuesday - Chicken Fajitas

Wednesday - Leftovers (Ziti)

Thursday - Chicken Cordon Bleu

Friday - Pizza

Saturday - Husband cooks day!!

Sunday - Green Chili Chicken Enchilada Casserole

My husband has been out of town camping all week so I premade a pan of baked Ziti so when he gets home all he has to do is put it in the oven and bake it!! We buy the big frozen bags of chicken breast so that is why there are lots of chicken dishes on this weeks menu!! If you would like any of the recipes please let me know!!

Have a blessed day!!

God Talking

This past week my attitude has been terrible, yes, I am admitting to my wrong doing of having a negative attitude. I am not sure what is bringing this on but for some reason every little thing anyone does just gets to me. I have been praying and asking God to guide me to happiness, to get rid of my anger and sadness. Well...just when you think your prayers are not getting answered God shows up and throws things in my face!!

First of all my husband and I are watching the whole collection of The Sopranos. Wow what a show!! In one of the episodes Tony's sister Janice is talking about anger and how she is the only one who can control her emotions. Well go figure in my small group Bible study we were talking about being responsible for our emotions and the only person who can control our emotions are us. Not the guy driving down the road who cut us off, not our husband who didn't do the dishes, and not the boss that wants everything and wants everything NOW! We are in control we are the only one's who can look at a situation and turn it around on our own. Well if that was not good enough lets keep going...

Today again I am moping around the office grumping at everyone when all of a sudden I find out I have more vacation then originally thought and I get to take a vacation day on Friday!! Talk about perfect timing I need a day off for my mental and spritual health sooo bad!! Oh but wait there is more...

As I go through the mundane routine of checking my email on Yahoo I happen to stumble across an article titled "9 ways to get happy in the next 30 minutes" First thing that runs through my head is "Ok come on now God I get the hint, but is this really going to work, and how do you know I am not happy right now I am showing it arn't I?" We should never question the Lord and in times like this where everywhere you look there is something or someone trying to solve your problem we need to take 5 minutes to thank Him for all He has done!! So here is my shout out to you Lord and THANKS!!!

Have a blessed day!!

Yahoo article if interested....
http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/health/9-ways-to-get-happy-in-the-next-30-minutes-444895/

World Filled Wednesday

I am guilty of not trusting the Lord with all my heart. Lately I have been trying to solve all my troubles myself. This is a reminder that we just need to trust in the Lord and he will help us get through and he will show us the way.

Have a Blessed Day!

You can find more Word Filled Wednesday here The 160 Acre Woods.

Cancer Awareness Week 2

As I mentioned in my previous posts it is cancer awareness month, and I will be posting different tips each Monday to help educate all of us!!

This weeks post is again along the lines of nutrition. Here are some foods that fight cancer from the Cancer Cure Foundation:

Avocados

Broccoli

Brussel Sprouts

Cabbage

Cauliflower

Carrots

Chili Pepper, including jalapenos

Figs

Flax

Licorice root

Garlic

Grapes (red)

Grapefruit

Kale

lemon

Mushrooms

Nuts

Oranges

Papyas

Rasberries

Rosemary

Seaweed

Soy Products

Sweet Potatos

Teas (green/black)

Tapioca

Tomatoes

Tumeric

Turnips

Wine (Red)

Tips recommended by the Cancer Cure Foundation include:
· East a variety of healthy foods, particularly from plant sources
· Shop the perimeter of the grocery store – avoid processed foods.
· Eat 5 or more fruits and vegetables a day
· Limit consumption of red meat
· The more red meat people eat, the less fruits and vegetables they tend to consume
· Avoid sugar – cancers love sugar. It is even suggested that sugar substitutes also fall under this same category.
· Some say that cancers love carbohydrates, so it is suggested that corn and potatoes should be consumed on a limited basis.

I hope we all can learn something from these posts and share it with others.

Have a blessed day!

Menu Plan Monday!

We made it to another week! I am looking forward to this weeks meals because we will be making some of our favorite recipes!! Enjoy...

Monday - I have Bible Study so we are each on our own.

Tuesday - Spaghetti and Meatballs

Wednesday - Chili Cheese Chicken with rice

Thursday - Tuna Helper

Friday - Pizza

Saturday - I am on my own this weekend because my Husband is going camping. I will probably make something easy or pick something up with a friend.

Sunday - Dinner at my folks house since hubby is out of town.

Have a blessed day!

Happy Easter!

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead..." (NIV) 1 Peter 1:3

I want to wish everyone has a blessed Easter weekend with family and friends.

Happy Easter!

Exciting News....

So anyone who knows me knows that I have wanted a puppy since the day we got married! I have always grown up with animals and always loved dogs!! Well, the husband was not so set on the idea even though he loves animals and dogs just as much as me! Well today he called me and said we can get a PUPPY!!! I am soooo thrilled. We just have some minor adjustments to make...

1. Make a fake yard on our apartment porch. I think we are going to get one of those kiddie pools and put sod in it. We want our dog to be trained to go to the door and potty outside so when we move into a house the dog is not leash trained!

2. Learn to think of our dog before ourselves when going out in the evening and for vacations.

3. Make sure we are financially ready. I would hate for our little puppy to get sick and need to go to the vet when we don't have the money to pay for it!!

Once we make sure we are ready and God willing we will be getting a cute little Pug!!! We are looking at getting him or her in the next couple of months!! I will keep you all updated!! Can't wait!!

Have a blessed day!!

Word Filled Wednesday

This is my first Word Filled Wednesday! I hope everyone has a blessed day.

For more Word Filled Wednesday please visit The 160 Acre Woods

Forgiveness...

If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins. Matthew 6:14-15

My Monday nights usually consist of Bible study with my small group however, I had such a busy weekend and was so tired I missed lasts night discussion. We are currently studying a book called "Victory over the Darkness" by Neil T. Anderson. (I will post the link to Amazon at the bottom of the post) we are in chapter 11 which is "Healing Emotional Wounds from your Past". Wow did this ever hit home!! Now, I have never been raped or had great trauma to my life but I have had times where someone has done something to me and I have said "I will never forgive this person for what they did" those are pretty harsh words considering I want God to forgive me for all my sins and wrong doings. So, how come each of us here on Earth have such a hard time forgiving others in our lives but God can forgive each of us no matter what we do?! I have been struggling with this since I read the chapter. What can I do to forgive the people that have caused me pain, or sadness. Anderson states that we need to give forgiveness to everyone no matter what they have done, he mentioned that it is the only way we find peace with the person or situation. But, Anderson also says we need to forgive them through God, by praying and telling God exactly what they did and forgiving them for that exact reason. God is the only one who can judge us and our wrong doings. We are here to live according to God's will and leave the hard, tricky stuff to him.

With that my new goal set before myself is to forgive through God. The people I am forgiving may never know that I have forgave them but, God in return will show them sometime, someday. I am putting all my trust in the Lord and knowing he will help each and everyone of us if we help him, and live through him.

"It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man." Psalm 118:8

Have a Blessed Day!

Link to Amazon.com for Victory over the Darkness: http://www.amazon.com/Victory-Over-Darkness-Realizing-Identity/dp/0830725644

Menu Plan Monday

Gosh my Monday has been full of blogging I hope everyone is enjoying their Monday as much as I am!! Heres the menu this week...easy week!!

Monday - I have bible study and my husband is going to be at a friends watching the Basketball game so we are each on our own

Tuesday - French dips w/tater tots

Wednesday - We have a concert to go to so we will probably grab Subway or something easy

Thursday - Tacos

Friday - Frozen Pizza we got a great deal at Costco 3 Digorno pizzas for 11.00 so we will make one of those and of course add our must topping Green Chile!!

Saturday - My husband loves to cook on the weekends so I will leave this day to him!

Sunday - Easter Sunday dinner at my folks house. It will consist of ham, baked potatos, and veggies or salad!

Hopefully next week won't be this busy so I can cook some good homemade creations!

"Nothing would be more tiresome than eating and drinking if God had not made them a pleasure as well as a necessity." ~Voltaire

Cancer Awareness Month Week 1

April is Cancer Awareness month. I know I have known many people who have been diagnosed with Cancer and although there is no cure, or no sure way of preventing it there are many steps we take to take care of ourselves and our family.

Each Monday in the month of April I will post different tips to help all of us.

Today is all about Nutrition here are some great ideas...Remember it takes 32 days to form a habit so there is no time like today to start!

Cancer Awareness Month
Week 1

NUTRITION

Recommendations from the American Cancer Society on Nutrition:

Eat a healthy diet with an emphasis on plant sources.

Choose foods and drinks in amounts that help achieve and maintain a healthy weight.

Eat 5 or more servings of a variety of vegetables and fruits every day.

Choose whole grains over processed (refined) grains.

Limit intake of processed and red meats.

If you drink alcoholic beverages, limit your intake.

Servings:
Fruit servings – one serving equals:
i. 1 whole medium apple, banana or orange

ii. ½ cup chopped, cooked or canned fruit
iii. ¾ cup 100% fruit juice
Vegetable servings – one serving equals:
i. 1 cup raw, leafy vegetable
ii. ½ cup cooked or raw vegetables, chopped
iii. ¾ cup 100% vegetable juice
Grains servings – one serving equals:
i. 1 slice of bread
ii. 1 ounce ready-to-eat cereal
iii. ½ cup cooked cereal, rice or pasta
Beans and nuts servings – one serving equals:
i. ½ cup cooked dry beans
ii. 2 tablespoons peanut butter
iii. 1/3 cup nuts
Dairy foods and eggs
i. 1 cup milk or yogurt
ii. 1 ½ oz natural cheese
iii. 2 oz processed cheese
iv. 1 egg
Meats, poultry, fish
i. 2 – 3 oz cooked lean meat, poultry, fish

At the Well...Older Women

This is my first At the Well post! I am excited and hope I will be able to keep up with everything...

Today At the Well discussed older women and living our lives according to the fruit of the Spirit. Here are the discussion questions for today.

How are you doing as an older woman?
I really wouldn't consider myself and older woman spiritually or age wise. I have been a follower of God my whole life and did all the age appropriate things in my life; communion, confirmation etc. I really have not started following, learning, or living in Christ until about 3 years ago. It has definitely been a GREAT change in my life and in the last year or so I feel the Lord has really gone to my heart and I work daily to live for him!

Do you live in a way that is appropriate for someone serving the Lord?
I went through so many different phases in my life that did not show I was serving the Lord. I am a sinner like everyone and I ask God everyday for repentance in my sins of today and of yesterday. Since I have started a deeper walk with God I definitely feel myself working to live in a way that is appropriate. I can always change but so far I am getting on the track for successfully living to serve the Lord.

How is your speech, your attitude?
I used to use every word in the book whether is was appropriate or not. Thank the Lord I gave that up a while ago. I need to be more verbal as far as speaking about God to others.

Attitude is a completely different subject and since I have been married it is a daily struggle. I am so used to showing how I feel by my attitude. My husband has been a huge impact on my attitude change he is a very optimistic person and is always trying to help me have a positive attitude on everything. In my small group Bible study we have discussed, giving it to God, in times of anger, sadness, or negativity. I have definitely made a more conscious effort when a angry thought or a negative thought pops in my head, that before I dwell or really grab hold of it I just say "Give it to God" and say a small prayer that he will take this from me and help me trust in him no matter what is going on.

Are you producing the fruits of the Spirit in your life?
I like to believe I live according to the fruits of the spirit but I can definitely say it is not easy. I think what would help is posting the fruits of the spirit around my home and office and always being aware of them. I feel that will help me remember everything that I am supposed to be doing!

As I am growing into an "older woman" physically and spiritually, I hope to accomplish all God has in store for me and try and help the "younger women" that come into my life.
Have a blessed day!