{E} THM Brownies

Last week my husband and I started our first "Fuel Cycle" on the Trim Healthy Mama eating plan.  It is a more structured week or two to help kick things into gear in regards to losing a few stubborn pounds.  When we came to day 6, a full "E" day (energizing/carbs), I was a little stuck on what I could enjoy that didn't involve apples.  Almost everything on the Pinterest site involved fruit dishes with oats and that is all well and good... but I wanted CHOCOLATE!  And not pudding, either. Chocolate cake...chocolate brownies...chocolate muffins.

As I often do when I'm hungry, I head to the kitchen to create some inventive sort of yumminess that is on plan, but not in the recipe books or sites that I have found.

Okay-dokey.  Here is a great and delish recipe for brownies on an E day... or any day if you just want something that is tasty and you don't even follow the THM plan!

Ingredients

• Egg Whites
• Whole Oats
• Cocoa Powder
• Swansons Vanilla Unsweetened Whey Powder
• Xylitol or Truvia
• 0% fat Greek Yogurt
• Salt
• Cream or tartar
• Baking powder
• vanilla

Directions

•  Put 1 1/2 cup egg whites in a bowl and blend with hand mixer until stiff peaks form (much like a meringue). I use egg whites from the carton.  Add 1/4 tsp cream of tartar and blend for another 30 seconds.  Set aside.
• In Vitamix or Ninja blender, put in two cups of whole dry oats, 3 tablespoons cocoa powder, 1 scoop of Swanson's whey powder, dash of salt, 1 tablespoon baking powder and 1 cup of xylitol (or truvia).  Blend on high until a flour-like powder form.
• Add "chocolate" flour to egg white meringue and let sit on top while you add 1/2 cup greek yogurt and a splash of vanilla.
• Blend everything with electric beaters until meringue goes down to half size and the consistency looks much more like a brownie batter.
• Put into brownie pan or casserole dish (I sprayed mine very lightly with olive oil) and bake on 350 degrees for 20 minutes.  Should be able to insert toothpick and come out clean.  
• Let set up for about 30 minutes and top with strawberries or a plan-approved pudding or icing.

Enjoy!  :)

Angelena

Five Scrumptious "S" Meals!

I started Trim Healthy Mama in September 2013 and my husband and I have lost a combined 45+ pounds pretty evenly between us.  It is good to be eating well (as in, "Wow, that's yummy and healthy!"), feeling energetic and getting back in the jeans you thought were destined for the thrift donation.

The Facebook group for THM has been fantastic and we've been able to encourage each other with great stories and AMAZING recipes.  I'd like to share five favorite "S" dinner meals with you that you and your entire family can enjoy.  You do not need to be a short order cook trying to make THM approved meals for you and something else for the rest of the family.  Share the love, peeps!

Remember, you will not have to stare blankly into the fridge wondering what to make twenty minutes before dinner if you have it planned out for your week or month.  It doesn't have to be a Martha Stewart approved spreadsheet or graph, but rather something simple so you will have a guide for your day.

Mix up those "S" & "E" meals throughout your day, girls!  Our family does an "S" every evening because it is a fun way to share a yummy meal and always have enough leftovers for hubby to take to work in the morning. I am not a calorie counter and will not be giving specific recipes below based on caloric values per person per serving per day, yada yada yada.  Just eat a good & filling portion without being a glutton and enjoy it.  Remember, "S" meals are full of fats and shouldn't be paired with carbs.  So, if you are really wanting a bowl of oatmeal after dinner, give it three hours!

Food freedom!  Okay, here we go... drum roll please...


1.  Chicken Cordon Bleu, Salad with sliced almonds, cheddar, veggies & ranch dressing.  {Bake boneless, skinless chicken breast with a lean & no sugar added slice of ham & slice of thick mozz cheese.  Serve with salad & dressing.}

2.  Bacon Blue Cheese Turkey Burgers & Cilantro Tomato Salad.  {Using your favorite ground turkey burger recipe, grill some of these bad boys and top with crisp turkey-bacon that you can make in your microwave (yeah, not a purist here) and blue cheese crumbles warmed on top.  On the side, chop up one full bunch of fresh cilantro, 8 ounces of mozzarella cheese into small cubes and 1 cup of cherry tomatoes.  Sprinkle a dash of salt on your salad.  Note:  We obviously opt not to use buns, but the kids still love their burgers with a bun.}

3.  Grilled Chicken & Steamed Broccoli with Shredded Cheddar.  {Bake boneless, skinless chicken with on-plan seasoning of choice.  Serve with a side of broccoli that has been coated with shredded cheddar and a tablespoon of butter with a pinch of salt and heated until cooked and bubbly.}

4.  Chicken Enchiladas & Mexican Salad. (You can you ground beef, steak, turkey, etc if you are chickened out for that day/week.).  {Get a package of Lavash bread, take out three pieces and cut these into thirds.  You will have nine pieces now.  Taking a casserole dish, lay these out side by side and ladle in cooked chicken that has been thinly sliced.  In a sauce pan, combine one small can diced green chilies, 8 ounces sour cream and 8 ounces shredded cheddar cheese.  Mix until creamy and pour half this mixture over each chicken/lavash bread in the dish.  Take the other half of the cream mixture and add a dash of cumin and chili pepper.  Close each of the lavash bread/chicken mixture by folding over and pour the remaining sauce with the seasoning added on top.  Finish by covering with shredded cheese and baking 350 degrees for 20 minutes or so.  You just want everything to heat through and cheese to be bubbly.   Garnish on the side with a Mexican Salad: bed of lettuce, dollop of sour cream, slice of avocado, slice of tomato and slice of onion.}

5.  Homemade Mac n' Cheese & Italian Sausage with Green Beans with onion.  {Grill up Italian links (enough to feed your family) and dice into coin sizes.  Lay these on top of your whole, freshly steamed green beans with sliced onion on top.  Put in microwave or oven for a few minutes- enough for the flavors to combine.  Boil one box Dreamfields pasta (elbow mac, rotini or penne).  While that is boiling, combine one stick of butter, one 16 ounce container sour cream and one 8 ounce shredded block of sharp cheddar with salt to taste into a saucepan.  Mix with a whisk on medium heat until blended and creamy.  You can also add 1/2 cup of heavy cream if you really want to get crazy.  Drain pasta and add cream sauce.}


Next time I'll share five of my favorite dessert recipes and they are SO good!

Blessings,

Angelena

Farewell...

"All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever."  1 Peter 1: 24 & 25

This blog has been a dear friend to me over the past seven years.  When my boys were little, it was a way that I could journal our daily lives and post ridiculously cute pictures.  When I began to understand Reformed theology and grow in love for Christ's Word, this blog was a great venue to share scripture, hymns and solid teaching from pastors that preach the solid truth of the Gospel.  When I started to take charge of my health and begin running, it was a way to encourage others and make new friends that also loved to feel the wind on their face.  When I wanted to share recipes, grocery ideas and menu planning, I found a home here.  When I started a photography business, I shared my images and ideas here.  When we began on the road to adoption, I shared our fundraising ideas and excitement with the blogosphere.  And when Facebook was born, I quit blogging and did all of the above {and more} over there.  

My poor blog has been ignored for far too long and as much as I would LOVE to say that the New Year is coming and things will change... I know now that they will not.  My thoughts on writing for the world have changed.  Personally, my *reach* will now extend to my sweet little people that I cook, clean and love on daily... my husband... my amazing parents...my dear friends... our church family.  

I loved blogging.  LOVED it.  And I have no plans to delete it because it is a history for me.  Not just a journal of cute pictures and funny stories as my children grew, but a journey of where I used to be and where I am now.  I am different from when I started this seven years ago and it is a good barometer to see where I have grown, both in spiritual disciplines as well as physical/emotional ones as well as where I can keep growing.

I guess I am a little more private now too. :)

Thank you for the years and thank you for reading.  May the Lord be praised....

Signing off,

Angelena

Gotcha Day 5K Run Walk or Bike for Adoption!

Consider yourself officially invited! 

 

 The Daniels family is excited about adoption and we are heading down this wonderful and familiar path once again.  In an effort to fundraise for our adoption, we are hosting the first annual, Gotcha Day 5K Run for Adoption!  You can run, walk or bike on the beautiful cross-country trail over beautiful bridges and past sparkling lakes on your way.  Go to www.gotchaday5k.com to register!

 

Hopefully you've seen these posters all around town!  We're hanging them up anywhere somebody will take them for us.  (And we have a lot of supporting businesses that are happy to help!)

 

 

Have you seen our yard signs around town?  We are really thankful for those families that were willing to put a sign or a vehicle decal to help advertise our event!  It's gonna be BIG!

 

In addition to all these great sponsors offering free prizes, products and food to our registrants, we also have just added Panera Bread to the list!!  It's going to be a good day!

 

 

Here is another sign we designed earlier on that we've used in more family-friendly environments like libraries, churches and ice cream shops!

 

 

Our daughter, born in our hearts in 2012... what a blessing and one of the million reasons why we LOVE adoption!

 

Please consider coming and supporting the Gotcha Day 5K!

www.gotchaday5k.com

 

See you at the finish line!

My New Years Resolution is to Gain Six Pounds... More or Less

2/2012 Update: Thank you to everyone that has been such a blessing in helping us to get closer to our financial adoption goals! As you may note on our adoption donation site, our goal has increased to $16,500 as our family continues to save for this adoption. (We have a wonderful grant, but due to restrictions that have come to light, we must raise slightly more than once anticipated). It is fun for us to have a 'thermometer' and watch our savings put toward our newest little member. Again, we thank our family, friends and the body of Christ for stepping forward over the past two months to help! We love you guys!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Our New Years resolution is to get bigger this year- by at least six pounds at first and growing from there, more or less. No, I haven't lost my mind. No, McDonald's is not paying us to be in a documentary. Yes, we are adopting!

Over the past two years we have raised, saved, scrimped and begged to add to our $33,500 agency adoption fund. Yes, I said Thirty-three thousand, five-hundred d o l l a r s. Get out the inhaler and put your head between your knees- you'll be fine in a minute... Better now?

Can you spare just $5 for adoption?! If each person can give only five bucks, we could reach our goal!
DONATE HERE NOW!!!

We've sold lemonade to every neighbor child in a 20 mile radius and the trash men know us by our first names because of all the cookies we've sold to them. Yes, my boys freak out when they see "that look" in my eyes and wonder which of their toys I'm going to sell to fill the glass mason jar in the pantry marked Adoption with a black sharpie on the lid.

In all seriousness, the Lord has been gracious and over the past week we have raised an additional $1300 from AMAZING friends, family and complete strangers who have wanted to help us reach our final $10,000 goal!

But you know what? It is going to be TOTALLY worth it. I can't wait. Bring on the diaper changes with those funky new cloth diapers that my husband despises. Bring on the 2am feedings--err, screaming sessions. Bring on the looks from people who don't understand pale peach mommy snuggling little sweet brown baby. Bring.It.On. I love my children and can't wait to see our family growing through the grace of Christ!

 

A heart FULL of gratitude

Can I just tell you (and you know who you are) how amazing ya'll are?! What a blessing it is to put out a request for adoption donations and see such a wonderful response! It roughly one day using our online fundraising site HERE (plus donations that came through coworkers and friends), we were able to add $1,200 to our adoption account!! Praise the Lord for that! You honestly don't know what a blessing it was- and we are so thankful for YOU! One day when our little one is old enough, I'm going to sit him or her down and tell about all the people who wanted to bring them into our home-- wanted them to be a 'Daniels' and wanted them to have the opportunity to know Jesus Christ.

Bless you all...

For His fame,

Angelena

An adoption donation challenge!

"Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed.
Defend the cause of orphans..."
Isaiah 1:17a


Would you give ONLY $5.00 to help bring a child into their forever family's home? Well, you can!


DONATE NOW!

Our family started down the road to adoption in February 2010. We have a total of $33,500 that needs to be raised for the current agency that we are working with. Right now, only $10,000 is outstanding to raise!!

If we can find 2,000 willing people to give just FIVE DOLLARS, we can raise our final amount!!

We love children and are excited for the additional blessings that the Lord will add to our family one day. We wait patiently on His timing and for His good will!


Our love & gratitude,

Angelena

Songs for Saplings

Last year, our church had the opportunity to host Dana Dirksen of Songs for Saplings for a family concert. Dana and her husband started a music ministry years ago that give children (and adults too) a solid Biblical foundation of the truths of God's word through catechism memory. We love these songs and enjoy each and every CD. There are currently four CD's available for purchase and the fifth will be coming out this year. I encourage you to stop by their website today!

Movie Night

From time to time, my family and I enjoy a good old fashioned movie night. Years ago we made the decision to disconnect from "commercial television" and don't even get a signal in the house anymore. If we want to watch a movie, we either buy it, borrow it or go to the local library to check it out. Movie night in our house usually consists of homemade pizza, popped corn and lots of blankets and pillows.

Now, you must understand...if my husband and I are going to gather the entire family for a time in front of the TV, the movie itself must submit to our house rules. First, there should be no foul language or cursing. Second, no sexuality/sensuality ("There must not even be a hint of sexual immorality..for these things are improper for God's holy people"). Third, any movie that is laced with gore, intense violence (for the sake of entertainment only) and horror themed- NEVER makes it into our home. And lastly, and most importantly- there has to be a theme that points us to Christ or doesn't confuse us about true theology. In my opinion, there is nothing worse than watching a "Christian" movie that is filled with more heresy and false teaching- and does more damage than a Hollywood film ever could.

One of my favorite genre's as a young adult was black and white classical movies. So, we decided to pull in some Fred Astaire's and Cary Grant's and do you know what we found? With an exception of profanity and gore, they still include sexual innuendos, sensual and immodest clothing (sure, call 'em ballet dance outfits if you like- they still look like scantily clad bikini wearers to me) and sometimes the overall theme points away from what God desires in His holy people.

Now you are all wondering- what about 'just for you- or just for your husband'. Yes, there are movies, documentaries and news stories (not appropriate for a five and seven year old) that my husband and I will watch, but the overall concept of our house rules still apply. I'm old enough to watch R rated movies by the fact that I'm over 18, but choose not to. I'm married and have children...does that now give me the right to 'appreciate' movies that are filled with cursing, sexual themes and coarse joking? If you are bought by the blood of Christ, His spirit lives within you and it should be our desire to live by the spirit- and not by the flesh.

Philippians 4:8 says this- "Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy- think about such things."

Sister in Christ, be reminded that this scripture does apply to the movies we watch, the books we read, the magazines we delve into and the people we fall into conversation with. I am guilty of not following by my own standards many times...fooling myself to believe that a movie will be 'mostly clean' and then filling my heart with grief because little by little, I'm hardening myself to His gentle spirit.

I'm sure there are plenty of online reviewers for movies, but one of our favorites is the following: Plugged In by Focus on the Family. I don't always agree with their overall rating of the film or write up, it does give the reader the opportunity to assess each movie by category (violence, sexual content, language, etc.). I encourage you to stop by...before you check out that next movie.

Blessings,

Angelena

My new calendar

"Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:13-14

Let's take a moment and hover over the phrase "press on" from this passage. In the Greek, press on is dioko and from dio = pursue, prosecute, persecute). It means to follow or press hard after, literally to pursue as one does a fleeing enemy. It means to chase, harass, vex and pressure and was used for chasing down criminals. Dioko speaks of an intensity of effort leading to pursue with earnestness and diligence in order to obtain. To go after with the desire of obtaining. It gives us the picture of going on the track of something like the hounds on the hunt and pursuing after the fox and implying a continuing effort to overtake, reach, or attain the goal. (courtesy of preceptaustin.org)

Warren Wiersbe writes that dioko...."It carries the idea of intense endeavor. The Greeks used it to describe a hunter eagerly pursuing his prey. A man does not become a winning athlete by listening to lectures, watching movies, reading books, or cheering at the games. He becomes a winning athlete by getting into the game and determining to win! The same zeal that Paul employed when he persecuted the church (Phil. 3:6), he displayed in serving Christ. Come to think of it, wouldn't it be wonderful if Christians put as much determination into their spiritual life as they do their golfing, fishing, or bowling?"

I have a confession to make. I'm a calendar junkie. Every day I pull out our calendar and my big black sharpie just to put a gigantic "X" over the date. Sometimes I wait until the end of the day. Sometimes it's the first thing I do in the wee hours of the morning. Maybe it's a sense of accomplishment. Maybe it's obsessive. Either way, I enjoy doing it. I get a sense of euphoria when a new calendar year rolls around. Do you know what 2011means? It means a NEW calendar! With 365 markable spaces for my sharpie!

Not only do I enjoy marking off daily spaces, I also enjoy filling the spaces with "things to do". As a homeschooling mommy, elder’s wife, SAH mommy, adoptive parent hopeful, runner in training, wedding photographer and all around socialite...this task is pretty easy. I could fill to my heart’s content, but have resolved to keep my calendar quiet this year and focus on quality rather than quantity.

What you are passionate about will consume your time because you will make the time. We were created to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. Are we glorifying God with what fills our calendar spots? Are we filling too many spots just to keep ourselves busy and active for no real reason? Is the devil getting a foothold in our calendar and keeping us from our families, our children and our personal time to pray on our faces before a holy God? I pray that God would change my heart to continually have an intense passion for the Person of Jesus Christ and pursue His vision within my home.

Blessings,

Angelena

Are we grateful?

Click here to read a great article on gratefulness from Russell Moore...

Peril & Peace: Chronicles of the Ancient Church

"But whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven." Matthew 10:33

As a homeschooling mother, I am constantly looking for well written resources that will teach our young children solid Biblical information while holding their interest.

I was pleased to come upon the five part series by Brandon & Mindy Withrow that takes children and adults alike through a chronicle starting with the early or ancient church and finishing in the final book with the modern body. Although I have not read each and every book, I can say that we are about half-way through Peril and Peace and I am very pleased.

The chapters are lengthy, but written like a dramatic fiction quick read. My boys, ages 5 and 7 are usually on the edge of their seats with wide eyes, leaning in and ready to hear what will happen next. I'm usually in tears by the end of each chapter because of the boldness of these men and women and unswerving faith to die for their Savior. The story on Polycarp has so far been my absolute favorite and in my opinion, worth the purchase of the book if you read that story alone.


This first book in the series starts with a shipwrecked Paul and gives a visual time line of Polycarp, Justin, Origen, Caprian, etc. Each true story in this book focuses on the early Christian church and their ability to stand firm in the face of torture, persecution and death for Jesus Christ. The authors cleverly weave in a good amount of information about the culture, government officials, emperors, dates and facts about the chapter hero.

The constant thread through these chapters is entwined with the same message: The eternal flames of Hell are much hotter than the futile fire that might burn the body on this earth. The flesh may die, but the spirit lives on...how then can we deny our Jesus to save our flesh? We must be willing to confess Him and not be ashamed. What a message for our children!

The headlines are rampant these days with stories of the persecuted church. Our children have never known persecution and have such freedom within the United States. We know our brothers and sisters in Jesus around the world are not so fortunate, but as history shows us- the message of the gospel and the growth of the church explodes when those that oppose it try to suppress it.

You can purchase this series at www.cbd.com or www.amazon.com for $4-$7 plus shipping.


Blessings,
Angelena

Excuses...excuses

I used to be fairly good at blogging- at least- I did it often. I suppose one can't promise quality, but I did offer quantity.

In mid 2008 we started a home-based photography business that has taken off much more than I ever would have imagined. We did 13 weddings in 2010 as well as a gazillion family shoots, seniors, kids, etc. Love our clients!

In addition to the biz, I homeschooled my niece for six months along with our two boys and we have continued to be busy with our family-integrated church plant.

So, you understand my delay in blogging, yes? Oh, and I became a member of Facebook. I've never played any of the games and I only have a handful of "friends", but it has become quite the place to stand on my soapbox and declare in just 420 characters or less, my thought of the day. Honestly, it's a lot less work than a blog. Blogs make you sit. And think. And write. And try to be funny and give people quantity AND quality. Trust me, there's not much of either on FB these days. (Although I must admit that I find great Godly encouragement from some dear friends on that site).

My resolution for 2011 is to blog more from an informational standpoint. I'd love to do some book reviews, giveaways and menu/budget planning and updates on the persecuted church.

Happy Friday everyone,

Angelena

New Year Greeting

From our family to yours, happy New Year! My goal is to post more this year...LOL- we know how that goes!

Has it really been this long?

I am amazed that I haven't blogged in months. I used to daily monitor my blog and write all kinds of interesting (right?!) posts. Now all I write about is how I haven't written anything. Or wrote anything. Or how I apparently need grammar lessons.

The family is all very well. The boys are growing and as goofy as ever- please see above picture for proof. 2010 has been a very full year. I'd love to point out a few highlights for any of you left reading this blog. Or perhaps it's just for me. The dates will probably be quite random...as my thoughts turn to the past year and all its happenings.

*March of 2009: My husband and I planted a family-integrated, Reformed & evangelical church and we went to full-time Sunday morning services. Oikos is amazing. God is so good and we have the most wonderful friends. We are learning daily what it means to step out in faith.

*May 2009: I ran my third half-marathon and it was pretty much disastrous. I had been really busy with homeschooling and work that I only trained on the weekends. So, when the time came for the race- I blew out my ankle. A 13.1 mile race took me over 3 hours. Not good. I opted not to race in October '09, but am signed up and ready to do the May '10 half-marathon with hopes that I will be disciplined in my training.

*September 2009: I turned 30. I think that's all I need to say about that.

*September 2009: My husband was diagnosed with cancer. He was 32 years old and we were told four days before my 30th birthday that he would have immediate surgery on my 30th birthday. He had a very serious melanoma on his chest and has a major scar now. The weird thing about melanoma is that there are NO tests to see if the cancer has spread and there is really NO treatment if it has. We were totally resting in the sufficiency of Christ. We still are.

*May 2009: I celebrated one full year of owning my own business. I am the sole proprietor of my own photography studio and loving every minute of it. Well, almost every minute. I do have to deal with people sometimes.

*July 2009: I was introduced to Facebook. It has been a great way to find old friends and communicate daily with new ones. I have found that you can truly find out who someone is through Facebook. I am (sadly) amazed at the lack of propriety on FB.

*October 2009: My husband and I celebrated nine years of marriage, two boys and one goldfish. Sadly, the other one died. But, the marriage is alive and the family is well.

*April 2009: I went on vacation with the boys...by myself. Owen had to work, but I really wanted to take the boys to Florida to visit with my aunt and uncle. Never EVER again. We got on the plane and my youngest spiked a big fever. As soon as we landed and arrived at the condo, my other one got ill. They had high fevers for three days and then I had the nerve to say, "Well, at least no one is throwing up." Strike up the band and bring on the buckets, baby. Stomach flu hit for the next three days. Then, it was time to come home. Ahhh....memories.

*January 2010: I am finally visiting my old blog. I miss my bloggy friends and hope somebody is still out there. Happy New Year everyone.