have you missed me?

Hi friends!

Sorry it has been a WEEK since my last post! Longest ever!

I haven't posted this week because I have a hard time writing when I have something else really on my mind. So I just decided to write what it is on my mind....

Last Wednesday I started having a weird pain in my right side and back. As the week went on, it got worse (I was sobbing on Easter morning)...well, I went to the Dr yesterday, and we think its.....Drum roll please.....KIDNEY STONES! I have a ct scan today to confirm. But, lets just say I am in some pretty intense pain. And, I am still working (meaning chasing and lifting 20 lb babies!). So I just havent had much to write about. I am just ready to figure my pain out. This is how bad its been- I had a coveted ticked to Mumford and Sons last night and I sold it! That is pain. So, I am just waiting for my scan this afternoon and to hear back from the Dr. I will let you guys know once I know!

Sorry to be a debbie downer!

Cheers to kidney stones!

and we're off!

Hi friends!

Today is the day we leave for Easter in Lubbock! Super excited! I may even get to see some of you while I am in the hub!

I wanted to blog really quick about a workout class I went to on Monday night. It is called "cardio dance party." If that isn't an awesome name for a class, I don't know what is! It was at 7:30 pm and was packed. It was basically dancing to all types of music for an hour. We did swing, African tribal dancing, hip hop, BEYONCE!-I mean it was great. And, the instructor was a legit dancer. She actually reminded me so much of my bff Priscilla. She was fun, funky, and could dance! It was amazing. I wore a heart rate monitor to watch my calorie burn and I burned 900 calories in an hour! Wow! It is definitely something I am going to put into my work out routine! Anyway, I hope everyone has a great holiday. I pray we can all celebrate the life we have because of Christ and the selfless sacrifice of His own life. Love to all of you!

Easter week! Hooray!

Hi friends!

Well, finally we have made it to Easter week! I have been looking forward to this for so long! I am so excited to go to Lubbock and get some wonderfully needed time with my family! I am also really hoping for time with my sweet niece, Laney-Who yesterday said, "mimi" and "elmo". So funny. So we leave wednesday night after work and are there Thursday-Sunday. I just can't wait!

We had a great weekend! I went to yoga on saturday and am really loving getting back into it. It is such a great way to kick off a weekend. It was also great because while I was there I knew that the memorial service for Jen was happening and I was able to just be quiet and reflect on her and celebrate her in my own way, while also doing downward dog :).

On sunday I went to boot camp again. I still love it so much, but made the mistake of eating lunch at maudies after church. Now, I ate really well- we split chicken fajitas for 2. But I skipped the tortilla and just ate chicken, peppers, salsa, guacamole and black beans. It was so yummy! But, when 3 pm rolled around and I was doing bungee runs on a football field (yes, it is as bad as it sounds)- I was really regretting the mexican food. But, I was able to keep it all down and was really proud to not quit. That was my goal, just don't quit. It was amazing.

I have another funny story for you. My husband, Andrew, is a very picky eater. He does not like ANYTHING weird. Like hummus really freaks him out...Well, recently, I have really been a fan of morning star foods. Morning star is a vegetarian food brand. I love their corn dogs, chicken nuggets, burgers, etc. They are super yummy and really low ww points. Well, I recently purchased their buffalo chicken nuggets and andrew spotted them. He has not caught on that it is vegetarian. So when he asked me to cook some for his dinner last night because he thought they looked good, i went right on ahead and baked them. HE ATE 10!!! He loved them. After he ate them all I asked if he liked them and he said yes. Then I told him it wasn't chicken, but vegetarian. He looked kind of mad and then just congratulated me for making him eat something healthy and said he would eat them again! V-I-C-T-O-R-Y!!!!

Haha. It was great! I hope everyone has a great week!

kind of amazing

Well, I realize I have already blogged once today. But I just had a realization that I had to share with you. I was looking at my prayer journal from last week. I try to spend time while my gals sleep in prayer and reading the Bible. Last week, I had just gotten off of the phone with my mom and had gotten an update on Jennifer that she was starting to fade. Now, she was still walking, talking, eating, and all of that. But, her eye was beginning to droop and her balance had gotten bad again. So they knew she was fading. So I was led to pray for her and her family-specifically for her mom, Chris. Now, my prayer journal is VERY private. It really is between Jesus and me. But, I will break my own rule to share with you my prayer from last week. It is amazing to see how the Lord answered this...

" Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus. Lord, I cry out to you to cover the Jones family. Cover them with mercy, Lord, right now. We ask that if you can, please protect Jen from suffering. Protect her from slowly going. Take her quickly, Lord. May it be quick and sweet. Protect Chris's heart. She is just really walking through it. I know she must feel so worn out, so afraid, so alone. Lord, how amazing it is that in each moment of each day, you walk with her. I see a picture of her walking through their house and you behind her, leading her with your hand in the small of her back. I see you in front of her, holding her hand, taking her to sit. I see you singing over her. Sitting with her weeping. You know! You know what it is like to watch your beloved child die. I see you smile as Chris sees Jen do well. When glimpses of Jennifer are visible. Please God, draw so close to her. Pour your spirit into their home. I pray that you breathe your spirit of hope, eternal life, joy, trust, WORSHIP, an their home. May any anger, despair, fear, worry or pride all wash away by your blood. Cover them. I just keep feeling Psalm 23 so so strong on my heart for this family.

Psalm 23- the message

God is my shepherd! I don't need a thing. You have bedded me down in lush meadows., you find me quiet pools to drink from. True to your word, you let me catch my breath and send me in the right direction. Even when the way goes through deaths valley, I am not afraid when you walk at my side. Your trusty shepherd crook makes me feel safe. You serve me a 6 course dinner right in front of my enemies.. You revive my drooping head; my cup brims with blessing. Your beauty and love chase after me everyday of my life. I'm back home in the house of God for the rest of my life."

Amen.

I am just amazed to see that my prayers for Jen to go quickly with out suffering were answered! God is so good. Even in death, He is still so so good.

Jen's service is saturday at 10 at westminster in Lubbock. Sadly, I can't go. But I am really excited to get to spend a little time with her family when I'm home for easter next week. Please keep praying for the Jones family!!

work out routine

Sweet Isabel was pretty excited to have on my headband!

Sweet Caitlin was excited to have on her headband!

Hi friends!

I hope everyone has had a good week so far. I am really excited for it to be over! I am headed to Lubbock for Easter and will be there thursday through sunday of next week and am so excited for a little longer period of time with my family. Especially my niece, Laney. She is just so cute. I am literally surrounded by cuteness everywhere I go! When I'm in Lubbock, Its with Laney, here in austin, my girls are too cute...just always cute little ones. which I love! I will post some really cute pics of Caitlin and Isabel from yesterday. Anyway, next week could not come sooner!

I wanted to update you guys on my exercise routine. I have had a hard time really getting into a consistent routine. Since my hours at work have extended its been hard for me to have time for the gym on week nights and I just have been lazy...but I think I'm in a groove now. Here is my schedule as of late!

Monday-Walk or jog in the AM before work (this is my earliest morning-but better to just get it over with!)

Tuesday-Get up and do Jillian Shred at home

Wedneday-Walk/jog with Sarah Johnson (one of my new old favorite friends in austin!). Our husbands are both in a Bible study on wednesday evening, so Sarah and I have decided to have a town lake date with dinner after from Thundercloud. We both love the veggie sandwich!

Thursday-get up in the AM and do Jillian shred

Friday- Day off!!! (I'm not "intentionally" working out. But with 19 month old twins, I get pleanty of movement!)

Saturday- Yoga at noon at my gym. This is not my biggest calorie burner, but it is just really great. I love the calming music, the fluid motion, the quiet, the stretches..just all around good.

Sunday-Bootcamp weight training with Jay Patterson. I went back this week for round 2. Team, I cannot get enough of this class. I was already seeing improvement this week. I was able to do things I thought would take months for me to have the strength to do. It is just really amazing. We use these TRX straps. They allow you to do strength moves, but your core is ALWAYS engaged. It is so amazing and Jay is just such a great instructor. Again, if you are free on sunday at 3, please give it a shot. I promise you can do it and I promise you will be sore!!! I need to know if you are coming by friday so I can tell jay. This class is not one that can be over 12 people, so spots fill up! It is $10 for an amazing class. Be sure to let me know if you want to try it out!

Anyway, I have realized that I have to have a realistic work out schedule. I cant get up at 5 everyday. That is not realistic. But 6:15 -3 days a week is do-able. I am truly trying to set myself up for success!

How do you maintain your exercise routine? I'd love to hear how you do it!!

Happy Wednesday!!

Jen and Jesus

Dear Friends,

I come to you today with a heavy heart. My dear sweet friend, Jennifer Jones, that I have blogged about for a while, passed away last night at 8:45. She was home, it was peaceful, she was surrounded by her family and those that deeply loved her (including my parents). We are so thankful that her suffering was non existent. Thankful that she was not afraid. Thankful that she is free from those things that have handicapped her during her life. It is still so so difficult. But also, easy to rejoice and thank God for no pain.

As I have walked with the Jones family through this (from a distance-since they are in Lubbock), I have just really had to take a good strong look at death in the eye. It is something that all of us are going to have to face one day. No matter how healthy or rich you are, you will die. Nothing can help us escape that fact. My first reaction to this truth of life is fear. I don't like death. It kind of freaks me out. But then, when i think about the biblical truth of death, I can take a deep breath and know I don't have anything to fear. As a Christian, I know that death is a good thing. It means I get to be with Jesus, to worship God face to face. To be free from sin and sickness and fear. I know there is joy in earthly death, because that is when eternal life begins. But, I realize not everyone has the same belief system as me. I have a lot of friends who are not Christians. And I wonder how they deal with death? This is not coming from any judgemental place in my heart, but just real curiosity. How do you look death in the eye and not fear outside of faith in something bigger than death? Just a thought. If you have any thoughts on that question, don't hesitate to answer I genuinely am curious.

I just praise the Lord for the life Jen led. She was a remarkable woman. Her mom is a remarkable woman. Her dad is an amazing man. But its because of who they are, not what they are. I have learned SO much from them. If you think about it, please pray for this family. The parents are just not going to know what to do with themselves with out caring for Jen. It has literally been their life for 38 years. Pray for nearness of the Lord as they walk through this.

Above is a pic I have already posted of me and jen when I visited her a few weeks ago. I also posted a pic of Jen and that my mom took last week. Jen had been asking my mom to take her to lunch for weeks. So last week they loaded her up and went. Jen wanted Logans Roadhouse. She LOVES their chicken tenders and sweet potato fries and above is a picture of her when her food was delivered. She was super excited. So amazing that my mom had that time with her on thursday.

I will blog about food and diet stuff later, but needed to make this one just about Jen and Jesus. It's fun to think about them together-a motley crew indeed!

look what I made!

Look what I made! Isn't it beautiful? I worked so hard to make this healthy masterpiece. Here is what I did:

I took it out of the box and put it in the microwave because it's a....

LEAN CUISINE! Butternut squash ravioli with bell pepper, sugar snap peas, walnuts and a garlic cream sauce. Stop it. It is so stinkin good, 7 points and put with a small piece of crusty bread-Y'all this is a killer lunch. Lean Cuisine has started a new line of frozen meals called "spa cuisine". All of them are hearty, healthy and really fresh clean ingredients. I seriously love them all. Avoid the salmon one...but everything else is great. I take these for lunch everyday (i like a warm lunch) and they just hit the spot and are pretty cheap (about $2.20 each). I HIGHLY recommend them. Also, I didn't put this in my last blog with my enchilada recipe, but i put about 1/4 cup of chopped onion in the chicken mixture. I was a little worried that Andrew would turn his nose up to it...and he had NO CLUE there were onions in it. I still haven't told him. Might never tell him!! But he loved it!! Anyway, Hope you all are having a great week! I'm going on a walking date with my friend tonight! If she reads this I hope she feels like she can't back out! Yes, I'm talking to you, Sarah Smith Johnson.

Happy Wednesday!

P.S. please continue to pray for my friend Jennifer. She is starting to really go down hill. I'll update more later. But pray for mercy and grace as her family walks through this.

hello hello!

Happy monday, everyone!

I hope your weekend was great. I had such a fun weekend. On saturday I slept in and then my friend Morgan and I went to a yoga class. I took a yoga class in college every tuesday/thursday for 3 years and loved it...but have not been quite as much of a yoga lady as of late. And let me tell you...I have missed it and it killed me. Morgan and I tend to laugh at things when they are inappropriate...and well, we laughed really hard during yoga. At one point I was in a pose and had a hold of my foot and just lost the grip and my foot thumped so loudly on the floor causing lots of people to lose balance and fall. Needless to say, Morgan and I could not stop laughing the rest of the class. It was so nice to exercise in a different way. I get SO tired of my routine and its great for me to do new things. I also went to a boot camp on Sunday that my friend , Jay, leads. I have blogged about Jay before...but lets just say his boot camp is not for beginners. I died. Jay is psycho and everyone there was super fit. Luckily, I know Jay, so I felt fine with the fact that I was kind of dying. I nearly threw up. And, I'm going again next week. If you live in Austin and want to come, Its $10.00 per class and is from 3-4 on sundays. It's a circuit class, so you can go your own pace. Trust me, if I made it, you can make it too! Let me know if you want to join! You will love it and feel so strong after!

One thing I also did was make chicken enchiladas! I love to cook a big meal on sunday and then we eat it all week. I was craving chicken enchiladas all week-My boss made some for her girls and they looked so good. So i decided to make a weight watchers friendly version. I looked all over for a recipe and couldn't find one I liked so I made up my own! here is what i did

I bought a rotisserie chicken because I wanted really moist shredded chicken. But I only used the meat from the breast. It was cheaper and saved me time (got a whole chicken for $4.99!)

So I shredded the chicken breast meat and ended up with 3 cups of chicken In a large bowl I mixed:

3 cups of shredded chicken

2 cans of diced green chilies

1 small can of diced jalapenos

1/2 cup of reduced fat shredded mexican blend cheese

a few dashes of taco seasoning

a small dash of cayenne pepper (i like spicy!)

and here is the secret ingredient:

1 cup of non fat greek yogurt (it is a PERFECT sour cream substitute and tastes great for less calories)

mix together.

spray a baking dish with pam and then set aside 10 corn tortillas (I bought the larger ones they have 2 points per tortilla)

Fill each tortilla with about 1/4 cup of chicken filling roll and place seam down in baking dish.

put in the oven at 350 COVERED with foil for 12 minutes

while enchiladas are baking mix sauce:

1/3 cup of light sour cream

1/2 can of diced green chilies

1/4 cup of shredded cheese

dash of taco seasoning

dash of garlic salt

mix together thoroughly in a bowl until runny

take out enchiladas and cover each one with 1 table spoon of sauce.

put back in covered for 10 minutes

take out and sprinkle with 1/2 cup of shredded cheese and bake for 5 minutes until cheese is melted.

Serve with black beans and salsa.

Amazing. Each enchilada is 5 weight watchers points and is really filling. I have plenty if I have 1.5. with 1/2 cup of black beans.

Hope you make it and enjoy it!!!