SSMT # 5

Keeping with my weight loss theme, I have anther favorite verse that will be an excellent daily reminder of the power I have through Christ!

I'm reminded, as I started another 8 day challenge yesterday, how powerful it is to have scripture to repeat in my head during times when I'm tempted.  God is so, so good!

SSMT

One of the biggest changes in the last year of my life has been my weight loss. I've pretty much stalled since Christmas, and as soon as I get back from Florida I'm ready to hit the ground running again.

Last summer and into the fall, my pastor went through the fruit of the Spirit one at a time, and I found it to be very beneficial - especially the part about self control.

Even though we spent several months on this passage of scripture, I realized I still didn't have it memorized.

So, that brings me to April's verse:

Scripture Memorization

I've thought long and hard about this whole scripture memorization thing.  Scripture is supposed to bring peace and calm to our spirit... and my bottom line is I feel too much pressure and overwhelmed to learn a new verse every 2 weeks... and that obviously defeats the whole purpose.

So, my solution is to memorize 1 verse every month.

Easter falls on the last day of March, so I thought it would be helpful, as I attempt each day to memorize scripture, to meditate on what He did for me on the cross.  Once again, I'm drawn to the New Living Translation:


     But He was pierced for our rebellion; 
   Crushed for our sins.   
He was beaten so we could be whole.   
   He was whipped so we could be healed.      ~ Isaiah 53:5 (NLT)


Sometimes writing out those words make it much more personal than just reading it...

He was pierced for MY rebellion.  He was crushed for MY sin.  He was BEATEN, so that I could be made whole.  He was WHIPPED, so I could be healed.

I think about that terrible, wonderful cross and can't help but be humbled.  I'm so undeserving of His grace and mercy.  I take it for granted every. single. day.   Mercy. Grace. Love. Forgiveness. Healing.  Restoration. Provision. Praying I don't take it for granted for a moment as i go through this month as we lead up to Good Friday and even beyond.

Red Sox Interview # 2!

Technically this is the 4th part of the hiring process. I applied, did a video interview, went to an interview on site and today I had another on-site interview... in a real Red Sox officially official conference room.... overlooking the most magical place on earth. But I digress.


I got there early, and visited the team shop.  Definitely spent way too much money on a Victoria's Secret sweatshirt that says "Take Me Home, RED SOX" on the back.

Ahhhhh, the greatest place on earth!!!

Headed to the main entrance at 4 Yawkey Way.  I had to be BUZZED.  IN!  Holy shamoley!

2 flights of stairs to where my interview would take place.  TONS of amazing pictures to look at!

The 100 Acts of Kindness wall where I waited, commemorating Fenway Park's 100th birthday in 2012.

I had my interview in a conference room overlooking the ball park, which admittedly was a little distracting.  It lasted about 30 minutes and I feel it was all incredibly positive.  I found it interesting that Pete, the guy who I interviewed with, started as a tour guide 3 years ago!  AND he's a former teacher!

As we were walking out, Pete said "Did you get to see these when you came in?"...  gesturing to this case which held the 2004 and 2007 WORLD SERIES TROPHIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Soon I could be seeing this same view and thinking "Not a bad day at the office!"

Smiling when I left.  Also side note:  I need invisalign.

And now, I wait again.  

Blizzard of 2013

The storm was raging outside and I was so incredibly thankful to be inside a warm home surrounded by friends!

This little guy definitely kept my spirits up when he was smiling for his Momma!

Facebook also kept me entertained with photos like this...

And I did just fine with my Chardonnay, thank you very much.

After the storm really got going, we made SNOW ICE CREAM!!!

1 teaspoon of vanilla...

1 14-ounce can of sweetened condensed milk...

Mix...

And you have snow cream!

This was before bed Friday.  The heaviest snow was going to fall overnight.

Wake up on Saturday, and it was still snowing!

Good Morning, Alaska!  Uh, I mean Mystic!

Snow drift that I couldn't even begin to fathom tackling.

Beer break!  Hey, it was 9:15 already!

Showing that snow who's boss!

Post shoveling breakfast of champions!  (I was still nursing the same beer!)

30 hours post-blizzard, roads were still s now covered!

Driving over the bridge home.  I had NEVER seen so much snow on the bridge before.

Crews working to take the heavy snow off.  I was reminded by my Upward Soccer prayer sticker to pray the bridge didn't collapse while I was driving over it.

lots.  of.  snow.

Main road in my hometown - still very much snow covered.

No Bake Protein Bars

I was talking with a friend a few weeks ago about the lifestyle changes we had made in 2012 and found they were very, very similar. He emailed me a few recipes, one of them being the recipe I'm about to post, saying "Here's a protein bar recipe if you like chocolate".

Like chocolate? Chocolate and I will always be in a love affair. What's even better about these, is that they are EASY. They are NO BAKE! And they are CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER protein bars! Low carb, healthy, and they satisfy my sweet tooth. A match made in heaven.

Here's what you'll need:
1 medium jar of natural peanut butter (or almond butter or cashew butter)
3 1/2 cups uncooked old fashioned oats
1/2 cup ground flax meal
1/2 cup chia seeds
1/2 cup unsweetened coconut (optional)
5 scoops of whey protein powder ( any flavor)
1 1/2 cups Hesheys cocoa
1 tsp cinnamon (optional)
1 cup dark choc. chips
stevia/truvia/or sweet n low (7-14 packets)
2 cups water
9x13 pan sprayed with Pam

I start with the peanut butter.  The natural peanut butter usually has a layer of oil at the top of the jar, so I stir it up real well and then put it in the mixer first.

Next I add the 3 & 1/2 cups of oats.  Make sure they're not the instant oats, but old fashioned.

Next I add the flax meal.  I find this at a natural food store.

Next add the chia seeds.  These are white chia seeds - I've used the regular chia seeds before.  And yes, these are the same seeds used for Chia Pets!

I also add 1/2 cup of unsweetened coconut.

5 scoops of whey protein powder.  Mine is unflavored but you can use any flavor!

1 & 1/2 cups unsweetened cocoa...

I used about 10 packets of NuStevia...

And then added 1 cup of mini semi-sweet chocolate chips.

I start the mixer once all of those ingredients are in the bowl.

Next I add the 2 cups of water while the mixer is going.

And this is what it looks like when it is finished!

Take the mixture and press it into a 9x13 pan that is sprayed with Pam.

Put the pan in the freezer for 20 minutes.  Makes 36 bars.  Store in the fridge.


Here is the finished product!  They are SO good!

Red Sox Interview!

Once upon a time, I had a long wait in the doctor's office and I was perusing Facebook. I came across a post from the Boston Red Sox stating they were looking to fill positions for the 2013 season. I decided to apply for a job with the Boston Red Sox organization. I mean, who WOULDN'T want to work for the Red Sox?

I submitted my application and got an automated response that said "Thank you for submitting your application. We have an extremely high volume of applicants and appreciate your interest in the Boston Red Sox."

At that point I sort of put it out of my mind.


A few weeks later I get an email saying I had been selected for a video interview!

Super exciting, right? I waited until the absolute last minute to do the video interview but felt pleased with how it went. It would pop in my mind every few days but again, I sort of just forgot about it.

Until I got this:

Holy schnozzberries! I made it through round 2!

God has really been really been impressing on my heart that 2013 is going to be a BIG year for me.  I hesitate even putting that out there in the blog world - because I'm not even sure what that means at this point.  I just have this overwhelming feeling that late in 2012 and so far in 2013, He is preparing me for something.  I have NO idea what that something is - trial, celebration, valley or mountain.  More on that maybe in an upcoming post.

I really debated on whether or not to accept an interview. I'm pretty sure it won't pay very well and it probably won't even cover gas to and from the city. BUT, I did figure it would make for a really cool story! (How many people can say "I'm going to marry a professional baseball player!"  "Yeah, I interviewed with the Boston Red Sox."?!)

So, I selected an interview time and this morning, off I went!

Here I am freezing my tookus off in front of Gate A at the Most Magical Place on Earth: FENWAY PARK!!

I was super early so I decided to mosey on through the Souvenir Shop across the street.  See the people hanging in the background?  They're Fenway Park Tour people!

Here I am!  Headed into 20 Yawkey Way - the EMC Club entrance! Off to my interview!

We went up two escalators and in between there was this odd break of about 10 feet of flooring before the second escalator.  I looked to my left and saw the field!  I was SO EXCITED!

This picture is the view I had during my interview!  These seats are right outside the club dining area.

A panoramic picture taken with my handy dandy iphone.

Mackenzie may or may not have been snapping pictures while I interviewed.

Really need to work on my posture...

And it was over before I knew it!

One last photo op with the field behind me!

I lied.  One last panoramic picture!

My "little sis" Mackadoodle and I.  Glad she was there to keep me company.

Now, I wait.  The emails I received leading up to today have informed me I will hear of a decision by Friday, February 15th.  Here's to being one step closer to meeting my Jesus loving, professional baseball playing future husband!