Three Things Thursday!

  

  Since I am back in the swing of running I thought I would share 3 things about running.  First of all let me just share a few things….I was NOT coordinated as a child, teen or young adult.  I tell people …as a child I couldn’t chew gum and walk at the same time.  Obviously that is a bit of an exaggeration, however it really isn’t that far off.  Believe it or not, running does take some coordination.  I don’t consider myself a runner.  I am more of a running hobbyist, I think.  I like to run and I have worked up to 5 miles a day 6 days a week in my past.  Now I am starting over and currently only do 3.1-3.5 miles.  Not bad for only two weeks into it, right?  I will get there eventually!
So here are three things I like about running!
        Stress reliever.  My best runs have actually been when I was feeling overwhelmed, stressed or upset about something.  I actually went 15 miles one time when I was stressed out.  I have yet to hit that mileage again in one run!   Fortunately,  I am not usually upset.  However, I am  a wife (of 17 years) a mother {of 4~two teenagers and two tweens plus 2 labs they each count for 2 do they not?  By my calculations I am a mother to like 8 kids! }, a homeschooler, an active church member as well as the wearer of many other hats.  I know this is the same scene for many.  I have yet to hear anyone says something like “Oh My, this is the 15th day in a row where I don’t have anything to do but sit on the couch.” I wouldn’t like 15 days of that, but a day or two may be nice.  Anyhow for me, give me my headset and my treadmill and I am good!  I feel so energized, relaxed and a sense of calmness after a run!  I recommend it to anyone. I know that not everyone shares this same desire.  My husband is one of those people on the other side of the fence.
       Health benefits.  I don’t think there is really that much to say about this that doesn’t apply to any physical activity.  As we all know it is healthier to move a bit every day than to not. So here is a public service announcement:  Get up and get moving to some form or exercise!  It doesn’t have to be running! That it for this announcement!  I am not going to bore your with the health statics of exercise either.  We have all heard or read them at some point.
      Challenging.  Running can be very challenging!  You can set weekly or monthly goals for yourself like running so many miles by a certain date or so far in a certain amount of time.  I personally have on my bucket list to run a marathon.  I don’t’ know why but I have wanted to do this since I was about 20 years old.  My hubby says “You want to run for that long? Why?”  Yep that is me!  Like I said I don’t know why I just have wanted to do it for a few years.  One day I will make it!
SO those at three of the things that I like about running!  Want to share your 3 Things Thursday or read others?  Hope on over to Heidi's Head and check it out or link up your list.
Happy Thursday!
                                               

Thoughts to Make Your Heart Sing By Sally Lloyd-Jones & Jago

              I was provided a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review by Zondervan.
       Thoughts to Make Your Heart Sing by Sally Lloyd Jones and Jago is a beautifully illustrated, well written book of thoughts on faith.  It has truths from the Bible in a stand alone story format.  This format give the book a lot of flexibility.  I think it makes a great bedtime story or evening devotional that you can do. 
   
Each story has a bible verse that it is highlighting with that verse listed on the page as well.  For example, one story talks about a donkey and how stubborn they are and how they don’t like to be led.  It goes on to explain how God doesn’t want us to be like a donkey.  The verse for this particular story is Psalm 32:9 that states “Don’t be like a horse or donkey, that doesn’t understand.  They must be led with bits and reins, or they will not come ear you.”
     I think that Sally Lloyd-Jones does a great job of explaining and painting a picture for the reader or child of that particular thought, verse or story.  For kids, this puts the Bible into perspective.  One story talks about a donkey.  Sally uses a stubborn animal who doesn’t like to be led or close, to explain that God wants us to be close now stubborn and always running from him. What a great example for kids! What a great book of Biblical truths!

You can purchase this book alone or in this nice little set of the book story cds. The deluxe set comes in a sturdy, nice box with Velcro closure.  Would make a great gift!
            You can check out this book and other titles like this from Zondervan!
                                Thank you to Zondervan for the opportunity!

Wizzy Gizmo Fast Track Bible Pack~Review

 

As a Christian, Catholic, homeschooling mom, it is very important to me that my children know the  bible, after all it contains our commands and instructions that we are to live by does it not?
    Deuteronomy 6:4-9 states:  Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.  These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts.  Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.  Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.  Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. 
     There is a great Christian educational resource, Wizzy Gizmo out there to help us out.  What is it?  It is a series of Bible study tools for your children.  You can check it out here. Thank you to  Home & School Mosaics for giving me the opportunity to review the Fast Track Bible Pack~New Testament!
       This pack makes it very easy to get your children into the word.  The New Testament Series is recommended for ages 2 and up. Really for a 2 year old?  Yep you can use it as a bedtime Bible story for them!  My children (ages 8 and up) used it for morning devotion/reflection time.  We gather in the morning and do our bible study and read these cards.  They have a lot of information on them!  You can also use them with older children a Bible study, teaching resource, Bible outline and a devotional, to name a few of its possible uses. 
     This set comes with 27 sturdy, colorful, heavy cardstock cards.  The front of the cards tell you a summary of the book, how many chapters are in the book, the time frame it was written in, the theme of the book and a verse from the book.  The back of each card highlights key people, key doctrines, key passages, key chapters and an outline.  Great information to use for a memory game too!
     Wizzy’s Gizmo has other teaching tools also for kids Bible.  Audio dramas allows your child to listen to the Bible practically anywhere.  You can download a digital copy or order a cd.  Finally that have a book for the children who like to have the physical book in their hands.
The Fast Track Bible Pack is available for only $14.99!  What a great price for the jammed packed info that you get from them!  These will also make a great stocking stuffer!
About the Wizzy Gizmo Company: 
   Mission:  To bring glory to God by providing engaging, Biblical content.
  Vision: Our vision is to be excellent artistically and creatively, yet unwaveringly firm in our commitment to the Biblical record and doctrines of the church.
Objectives: Our objective is to teach children and their parents the content of Bible, doctrine, theology, church history, customs and manners, and to provide educational resources for Sunday school, home and Homeschooling
                             Where can you find Wizzy Gizmo?
                                             Website
                                              Facebook
                                                                                                     Pinterest
                                             
  One set of these cards will go to one lucky reader!  Just comment below and you will be put into the drawing!  Winner will be chosen on Nov 9th!
   Check out what my friends are saying at Home & School Mosaics here!
 
Thank you again to Home & School Mosaics and to Wizzy Gizmo for allowing me to review this product!
 
                            I received a copy of the above mentioned product to help facilitate the
                           writing of a frank and honest review. A positive review is not
                            guaranteed. All opinions are my own.  Your results and opinions may vary.

Three Things Thursday!

I

                               It’s time for 3 Three Things Thursday!

  Since it is fall I thought I would be real generic and do three things I love about fall.

  The first is the colors.  When I was little I actually disliked fall.  It was too cold and too gray looking as everything changed for it's winter nap.  Then it was obvious that winter was coming bringing the really cold temperatures! (I do like the snow though)  As I have grown I have learned to appreciate this beautiful season that God created.  I love driving and seeing all the different colors of leaves.

The second thing I love about fall is bonfires!  Sitting around that crackling fire with family and friends, laughing, talking eating smores!  I  love to set my marshmallow on fire.  The center then is just oh so gooey!  Yum! How can you not like that?

Finally, I love the harvest.  Reaping what you sow is so rewarding!  My kids ask when we are having something for dinner that we had grown in our garden if we are eating garden_____ when we first sit at the table.  That question comes even this year when we didn’t have a garden due to summer traveling. I really missed the garden, including the weeding!  When people ask me what brought me to the country to live after growing up in the city, my response is always "My husband wants to be a farmer when he grows up!"  Well, let me just say, that I can't wait until he farms his first acre (other than our garden)!

Want to join the hop?  Would you like to read what my friends are saying?  Hop on over to   Heidi's Head to check it out!

Tasty Tues~Roasted Chicken

Look at that delicious bird!  You have got to try this chicken recipe.  It is always a winner at our house.  I think they really like it because this is a chicken that we raised too!  I am not one who ate it, but there wasn’t much left from the other 5 after dinner.  I think that says something.  This is super easy to make too.  First you need to preheat your oven to 450 degrees.    Then you need to take your chicken and rinse it off (don’t forget to to get the gizzard, neck and what every else is in the center).  When I had these hens processed I asked her to keep that stuff.  I don’t use it for anything at all!
    After you have washed and dried your chicken place it in the roasting pan that you will be cooking it in.  Drizzle olive oil on it and rub it in.  Don’t forget about the legs!  Then you want to take 2 lemons and quarter them.  Then stuff them inside the bird.  The parsley comes next.  You just want to fill that cavity with the parsley.  Depending on the size of your lemons you may want to stuff a lemon then some parsley then a lemon (you get the idea).  You just want to make sure your cavity is stuffed.  I then took a sprig or two and stuffed them down the neck area.  Now, I have used fresh and dried before.  I think the fresh is better, but in a pinch the dried also does the trick.

Finally, you want to salt and pepper that bird.  The olive oil that you previous rubbed in will allow that salt and pepper to stick to the outside and really season it.  I use more pepper than salt just because that is the way we like it.  I have also used Paula Dean’s House seasoning on it as well as other seasonings.  You can really change it several times before you make the same roasted chicken again.  Lemon and Rosemary are also good together as well as garlic and thyme.  Just to let you know.  We have raised and had process (or slaughtered) 19 chickens so we have roasted chicken a lot in the colder weather.  I am finished with the processing part as we mainly eat chicken breast. 
Now you need to cook it.  Pop that bird into your preheated oven and cook it for about 15 minutes.  It is fine if you forget and it is 20 just don’t leave it at that temp for the entire time.  Yep I did that one time.  The bird was very dry and very pretty.  At least it wasn’t burnt, as my kiddos said .  After the first cook is finished drop that temp to about 375 degrees and cook for about an hour.  Once your second cook time is complete take that roasting pan out of the oven and set aside.  Don’t open it yet!  Let him rest for about 20 minutes.  Go ahead and make your sides now and it will be ready when you are finished with those.  Great timing right?  Serve with your favorite sides.  If your family doesn’t consume the whole chicken in one meal just debone it and pop in the fridge.  You can make chicken pot pie, chicken noodle soup or another chicken recipe later in the week.

Enjoy!

Tasty Tues~Homemade Oven Potato Skins

     Who doesn’t like potato skins?  I love potato ~skins, baked, mashed, fried, however you want to fix them I haven’t found a potato that I don’t like, yet.  Potato skins are our appetizer of choice on  the few occasions that we go do go out to eat, so I thought I would try to make my own.  It was such a hit that Joe ate over half of the 24 that I made!  I though I would share with you!  Lucky you!

  SO here goes!  I used Russet potatoes for these.  Take your potatoes and scrub them up.  You will make 2 out of each potato so you can decide how many to make.  Once they are scrubbed, poke them and pop them into the oven at 400 degrees for 45-60 minutes.  You can also pop them in the microwave for about 6-10 minutes and that will cut your cook time to about 20-30.  You just want to make sure they are cooked.  Now depending on your time schedule,  you can let them cool a little or a lot. 

     Cut each potato in half length wise and scoop out the middle. The more you scoop the thinner your skin will be and the crispier it can get.   I like my skins on the "meatier" side.   

  Once they are all centered /hollowed out or what ever you want to call it, place them on an aluminum foil lined and sprayed cookie/ baking sheet.  Side note:I took the inside that I scooped out and placed it in a sealed container for a later meal. 

  I then took some olive oil and rubbed it on the outside of each skin and sprinkled slightly with seasoned salt.

You are almost done!  Just take the skins, turn them over and fill with cheese!  Then pop them back in the oven.  Your final oven time will depend on how long you cooled them. You want to cook them just until they are hot and the cheese is melted.  

I love garlic so when they were done I sprinkled garlic powder on a couple of them just to see what it tasted like.  It was delicious!  You should try it!

Hope you enjoy as much as we did!

Love Letters from God by Glenys Nellist

  I received a copy of the above book from Zondervan in exchange for an honest review of the book. 
    



     Who doesn’t like to receive communication from a friend?  Whether it be a letter in the mail, an email, a phone call or a text we all like to be talked to and included in conversations.  How lonely would this world be if you never talked to another person?  I know that I wouldn’t survive!  I have to have contact with people!
     In the unique children’s bible, Love Letters from God by Glenys Nellist and illustrated by Sophie Allsopp, your child will receive letters from God!  Okay, maybe not directly from God but tastefully written letters to your child from the author stating things that God’s promises of love, hope and encouragement.  The book has 18 bible stories in it covering 9 from each of the testaments.  Each story comes with a lift the flap format letter for your child.  These letters even come with a place to write your child’s name on the letter to personalize each one.  My favorite one accompanied the story of Noah.  The letter says that God is so happy that Noah listened to him and build that ark.  The letter then explains that God wants us to be like Noah, listen to him.  and try to do as he wants us too.  Your child will be reminded that God carried Noah thru this difficult situation and that he will carry your child too!  We all know how tough life can be as an adult.  What a great comfort for a child to hear that and know from a very young age that God will never dessert them!
   This book, written for children aged 4-8 is the first book that I have seen of it’s kind and I think that it is such a great addition to anyone with children in this age group.  When you look at the world today and see all the less encouraging stories,events and activities that do no support what God wants for our lives, it is nice to know that there are still books being printed that do help us to teach our children what is expected from us from our heavenly father.  Teaching our children when they are young how much God~ loves them, has a purpose for their lives and that he will always be there for them to fulfill that purpose will only strengthen their spiritual journey.

About the author:  Glenys Nellist was born and raised in a little village in northern England.  Her stories and poems have been published in children’s magazines where her writing reflects a deep passion for bringing  the Bible to life for young children.  Glenys lives in Grand Rapids MI with her husband, David

About the Illustrator:  Sophie Allsopp grew up in a small English village and Hong Kong, where she particularly enjoyed living in a hotel and going to school on a tram.  After studying for her illustration degree Sophie won several awards and has now been illustrating for over 20 years.  She lives in England with her husband, son and a cat called Sadie.
                        You can purchase this book from Zondervan for 16.99.
                       Check out what other great books Zondervan has here.

Thank you to Zondervan for giving me the opportunity to review this book!