Eliminate Distractions

January 27, 2015March 13, 2015 RefreshHerLeave a comment

It started with a simple task ~ go downstairs and fix the morning coffee.

I got the Dunkin Donuts coffee into the filter, poured the water inside the coffee maker and pressed the “on” button. While I waited for the coffee to brew, I unloaded the clean dishes in the dish drainer and also in the dishwasher. When I opened the fridge to get out the cream I would need for my cup, I noticed the shelves needed to be wiped down, so I got the dish cloth and took care of the crumbs. While wiping, I spotted a couple leftover containers that were past their “prime.” They were dumped and the dishes loaded into the now empty dishwasher. I also took care of fingerprints, a spot on the floor, streaky counter tops, and Sunday coupons before I finally got back to the coffee that had finished brewing long before I returned to the pot.

As I was pouring the steaming liquid into my cup, I was reminded why I don’t let myself start on that “one little job” first thing in the morning. For me, one thing leads to another, and another and another and I use my morning energies on physical things instead of spiritual.

Is there anything wrong with emptying wilting lettuce from the Tupperware container? Of course not, but when those tasks occupy the time that I would spend with the Lord in His Word, then I have to know my limit and stop before I get started. Hence, on the days when I make the coffee (which is not too often, since my husband takes care of it most times), I need to use my energies to get into the Word while the coffee is brewing. I can

read my Proverb chapter in that amount of time
review my memory passage

For me, the momentum of working gets me distracted from doing what is best. It’s better if I wait until after my Quiet time to do those tasks .

What is it that keeps you from really getting the most out of your time in God’s Word? Is it all the “stuff” on your phone? Do you feel an urgency to check Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, blogs or texts first? Is it a morning news show, a broadcast on the radio that gets your best attention in the morning? If that takes away time that you need to be drawing up near the heart of God in His Word, then ask the Lord to help you wait; to discipline your time in such a way that He gets the best of your attention and energies.

All the notifications will be there when you finish hearing from God.

And yes,those fingerprints on the microwave would’ve still been waiting for me yesterday.

Tomorrow I’ll ignore them by sitting with my back to them!

Let’s give our best to that which is most important!

With love,

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What’s Cookin’ in the Country?

January 26, 2015February 13, 2015 RefreshHerLeave a comment

Lighter Eggplant Parmesan

I mentioned a few weeks ago about Aldi’s Grocery store opening up in our area soon. Well, the opening day was last week, and I was so excited about the great produce I found there! I got cabbage, blueberries, white potatoes, sweet potatoes, pineapple, lemons aaaaand, eggplant! Now, the truth is, I had never fixed eggplant, but because it was so reasonable, and because I was more than tired of peas, beans and corn, I decided I needed to try it out!

I went on SkinnyTaste’s site and found a great looking recipe for a lightened up version of Eggplant Parmesan. This is usually breaded and fried before adding tomato sauce and cheese, but this recipe roasts the eggplant in the oven instead, making it much healthier! It was DELICIOUS! I made up the whole recipe on Saturday night, then popped it into the oven on Sunday morning before we left for church and set the timer to bake it 30 minutes before we’d arrive home.

I was afraid it might be a little bitter, but it wasn’t! It was creamy, delicious and a lovely change from our normal Sunday dinner!

If you can snag an eggplant at a great price, you need to try this recipe and maybe, like me, give eggplant a chance! It’s good stuff!

Lighter Eggplant Parmesan

Gina’s Weight Watcher Recipes

Servings: 8 servings • Time: 60 minutes • Old Points: 6 pts • Points+: 8 pts

Calories: 265.3 • Fat: 12.4 g • Protein: 14.1 g • Carb: 35.4 g • Fiber: 4.4 g

1 large eggplant (2 lbs)

1 tbsp olive oil

12 oz fat free ricotta

1/4 cup + 2 tbsp Pecorino Romano

1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped

1 medium egg

2 cups reduced fat mozzarella (I used Sargento)

3 cups homemade tomato sauce

salt

Start by making the sauce if you don’t have any already made. While the sauce simmers, slice the eggplant into 1/4 inch thick slices. Lightly salt the slices and put in a colander to release excess moisture for about 1/2 hour. Lay on paper towels to soak up any extra moisture.

Preheat oven to 450°. Brush eggplant lightly with olive oil on both sides and place on cookie sheets. Bake for 20-25 minutes, turning half way through until eggplant is golden brown.

In a medium bowl combine ricotta, egg, parsley and 1/4 cup of grated cheese.

In a 9×12 baking dish, put a little sauce on the bottom of the dish and put a layer of eggplant to cover the bottom of the dish. Top with 1/3 of the ricotta cheese mixture, mozzarella cheese and sauce. Add another layer of eggplant and repeat the ricotta cheese, mozzarella cheese and sauce until everything is used up. Top with sauce and the mozzarella cheese and the remaining grated cheese.

Cover with foil and bake until cheese is melted and everything is bubbling, about 30 minutes at 400°. Remove foil and bake an additional 8-10 minutes. Take it out of the oven and let it sit about 10 minutes before cutting.

Are you like me and tried of the “normal” veggies? Have you tried eggplant? How do you prepare it?

With love from my country kitchen,

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A Car Picnic

January 23, 2015March 13, 2015 RefreshHerLeave a comment

While we’re waiting for spring to come, there are adventures to take that are “semi-outdoor” activities that can help refresh you and brighten your winter doldrums.

Yesterday for my husband’s birthday, we had a Car Picnic! A car picnic is one way to enjoy the beauty of a country road or a mountain view even in cooler temperatures.

Pack up some chili or homemade soup into mason jars. If you fill the jars with water and then warm them in the microwave, it will help keep the soup hot. I also put one of those oven bricks in the microwave and warmed it up, then wrapped it in a kitchen towel. I then wrapped a towel around the jars and the brick and packed it all into a picnic basket. I also took cloth napkins, plastic spoons, crackers, some fruit and homemade cookies.

Drive to a beautiful spot and open up the basket in the car and enjoy your lunch from the warmth of your car!

Our meal was simple, but tasted wonderful out there on that mountain road. It was quiet, beautiful, and romantic. We came home so refreshed. I bet you will too!

What adventures do you embark on when you’re ready for winter to be over?

I hope you’re making plans to be in a Bible-preaching church Sunday! Don’t miss out on what God wants to do in and through you in your local church!

Stay refreshed,
While we’re waiting for spring to come, there are adventures to take that are “semi-outdoor” activities that can help refresh you and brighten your winter doldrums.

Yesterday for my husband’s birthday, we had a Car Picnic! A car picnic is one way to enjoy the beauty of a country road or a mountain view even in cooler temperatures.

Drive to a beautiful spot and open up the basket in the car and enjoy your lunch from the warmth of your car!

Our meal was simple, but tasted wonderful out there on that mountain road. It was quiet, beautiful, and romantic. We came home so refreshed. I bet you will too!

What adventures do you embark on when you’re ready for winter to be over?

I hope you’re making plans to be in a Bible-preaching church Sunday! Don’t miss out on what God wants to do in and through you in your local church!

Stay refreshed,

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Making Marriage Last

January 21, 2015March 13, 2015 RefreshHerLeave a comment

This is a week for a couple of birthdays in my family – my husband’s is tomorrow and my mom’s was yesterday. Since I couldn’t be with her, I called her last night on Skype. I’m so thankful for the Internet options like that! What a blessing!

My sweet parents

As we were chatting, the subject of my parent’s upcoming 60th anniversary came up. My mom said,

“When I think of 60 years together I think, ‘Wow!’ We sure have had our ups and downs and ins and outs, but we decided at the beginning that we would stick together forever. When couples go into marriage thinking they’ll divorce if things don’t go well, they’re bound for divorce. When the hard times come, and they will, they bail out instead of toughing it out.”

Her statement reminded me of a book I read last year where the author said, “Staying together until death means choosing that some days you will be unhappy.” That’s so true. Let’s face it, every day of marriage isn’t bliss. Misunderstandings happen, words are spoken out of turn, feelings are hurt, etc. Those hard days aren’t the ones we paste into our scrapbooks, but they are a part of the journey of our marriages. They are a part of life, because we live in a fallen, imperfect world. Those are the days that run us to our Savior and make us dependent on Him for help to love our spouse.

And He does.

And the next day is better and we survived, and so did our marriage.

And soon we’re looking at another anniversary because we made a promise to one another and to our God.

It’s worth it to be unhappy every now and then.

With love and a prayer for your 60th anniversary,

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RefreshHer

January 20, 2015March 13, 2015 RefreshHer2 Comments

I am definitely a visual learner. The lesson I’m learning right now with the help of a visual aid is HUGE. What is it?

I gripe too often.

A friend and I took a 21-Day challenge not to gripe. Here’s the deal – we had to put on a bracelet and any time we gripe or complain, we move the bracelet to the other arm.

I’ve worn different bracelets each day. The point is to wear one!

When you have to move that bracelet from one arm to the other, it truly makes you more aware of what you are saying! There have been many times in the past week since I took the challenge that I started to say gripe about something, and I’ve stopped short, simply by seeing my bracelet.

We were also encouraged to take notes about what we’re learning while wearing our bracelet. So far my lessons have been:

I get frustrated when little things don’t go right. A project I’m working on gives me trouble, a tool doesn’t work properly, my watch decides to stop working all brought words of complaint. Yeah, real important stuff like that.
Technology brings out my griping. The slow Internet, the link on my blog that doesn’t want to work, the picture that won’t upload correctly all bring out complaining words.
People that I don’t think are doing what is right also irritate me. When believers don’t listen to counsel given, or obey God’s commands, I speak my frustration about them, rather than just taking their name to the Lord in prayer.

That little bracelet is teaching me much about my tongue and my heart. It’s kind of ugly, but it’s a necessary lesson. We’re reminded in Matthew 15:18, 19

But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:

Ouch. Do you think you are grumble-free? Maybe you could join us and take the challenge and find out. Slip on a bracelet and move it any time you complain or gripe about anything that day. Oh, and just a heads-up – if you tell your husband or children what you’re doing, you can be sure they’ll “police” your words! Ask me how I know! =)

With love (and my bracelet on the other wrist),