This Turkey is Still Gobbling!

It´s not much to the eye...

But it was grilled to almost perfection by the perfect Chef!

The taste test! Caught in the Act.

Thanksgiving night Football party for my men.

Now let´s get geared up for Christmas!

 We can´t wait!

We have so much to be thankful for!

Hope you had a lovely thanksgiving.

Even though we are so far away, we remember our Thanksgiving roots every year. We talk with our family on web cam now and that brings us all a little closer.

What makes your home sing? Join in on Nan´s meme.

Singing Praises!

Our family is singing praises today! We got a new stove and stove top.

We have been without a stove top since August, using an electric grill and a camping gas stove. We received word from our landlords that they would pay half of a new stove, so we went out today and got them.

We are so thankful to the Lord, for Joseph´s grandfather and grandmother´s planning for the future and for their family.

Their insurance policies have made it possible to get some much needed appliances, clothes,  and to put money away for our boys´college.

Can´t wait to make a pizza loaf tomorrow in my new oven!!!

The Water Fiasco

Ok, here´s the scoop. I drank a little over 3 liters of water last Wednesday with some liquid green tea herbal mixture and then one of the liters with some cranberry juice. I started getting a headache late that night. Then by the time I woke up Thursday morning I had a full blown major headache with weak nausious feelings.

I didn´t really think anything of it as I sometimes have headaches. I started to work through it. Get up, try to get breakfast for the kids, start to get school ready, but there was that nausia coming up from somewhere. Then there was this uncontrolable need to curl back up in bed. (I don´t normally go back to bed when I am up during the day)

What could it be???

Now to back up some...

You may be aware that I have started a fitness challenge. It´s been going on now for almost 4 weeks. Last week I decided I was going to try something new. I have been on a fitness journey for 11 months now doing a very healthy balanced diet, but felt the need to push myself to another level. (so I thought) 

I started myself on Jillian Michael´s Peak diet from her book Making the Cut.  This is only a seven day diet basically consisting of a lot of protien and veggies, but the part in question for me was the 100 ounces of water she recomends you consume throughout the day. That´s almost a gallon of water, people!

You guessed it. I tried it. I haven´t tried any special diet in these whole 11 months. I have just cut out refined sugars (white) and refined white flour as much as I could. Eating as naturally as possible, but I did it. I tried this very extream diet.

Jillian does this diet to peak for her photo shoots. Now, before you judge me, that´s not at all why I was trying this. I don´t have to show up infront of anyone. I stay at home all day. (LOL) No, I was doing it for the pure fact of cleaning myself out and just seeing if I could do it. I was curious.

It totally backfired.

I may have gotten a virus. I may have just been worn out. But I think it was all that water and many have told me the sudden decrease in calories all at once.

Here were my symptoms again. Headache, dizziness, nausia, and weakness.  NO Fever. I actually at one point on Thursday was white as a ghost.

I did the only thing I could do;  A google search.

Have you ever done a google search on a symptom you have? Did you come away thinking you were going to die? Well, that´s what happened.

I typed in drinking too much water and this is what came up.

Water Intoxication:

Water Intoxication Symptoms in Adults




The very first symptom of water intoxication is nausea. You feel to puke, because your stomach is not able to hold the excessive quantity of water.


The next symptom of water intoxication in adults is having slurred speech. You feel like speaking with a thick tongue.


You will feel weak and tired.


Other prominent symptoms of water intoxication include headache and bloating. Excessive water, disturbs the digestive tract and leads to bloating.


You may start hallucinating. This is mainly because excessive water in the body, affects brain cells as well. Brain cells tend to swell. Affected brain, further leads to disorientation and confusion.


Muscle cramps


Seizures, coma, respiratory arrest, swelling of the brain and even death may occur in extreme cases.

I thought I was going to die. Well, ok, not quite that dramatic, but I was really fighting being coherent and keeping on through the day. I actually ended up sleeping 4 hours extra that day. (for those that know me, I don´t sleep that much. I sleep my normal 6-8 and that´s that.)

It took me all the next day to get rid of the headache. I still drank my 2 liters, but I added more calories to what I had intended on eating as well as carbohydrates that were not on Jillian Michael´s peak diet.

I must say this much to Jillian Michael´s defense, her Making the Cut diet, which I followed to the best of my ability here in Spain for 30 days, really is a great well-rounded, healthy, balanced diet. It was hard to find some of the foods here in Spain, so I had to adapt it, but it was really good.

By Saturday morning I was almost back to normal. I was able to do a 40 minute workout later that day and not feel like I was going to fall over or that my head was going to explode.

What would you have thought was the problem????

 

Benifits of Losing in a Group

In honor of the all the ladies participating in the Christmas Crunch Challenge ...

(  Which by the way we are in our second week. It is going wonderfully. Almost everyone of us have lost inches and pounds)

 I am joining up for Fitness Friday and dedicate this post to you, ladies.

The Christmas Crunch Challenge has been such a blessing. For someone who is far from family and friends, to have a group to support and uplift you as you work for a positive but difficult change is very benificial, if not essencial.

God knew I would need these ladies. We are a group of about 25 ladies striving for the same goal: our best fitness and health for the Lord Jesus, for our families and for ourselves.

I am so proud of each of them for their decisions to change bad habits, and to cultivate good disciplines in their lives. Everyone is so positive and uplifting.

I never imagined that when God gave me this idea that it would grow to this ramification. It has exceeded even my imagination. Ladies are posting health and fitness tips weekly, their "Crunch In" or daily journal, humorous posts and even videos. This is a private fitness blog, so no one feels intimidated. It has allowed for the creative juices to flow and the fat to fall away! 

I intended to write about what happened to me this week with my increased water intake, but I will save that for another post. Suffice to say, do not exceed 2 liters of water a day. It´s not necessary and can be dangerous. I can tell you all about it.

In the meantime, keep striving to be fit and healthy for eternal reasons, and if you have an opportunity to encourage others on their fitness journey, go ahead and join a fitness group, even make a fitness group near you. It makes a world of diffence. Or you can even still join in our Christmas Crunch Challenge. We would love to have you. (Ladies only)

Still Crunchin,

Let´s Play Ball!

Happy Friday, all!!

I am so so happy it´s Friday Photo Flashback time. Last week I couldn´t participate but I had this picture picked out since then.

This is my Freshman or Sophmore year of Highschool Softball. This was one of my favorite sports. I would be playing now if we had a church team here in Spain. (don´t know of any church teams here though. Some day maybe we can start on. jejeje)

I switched from a Christian school to this public school when I was in the seventh grade to be able to be a witness and tell others about Jesus. It was a big change for me, but I loved the new friends I made. One of which, I have just recently gotten back in touch with. She is on my left in this picture. ( I am the second from the left) 

Praise the Lord, God´s love knows no limits!

Let´s play ball!!!

Come and join in with Alicia and all of us who love to share our old photos.

Gifts announced! And Thank You Heidi!

These are the winning donators for the Candle in the Corner giveaway!

571- Tracie- Taiwan

489- Lindsay- Portugal

602- Nancy- Paraguay

439- Mellie- Spain - Congratulations, Mellie, I will get it to you asap. It´s all wrapped up and Heidi got me your address.

402- Gena- Russia

462- Garry- Argentina

6- Maria- Brazil

135- Theresa T.- Botswana

42- Joyce- South Africa

620- Elaine (Extra entry for linking)- Montana

106- Maribeth- Uganda

415- Tanya- Indonesia

The total amount raised: $4065!! Praise the Lord! This amount will be split between all the missionary families that participated in this event!

Thank-you Heidi, for this wonderful opportunity! Thank you for being used, broken and spilled out.

Thank you, all, who gave sacrificially.

THE LAST DAY!!!

Today is the last day for the Candle in the Corner give away. Your last oportunity to get in on a huge blessing. 

 Want to see all the great places we have been in two weeks? Want to see what you could receive for your donation?

The links are below.

You still have one more day to give to this great cause.

Our hostess, Heidi gives us this update...

Want something special to give someone this Christmas? There is still time to enter for a chance to win an awesome item from another country!

For quick reference, below are the links to all the participants so far. Meeting these missionaries has been inspiring to me and I know to you as well.

If you have entered and prefer a certain item, please let me know- if your number is drawn I will do my best :)

If you have donated, you should have received an email from me with your entry numbers. Also, if you have posted, linked, FB, twittered, etc about the giveaway and let me know, I am tracking those extra entries {so don't worry, I've got you covered :) } but I'm not emailing those because I'm waiting until the end to assign numbers.

We can't wait to see who wins! This is so much fun for all of us; thank you for playing a part!

Asturian drying house from Dani Joy in Spain

Rooster and table runners from Nina in Portugal

Scripture in Chinese/English and hand embroidered journal cover from Heidi in Asia

Handmade goodies and elephant bowl from Jen in South Africa

Dolls and mittens from Ashley in Russia

Nanduti lace from Julie in Paraguay

Place mats and table runner from Kelly in Uganda

Handbags from Ana in Brazil

Leather wallet from Kim in Argentina

Baskets and book from Sarah in Botswana

Quilt and basket from Sarah (Junglewife) in Indonesia


Tea pot and bags from Jessie on a campus in America

Now... Aren´t you ready to go!!! I know I am so burdened for so many new parts of the world!

But you can give. Remember to give to your local church missions giving first and formost.

Then, click on the Chip In to give just $5 more. It could mean a Bible or a tract or even food for someone in another part of the world.

A Love Package

My youngest son came into the kitchen on his scooter, and innocently asked,

"Mommy, did you order a package?"

I said "No, sweety. No packages."

He asked again, "Mommy, didn´t you order a package?"

Not understanding why he was asking again, I replied the same, "No, Michael, I haven´t ordered any packages."

Then he gave me a huge hug and said, " Yes, you did, Mommy. This is your package." (his hug)

I immediately understood and told him,

"Aww, Michael, that´s a love package! I love it!"

This was my Mommy moment, and it made my heart and my home sing.

Missionary Call

Missionary Call

by Patricia Finrow Clark

We want to go to Heaven,

But we cannot find the way.

Won´t someone come to tell us,

To teach us how to pray?

We want to go to Heaven,

But which idol tells us true?

Oh, children of America,

We´re waiting now for you!

Mayby you can not go to a forgein field, but you can give $5. Just think, your $5 donation could allow you to receive one of these cultural gifts from around the world!



The Candle in the Corner giveaway, is well underway. There is one more week to give and win one of these wonderful gifts.



Do you know where they are from? Can you guess? Click on them to see how well you know the different cultures around the world. You will be amazed at the things you will learn from your missionaries.

Don´t forget to click on the chip in or go to Moms Ministry and More for your oportunity to receive one of these precious gifts.

**** Go here to see the first four gifts from the Candle in the Corner giveaway! ****

Pizza and Football!

Sunday Family football night!

We have a Spanish holiday today. Another great reason to live in Spain; many, many holidays!

So we stayed up late to watch our favorite team play, but as we sat there watching, we weren´t  too chipper. They played terrible!

That´s ok though, we got pizza out of the deal, and I made brownies. I actually made 6 batches "from scratch" brownies. WE eat a lot! No, No, they aren´t all for us. Jospeh´s football team requested my brownies for today´s practice. I feel honored, but at the same time nervous I will eat too many of them myself. (don´t want to mess up the Christmas Crunch Challenge I am on)

Hope you all have a wonderful week, making your homes sing in the best way possible.

Gifts From Around the World

Are you following the Candle in the Corner give away?

You can donate and receive one of these amazing gifts. 

Where are the gifts from?

Can you guess?

 Try to guess where they are from. Then click on the pictures to see if you were right. Then give to help these dear special missionaries who are working in areas where the dollar has dropped drastically.

Gift #4
 

Gift #3

Gift #2

Gift # 1

It is amazing the statistics you can learn about the world just by getting to know your missionaries. I learned so much today, and wanted to share these wonderful posts with you.

**** If you would like to give, just click on the chip in on the side bar.****