Monday, August 31, 2009
back at it
So recently I joined FitClub (a local fitness center here in Springfield) to try to get back into working out on a regular basis. Tonight I ventured out from behind my safe-zone known as the eliptical and tried a class called Zumba. My mom had told me about this so she, my friend Maria and I scoped it out tonight. It was crazy intense but super fun! It's very similar to salsa dancing with catchy music. Now realize this--I'm no dancer. I'm awkward, clumsy and just not talented but even I had no shame while zumba-ing. If this class if offered somewhere near you--check it out, you won't regret it!! (and your butt will thank you).
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Snickerdoodles!
Sorry I'm pretty much the worst blogger ever. I've been pretty busy with student teaching. It's amazing every night when I get home I have so much more to do here! It never seems to end. So tonight I finally had some extra time and obviously I made cookies. Because they turned out so great, I decided to share the amazing recipes with you all--I'd send you cookies if I could!
Snickerdoodles
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
1/2 cup shortening
2 large eggs
2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 t crean of tartar
1 t baking soda
1/4 t salt
1/4 cup sugar
2 t ground cinnamon
1. Heat oven to 400 degrees
2. In large bowl, beat 1 1/2 cups sugar, butter, shortening, and eggs. Add flour, cream of tartat, baking soda and salt.
3. Shape dough into balls. In small bowl, mix 1/4 cup sugar with cinnamon. Roll balls into mixture. On ungreased cookie sheet, place balls 2 inches apart.
4. Bake 8-10 minutes or until set. Immediately remove from cookie sheet.
5. ENJOY!!
Snickerdoodles
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
1/2 cup shortening
2 large eggs
2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 t crean of tartar
1 t baking soda
1/4 t salt
1/4 cup sugar
2 t ground cinnamon
1. Heat oven to 400 degrees
2. In large bowl, beat 1 1/2 cups sugar, butter, shortening, and eggs. Add flour, cream of tartat, baking soda and salt.
3. Shape dough into balls. In small bowl, mix 1/4 cup sugar with cinnamon. Roll balls into mixture. On ungreased cookie sheet, place balls 2 inches apart.
4. Bake 8-10 minutes or until set. Immediately remove from cookie sheet.
5. ENJOY!!
Thursday, August 6, 2009
YOU have done great things!
Oh where do I even begin? This is a 2-part post
Part 1:
We're all moved into our house and finally settled! It feels so great to have all the boxes gone and pictures on the walls. It finally feels like home :) We're ready for house guests now so come on over and visit :) Pictures can be viewed on facebook. That's really about all there is to report on the home-front.
Part 2:
Today was day 1 of the Leadership Summit which is a 2 day conference put on by Willow Creek church. Our church here in Springfield is one of the churches showing it via satelite and we were blessed to be able to attend this year. We listened to about 5 speakers today, some pastors, others influential speakers and movers in the world. Let me just say there was no way anyone could leave today and not feel the Holy Spirit completely moving them to action.
Two individuals really touched me today. One was Jessica Jackley, co-founder of Kiva. Basically this is an organization that uses regular people like ourselves to loan money (minimum of $25) to other individuals (a.k.a. entrepeneurs) fighting poverty in the world so that they can start up a small business and provide for themselves and families. Because you're lending the money, these entrepeneurs repay you and you are able to keep in contact with them during this process. What an amazing idea!
I'd been struggling lately with having the desire to give to people in need but not knowing who exactly I should give the money to. Sure we sponsor a child with Compassion and tithe regularly, but I feel we're called to give much more. When I heard Jessica speaking about Kiva, my heart was softened and I really felt called to become a lender. Brent and I have yet to discuss this together but I believe it is something that can change lives and you can see it happening which is even more awesome! If you have some time, check out the website and look into becoming a lender. It's only been around 5 years and at the end of this year, they're predicting to have lent over 100 million dollars...YEAH GOD!
The second person that really slapped me in the face was a pastor from a church in Detroit named Harvey Carey. That sentence alone should tell you enough about this guy. Poorest city, poorest state and he's making some amazing changes through this church. One point he made was this: as Christians, we need to get out of our "huddle" (as in a football huddle) and start playing the game. How true is that? We're so comfortable in our small groups and group of fellow Christians we're not actually out there playing the game, or being the church. Often (and this is especially true for me) fear keeps us from getting out there and out of our comfort zone. I realized tonight that isn't an excuse anymore. What have I got to lose? Someone will say "no thanks, I'm not into the God-thing" and that is supposed to be scary? No way. I have decided I am going to be more bold with my faith...stop worrying about what people will think because who knows when we leave this earthly home? And I would much rather have God saying "Well done, good and faithful servant" than "you didn't try nearly enough because you were scared and didn't TRUST me."
I encourage you to step out of your place of complacency and be BOLD. We're disciples, fishers of men. We can't think someone else will get to these people, WE have to get to these people.
So that's my updated blog post, and a little bit about what God has been laying on my heart. I can only imagine what he has in store for day 2 tomorrow, especially because Bono from U2 is speaking...awesome.
Part 1:
We're all moved into our house and finally settled! It feels so great to have all the boxes gone and pictures on the walls. It finally feels like home :) We're ready for house guests now so come on over and visit :) Pictures can be viewed on facebook. That's really about all there is to report on the home-front.
Part 2:
Today was day 1 of the Leadership Summit which is a 2 day conference put on by Willow Creek church. Our church here in Springfield is one of the churches showing it via satelite and we were blessed to be able to attend this year. We listened to about 5 speakers today, some pastors, others influential speakers and movers in the world. Let me just say there was no way anyone could leave today and not feel the Holy Spirit completely moving them to action.
Two individuals really touched me today. One was Jessica Jackley, co-founder of Kiva. Basically this is an organization that uses regular people like ourselves to loan money (minimum of $25) to other individuals (a.k.a. entrepeneurs) fighting poverty in the world so that they can start up a small business and provide for themselves and families. Because you're lending the money, these entrepeneurs repay you and you are able to keep in contact with them during this process. What an amazing idea!
I'd been struggling lately with having the desire to give to people in need but not knowing who exactly I should give the money to. Sure we sponsor a child with Compassion and tithe regularly, but I feel we're called to give much more. When I heard Jessica speaking about Kiva, my heart was softened and I really felt called to become a lender. Brent and I have yet to discuss this together but I believe it is something that can change lives and you can see it happening which is even more awesome! If you have some time, check out the website and look into becoming a lender. It's only been around 5 years and at the end of this year, they're predicting to have lent over 100 million dollars...YEAH GOD!
The second person that really slapped me in the face was a pastor from a church in Detroit named Harvey Carey. That sentence alone should tell you enough about this guy. Poorest city, poorest state and he's making some amazing changes through this church. One point he made was this: as Christians, we need to get out of our "huddle" (as in a football huddle) and start playing the game. How true is that? We're so comfortable in our small groups and group of fellow Christians we're not actually out there playing the game, or being the church. Often (and this is especially true for me) fear keeps us from getting out there and out of our comfort zone. I realized tonight that isn't an excuse anymore. What have I got to lose? Someone will say "no thanks, I'm not into the God-thing" and that is supposed to be scary? No way. I have decided I am going to be more bold with my faith...stop worrying about what people will think because who knows when we leave this earthly home? And I would much rather have God saying "Well done, good and faithful servant" than "you didn't try nearly enough because you were scared and didn't TRUST me."
I encourage you to step out of your place of complacency and be BOLD. We're disciples, fishers of men. We can't think someone else will get to these people, WE have to get to these people.
So that's my updated blog post, and a little bit about what God has been laying on my heart. I can only imagine what he has in store for day 2 tomorrow, especially because Bono from U2 is speaking...awesome.
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