Wednesday, October 03, 2012

Texas Tech Lubbock Race


What's a  mom living in Japan supposed to do when her children are competing in TX????  Totally love FB...and because I'm UP AGAIN (this new dosage of synthroid may  not work)...and because we want to have these photos captured somewhere other than FB....here are some race photos of Jamin running for Angelo State on Sept 15, 2012 at Texas Tech Lubbock, TX. Jamin is #24.


No one seems to trust other's time clocks... ::grin:: 





  

I think an elbow would help here, Jamin. 
 



Choosing Joy!
©2012 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Macaroni NOT Cheese (Engine 2)


Combined Ginger's technique and Engine 2's ingredients for a yummy "NOT CHEESE SAUCE". I plan to make Ginger's Alfredo sauce when the raw cashews arrive. 


INGREDIENTS:
1 C Raw Cashews (used roasted - Ginger also called for 2 T raw pine nuts)
1/3 C of Lemon Juice
1 1/3 C Water
1/2 tsp Sea Salt
4 cloves of Garlic
4 oz jar of Roasted Red Peppers (thus the cheese color)
3 T Nutritional Yeast
1 tsp Garlic Powder (opt)
1 tsp Onion Powder

16 ounces of whole grain pasta, cooked. 

DIRECTIONS:
Saute onion with a little water or veggie broth. 

In my blender I combined onions, cashews, lemon juice, water and salt. 

Added red peppers, nutritional yeast, garlic and onion powder. Blend until smooth. Resist the urge to eat it by the spoonful. 

Engine 2 Technique - Preheat oven (doesn't say how hot). Toss pasta and sauce. Bake in the oven for 20 minutes until the top is golden brown. 

Ginger's Technique - I cooked it on LOW for 7 minutes (stirring all the time). I added veggies to my pasta and all was done at the same time. I spooned a bit of sauce over veggies and pasta.

I used Ginger's Technique as I KNEW I wanted sauce left for Vegetable Calzone and  I also KNEW I wouldn't eat 16 ounces of pasta by myself before it went bad. LOL 

Click the recipe tab for more yummy eats. 

Choosing Joy!
©2012 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Guess Who Is Flying...


on 30 October? Someone who has been reliving the experience of flying through a typhoon alone two years ago....someone who flies on "sacred monies" and so ALWAYS books the cheapest airline she can find....
Via Google Images

Yep - ME. I've already been praying for this flight...and now I tune in to news clips to hear them say consumers should consider NOT flying with AA until after their bankruptcy proceedings......

You can be sure I'll carefully CHECK THE SEATS as I board.....
Via Google Images

And never fear....I'll be prepared to take whatever measures are needed.....could be handy for pesky fellow-travelers as well.....hmmmm.....
Via Google Images


Choosing Joy!
©2012 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Healthy Journey Part 2


Yes, we did school today, the kids were cute today and I could write about a variety of things. However, the thing on my mind is my journey to freedom from food compulsions.

I have been having quite the time finding things to wear lately. I've lost 28 lbs in 7 weeks...today I went through the closet. I debated. I wanted to keep things as it is nice to have clothes you already like when  if you regain  weight. I don't believe keeping clothes will CAUSE you to grow back into them...  I haven't decided what to do with them - but I got all the clothes that are too big for me out of my closet....and I found many things that were too small for me that are fine now. Looking at the big pile of clothes leads to self-doubt and "old sound tracks."

"You won't keep it off." 

"You can't eat like this FOREVER."

But that's just it...if I LIKE having low blood pressure (and I DO), if I like getting off cholesterol meds (and I DO), if I like NOT having migraines (and I DO!); then I have to accept the fact that this HAS TO BE a change for a life...and that is sobering...because this dying to appetites self is HARD . ::snort::  However, as I die in this one area, I find it easier to die to self in other areas. I am thankful to be on this journey.

I was very strict while on the Daniel Fast.  I was fasting. This is a lifestyle. I've eased up a bit and am eating a bit more sugar -  vegan desserts, homemade "Lara Bars".  I'm eating a bit more grains and legumes. I allow myself yeast bread from time to time. I still avoid as much processed foods as possible...and of course....as a family, we still avoid dyes and chemicals.  I'm not losing 4 lbs a week any longer...but 1 - 2 lb a week is still phenomenal for one with Hashimoto's Disease.

In any event...this is truly health-based....and that IS the difference. I will stay on this for  life...because I am determined to be as healthy as possible, for as long as possible, so I can be as effective as possible for the kingdom, as long as possible.  Catch all that? ::snort::  Stacia also motivates me by reminding me I need to stay around long enough to play with her kids when they are preschoolers....by my reckoning that will put me pert near 70.

AND I do like walking in victory over food compulsions. Anything worth accomplishing will take discipline and endurance when the going gets tough.

I can CHOOSE to feel empowered rather than deprived when I make a healthy choice...just like I can choose joy when life sucks.  Attitude is huge! I will not live the rest of my life feeling deprived. I choose to feel empowered, thankful, healthy and victorious. I certainly am happy to say goodbye to defeat.

I discovered two new hits around here......Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Balls.  Totally vegan and packed with protein!
It took a lot of self-control NOT to simply eat it ALL by the spoonful.....


I allowed myself one a day....the kids didn't show quite that much restraint and it didn't take long until ONE OF THEM (pictured below with NAIL POLISH ::hint::) dipped them in "vegan hard shell" - which led to many kudos for the vegan lifestyle. I think they've missed a point somewhere. 

I've been planning to try  Ginger's Vegan Alfredo sauce recipe...I ordered raw cashews to give it a shot...but today I combined her recipe with Engine 2's Macaroni Not Cheese recipe and just used the roasted cashews I had on hand...YUM. I don't eat much pasta, this screamed for broccoli (but I was out) so I grabbed a zucchini and YUMMO.

It was FANTASTIC and cholesterol free, full of only good fats and loaded with PROTEIN...I ate all the zucchini and very little of the pasta....Michael ate it when he got home...he doesn't like Mac and Cheese, but when I told him to TASTE IT, he realized his vegan wife wouldn't have made Mac and CHEESE for herself. He liked it. He DID say it needs veggies. My how quickly we've changed around here. Two of the four kids liked it...and that means this is a vegan meal that will show up again. 

In fact...I plan to make Airlie Center's Vegetable Calzone and use the left over NOT CHEESE sauce (I have 2 C) in place of cheese. I may be nice and make one with meat and cheese for the kids Gherkins.

That's all I have to say on this subject for the day. I really AM making sure the blog doesn't become ALL about my journey to freedom.  

If you have no clue why I'm vegan or what I'm talking about read this post. I may have to say "mostly vegan" as I'm seriously thinking of using honey and possibly listening to the doc and adding fish....still praying about it as I feel so GOOD not eating meat of any sort. 

Choosing Joy!
©2012 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...