A Perfect Fit

Today was the first time I bought a pair of tennis shoes (though they will be used for running and not tennis) for the way they fit and not because of the way they looked. This is a big deal for me. I was not exactly the "athletic type" growing up and tennis shoes or sneakers, if you will, were purchase solely (no pun intended) to serve the purpose of completing an outfit. A cute pair of Keds here and occasionally a simple pair of white Nike's there. Actually, I don't think I wore a pair of tennis shoes a single day throughout my entire high school career. I was more of a "Sam & Libby" girl. Anyway since I began running I have done research on the type of shoes I should wear. I discovered that I have a high arch and tend to underpronate when I run. Yeah, it didn't make much sense to me at first either until I went to buy a new pair of tennis shoes and followed in my familiar footsteps of choosing the cutest pair I could find. Success! A cute pair of white and gray Nike's, with just a hint of pink for a feminine touch, jumped out at me. Found my size, tried them on, pranced around a bit and took them home. BIG MISTAKE.

I was pretty bummed to be buying new shoes in the first place. I had a pair that were perfect and already broken in. I had purchased them a few years earlier and only wore them to go on walks but promoted them to running shoes last summer when I realized running was something I enjoyed. Well, me and those shoes were getting along just fine until a week before Halloween when our pumpkin decided to explode all over them. Little did I know the humid Florida weather, a little sprinkler over spray and a ripe pumpkin could cause such a mess. I'll spare you the gory and stinky details and just say my beloved shoes met their final unrecycled resting place in a landfill not too far off...sigh. So began my search for a new pair of shoes.

The shoes that ultimately became the mistake gave me blisters, calloused my toes and made my ankles hurt. Was my running career over already? And all this just a month before my 1/2 marathon debut? But then came the advice of a wise running friend, "Have you ever looked up a shoe guide?" What? They make shoe guides? Off I went searching for the guide that would tell me the perfect shoe for my "uncle" crying feet. A few days of researching led to a match made in podiatry heaven [cue the angelic choir] I had found my perfect shoes! I was told to purchase Asics GEL-Pulse shoes that would help with my underpronation, support my high arch and help me to run correctly. I hurried my way up to our local sportswear store and found the prized shoes, but wait, where was my size?? They were no where to be found! Ooooooh, here they are...whew! Imagine my excitement as I sat down on the bench and gingerly laid the gray and navy shoebox down right beside me and guarded it closely as I began to remove my flip flops and pull on the pair of socks I brought to "test drive" the shoes. I was overcome with joy as I lifted the lid to the box, pulled back the tissue, AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!! They're black!!! What? I cannot wear black tennis shoes!! It goes against everything I am, everything I have ever been! I repeat, I cannot wear black running shoes. I took a deep breath as my shoulders slumped. "What's the problem?" my husband nonchalantly asked. I explained my dilemma and was confronted with frustration from him. He did not understand that he was staring into the eyes of a woman who had ALWAYS chosen her shoes for the way they looked. He tried to explain the fit was all that mattered and began to attempt to sway me into purchasing the hideous black beasts. I was convinced our children, who were quiet bored by this time, were influencing his thinking and he was ready for a decision to me made, a transaction to occur and children to be buckled (ok restrained) safely in a car and on our way home for dinner.

The Asics GEL-Pulse shoes did come in a much more appropriate white with navy and light blue designs but they were completely sold out of anything close to my size. If I wanted that shoe, in my size, I was going to have to start viewing the "beasts" as the "beauties". It wasn't happening. After much deliberating and the considering of other choices we left without the perfect shoes. Maybe it just wasn't meant to be. The next day I ran in the afore mentioned white, gray and a touch of pink, shoes only to develop a blister in a new spot. That afternoon I called several other sports stores to track down the shoes made for me, only to be told they were sold out or no longer carried. One last attempt proved to be worth while when the shoes of my dreams were located (of course at a store a stinking hour, ok maybe just 45 minutes away) and today we were joined together in running bliss.

So what's the point in all this you ask? It occurred to me this afternoon as I was cleaning that many times in life we put so much time and effort into outward appearances and superficial things when we should be concentrating on what really "fits" or matters the most. The shoes that were pretty on the outside were really (go with me here) ugly on the inside. They hurt my feet and kept me from running a good race. The shoes that were not the best looking on the outside (even the white ones aren't that great) are absolutely beautiful on the inside and are going to prepare me to cross the finish line strong in a few weeks. These shoes, like the Lord's plan for our lives, are a perfect fit. I Samuel 16:7 says, "The Lord does not look at things man (woman) looks at. Man (Woman) looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."

Ok, so maybe it's a stretch but it was a great reminder for me to not concentrate so much on outward appearances but to focus on being beautiful on the inside and to the Lord because it's that kind of beauty that will win the "real" race, the one with the great prize.

"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever."

I Corinthians 9: 24-25

Seeing how we have to leave for church in under an hour the race is on for dinner...Easy Calzones and a tossed salad.

Easy Calzones

1 lb ground beef or turkey

1 small onion, chopped

3 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 cup spaghetti sauce

1/2 tsp dried Italian seasoning

1 container (11oz) refrigerated French bread dough

4 slices (1 oz each) mozzarella cheese

nonstick cooking spray

2 tbsp melted butter

grated Parmesan cheese

garlic salt

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Coat a baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray. In large skillet brown meat with onion and garlic. Drain well then stir in spaghetti sauce and Italian seasoning. Unroll dough onto lightly floured surface and roll or press with your fingers to a 16-inch square. Cut the dough into 4 even squares then transfer to baking sheet. Spoon equal amounts of the meat mixture into the center of each square and top with a slice of cheese. Fold each square over to form a triangle, pressing the edges to seal. Brush melted butter over each triangle and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and garlic salt. Bake 12 to 15 minutes or until golden. Serve immediately with salad and enjoy!

Are You Hungry?

Though I wouldn't say I have an eating disorder there has definitely been a disorder to my eating. For as long as I can remember I have been a slave to the scale. My daily diet and attitude would revolve around whatever weight it ruled over me. Every morning I would step on the scale, take a deep breath then slowly look down. From that point on my day would be decided. Either I would eat three very small meals and be miserable (have to keep up the routine or I might gain a pound) or I would eat even less and be really miserable. Throughout the day I would yell at my kids, snap at my husband and wonder at the end of each rampage why I was so angry. Then last week while working on a Bible study (Beth Moore's Breaking Free) I read I Corinthians 10:31 and everything began to click for me. I realized I wasn't glorifying God with the way I was eating and I was angry because I was hungry.

"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."

God never intended for us to starve or even be hungry and being hungry doesn't make us righteous either. I had been eating and drinking to glorify myself not God and "dieting" to maintain what I wanted, a small number on the scale. When I would succeed I felt powerful, content (though temporarily), in control and glorious. I was torturing myself (not to mention my family) in vain because even when the scale told me what I wanted I still wasn't happy. After all it meant I had to keep up the "diet" and what I really wanted to do was just eat and be happy! I let this area of my life become a stronghold and it wasn't glorifying God.

Then it dawned on me today that we can be "hungry" for things other than food. We can be "hungry" for love, peace, contentment, excitement and other things that we search for and try to control or fill on our own only to be disappointed with the outcomes. The verse above says "or whatever you do, do it for the glory of God." This means in all areas of our life we need to be glorifying God. If we are looking for love, we need to speak of His undying love for us that sent His son to the cross. If we are looking for peace, we need to be obedient to His will. If we are hungry for contentment or excitement, we need to spend time with the Lover of our soul, the only one who can truly satisfy us. And when we eat and drink we need to do so in a healthy way that gives strength and energy to our bodies, His temple. Galatians 5:1 says, "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." We don't have to be slaves to the things we desire. Christ came to set us free and He can and will meet all of our needs.

So after reading these verses I made a few changes. For one I threw away our scale. I hated seeing my daughter hop on the scale after me even though she had no idea what she was doing. Strongholds start somewhere, right? Next I started eating. I haven't gone crazy, I'm not a nutritionist but I know junk in=junk out. I have been making healthy choices and eating simply when I get hungry. I now eat three meals a day with healthy snacks in between. And it's working. I'm not hungry and I've been a much happier mom and wife.

Are you hungry? Grab an apple and your Bible and get all filled up.

Here's a healthy dinner menu for you to feel good about eating and serving your family, Enchilada Casserole with Southwestern salad.

Enchilada Casserole
Sauce
1 8-oz can tomato sauce
1 tsp ground cumin
1/4 tsp chili powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
Salsa
1 14-oz can Italian plum tomatoes, diced
1 4-oz can diced green chilies
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper (omit if you want a mild salsa)
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp ground cumin
Enchiladas
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1/2 tsp olive oil
1/4 cup onion, chopped
1/2 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp chili powder
1/2 cup canned mushroom stems and pieces, drained
2 tbsp diced green chilies
3/4 cup freshly grated low-fat cheddar cheese
3/4 cup freshly grated part-skim mozzarella cheese
3 8-inch flour tortillas

In a covered jar, combine all enchilada sauce ingredients the set aside. In a bowl, combine all salsa ingredients then set aside. In a 2-quart saucepan, bring chicken and chicken broth to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 20 minutes or until chicken is done. Remove chicken from broth and dice. In a nonstick skillet, heat olive oil then add onion and saute until tender. Toss chicken with onion then sprinkle with cumin and chili powder. Add mushrooms and green chilies. Combine cheeses. Cover the bottom of a nonstick 9-inch round cake pan with 1/3 of the enchilada sauce. Place one of the tortillas over the sauce then top with half the salsa, half the chicken mixture and 1/3 of the cheese. Top with a second tortilla, 1/3 of the enchilada sauce, remainder of salsa and chicken mixture and another 1/3 of the cheese. Top with final tortilla and pour remaining enchilada sauce over the top and sprinkle with remaining cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes. 8 Servings.
[204 calories, 6 grams of fat per serving]

Southwestern Salad
1 head of Romaine lettuce chopped
1 small can of Mexican style corn (with black beans and peppers)
1 small red onion, chopped
1/2 cup low-fat shredded cheddar cheese
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
Dressing
1 cup low or reduced fat Ranch dressing
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1 tbsp fat free sour cream

Combine all salad ingredients in a large bowl then set aside. Mix all dressing ingredients well then serve with salad.

Go Climb A Tree!

I have a computer and one of those touch screen phones but I still prefer to keep track of my life with a pen and paper. I write our dinner menu for the week on a calendar hanging in my kitchen, I keep a list of groceries to buy on a magnetic pad stuck on the side of our fridge and when I have something important to do or remember I make a "to do" list. So I wasn't surprised to find a piece of paper with the words "climd a tree when get home" scribbled on it when going through my 8-year-old son's school notebook. I couldn't help but smile. With the majority of items on my "to do" lists consisting of such mundane things as: organize hall closet, dust house, wash dog, sweep out garage...the thought of adding "climb a tree" was a wonderful distraction.

We had a huge magnolia tree in the front yard of my childhood home. It was a great climbing tree and every spring it would burst with big, fragrant, white blossoms. I would climb to the top, sit on one of the thick branches and peer down at the cul-de-sac below. I could see the roof tops of houses around the corner and into the backyards of homes surrounded by tall privacy fences. Then climbing down I would pluck the blossoms and carry them as treasured bouquets.

It's been a long time since I have climbed a tree and though I am the nervous type of mom who worries her children will come crashing out of the tree destined to break a limb, and not one belonging to the tree, I know there is a great sense of accomplishment that comes with conquering the climb up then back down a tree. So this weekend I plan on helping my son make good on his "to do" list and in the process make memories we'll remember for a lifetime. The dust nor the garage will miss me.

"I thank my God every time I remember you." Philippians 1:4 (NIV)

A great "after climbing a tree" meal is what's for dinner tonight, shrimp and grits!

Shrimp and Grits

2 cups water

1 (14 oz) can chicken broth

3/4 cup half-and-half

3/4 tsp salt

1 cup uncooked regular grits

3/4 cup shredded cheddar

1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

2 tbsp butter

1/2 tsp hot sauce

3 slices bacon

1 lb med fresh shrimp, peeled and deveined

1/4 tsp black pepper

1/8 tsp salt

1/4 cup all purpose flour

1 cup sliced mushrooms

1/2 cup chopped green onions

2 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 cup chicken broth

2 tbsp fresh lemon juice

1/4 tsp hot sauce

Chopped green onions for garnish

Bring first 4 ingredients to a boil in a med saucepan. Slowly whisk in grits then reduce heat and simmer, stirring occasionally. Once thickened add cheddar and next 3 ingredients. Keep warm. Cook bacon in a large skillet until crispy then drain on paper towels and crumble, reserving drippings. Sprinkle shrimp with pepper and 1/8 tsp salt then dredge in flour. Saute mushrooms in bacon drippings then add green onions, shrimp and garlic and cook until shrimp are lightly browned. Stir in remaining broth, lemon juice and hot sauce and cook for 2 more minutes. Serve shrimp mixture over hot cheese grits. Top with crumbled bacon and chopped green onions. Makes 4 servings.

Slavery

"...you are slaves to the one whom you obey--whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness..." Romans 6:16 (NIV)

I have never been crazy about the use of the word "slave" in the Bible. The word does not evoke warm, fuzzy feelings and I doubt non-believers rush the isles of churches to become "slaves" for Jesus. It seems to have such a negative connotation and though it is dead on for explaining the effects of sin, it can be misleading not to mention repelling when used in terms of the Christian life. We have all heard the reasons people don't choose Jesus and one of the most popular is the fear of having to let go of certain "freedoms." Ironically many of those freedoms come with a steep price. Freedom to have sex outside of marriage costs permanent emotional scars. Freedom to participate in unhealthy habits (from over eating, to abusing alcohol and drugs) costs a stranglehold of addictions. Freedom to choose abortion costs a lifetime of regret.

On the other hand what does obedience cost? It may cost more effort and maybe more discipline but it will never cost a STD, a stint in rehab or a broken spirit. But still, a slave to obedience?? It's definitely not a slogan that would win any campaigns but there really is no other way of describing it. If we are going to live the life we were created for then we have to choose to become a slave to the things the Lord has commanded. A slave to obedience. Not a fair-weather Christian, not a feel-good Christian, not a popular-vote Christian, but a Christian completely committed to the Lord's will. Not swaying, not "flip-flopping", not giving in to sinful desires but standing firm and choosing to be obedient.

We can choose to be a slave to sin (doing what WE want) or we can choose to be a slave to obedience (doing what the LORD wants). Choose the right Master.

Don't be a slave to the kitchen tonight...make cheese steak subs for dinner and you'll be eating in no time!

Cheese Steak Subs
1 box frozen beef sandwich steaks (I like the Philly-Gourmet brand)
1 tsp olive oil
1 tsp Grilled Steak Seasoning
1 small green pepper, sliced
1 small onion, sliced
Mayonnaise
Dijon mustard
4 slices Provolone cheese
4 hoagie buns

Heat skillet over med heat and add oil. Break apart meat and place in skillet. Sprinkle with seasoning and cook until browned. Drain well and set aside. In same skillet saute peppers and onions until tender. Lightly toast hoagie buns in 350 degree oven then assemble sandwiches using mayonnaise and Dijon mustard, meat, peppers, onions then top with cheese. Place back in warm oven to melt cheese if desired. Serve with fries or chips.

A New Year Resolution

New Year Resolutions. Everyone makes them and nobody keeps them. Ok, maybe a disciplined few do but whether they are to stop smoking or start exercising it seems resolutions are doomed to become irresolutions. I thought it was quiet funny watching people peruse the fitness clothing at a sports store the other day and wondered how many of them thought I was making good on a New Year's Resolution as I made my purchase. Regardless, we still make them every year and this year is no different for me. However, I have chosen to make just one New Year Resolution this year. One that will be impossible not to keep and one that will have a 100% success rate. My New Year Resolution is...to not be perfect. There you have it! And in the time it has taken me to type these few sentences I have already succeeded! I'm not sure if it's "New Year Resolutions" or "New Year's Resolutions", I have hit the delete button multiple times and may have a couple of grammatical errors because I am not perfect! Yay me! Day five of the new year and I have maintained my resolution!

Seriously though, perfectionism is something I have always struggled with. I have all these ideas of how the perfect woman, wife, mother, daughter, sister...should look and behave and I am constantly striving to make those (unrealistic) ideas reality. Then this morning (just hit the delete button again) I read in a devotional, "People usually associate victory with success: not falling or stumbling, not making mistakes. But those who are successful in their own strength tend to go their own way, forgetting about [Jesus]. It is through problems and failure, weakness and neediness that you learn to rely on [Jesus]." (Jesus Calling by Sarah Young.)

I never realized that my desire for perfection was leading me on a path away from God. As I managed to perfect the little things in my life and feel successful, I was moving closer to a self-sufficient attitude and neglecting my need for the Lord. Then it would happen: a few pounds gained, a dinner burnt, an unkind word(s) said, a mistake made and bump, bump, bump, bump, I would fall from the top of the ladder of my idea of success back to the ground with a thud. That much further away from my goal of perfection. But something great always happened as I stood to brush off the dirt and check out my scrapes and bruises. God would always be right there with a first aid kit. "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." Psalm 34:18

The devotion went on to say, "It is a faith-walk, taken one step at a time, leaning on [Jesus] as much as you need. This is not a path of continual success but of multiple failures. However, each failure is followed by a growth spurt, nourished by increased reliance on [Jesus]." How wonderful to be reminded that I don't have to be perfect, that I don't have to do life all on my own and that when (not if) I fail I will be that much more dependent on Jesus!

So, here's to growth spurts, an imperfect 2010 and Chicken lasagna and 1905 Salad for dinner tonight!

Chicken Lasagna
8 oz lasagna (nine noodles)
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 cup Parmesan cheese
8 oz sour cream
1 cup onion, finely chopped
1 cup black olives, sliced
1/4 cup diced pimientos
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 cup milk
3 cups cooked chicken (see note below)
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Cook and drain lasagna noodles then set aside. Combine all ingredients and mix well. Spread 1/2 cup of chicken mixture on the bottom of a lightly greased 9x13 inch baking dish then layer three noodles, 1/3 chicken mixture, 1/3 cheese. Repeat two more times. Bake at 350 degrees covered until bubbly, about 20-25 minutes. Uncover and bake an additional 5 minutes. Let set for 10 minutes before serving.

Note: For recipes that call for "cooked chicken" I drizzle olive oil on split chicken breasts (with skin and bones) then sprinkle them with salt and pepper and roast them in a 350 degree oven for 35-40 minutes. I let the chicken cool then remove the skin and shred the chicken into bite-size pieces. A little primitive but very moist.

1905 Salad (From the Colombia Restaurant)
1 head lettuce, chopped
1/2 lb deli ham, cut into thin strips (julienned)
1/2 lb deli Swiss cheese, cut into thin strips (julienned)
1 jar green olives
2 large tomatoes, sliced

Dressing
1/8 cup white vinegar
1/2 cup olive oil
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
salt and pepper to taste
1 tsp dried oregano
2 tsp lemon juice

Place all salad ingredients in a large bowl then toss with dressing.