Friday Favorites (11/7/14)

I know... I've been most irregular with posting lately. We've had a lot going on. (I know, who doesn't?!) 

I'm going to post a few favorites from last week along with this week. 

Rush's 5th birthday!

We went to Jump Jam, an indoor tramping park, and had a great time!

Friday was our church fall festival. The weather was TERRIBLE, but the kids still had a great time. 

Saturday, we had a party for Rush, and it SNOWED! We had lots of fun hanging out with family and friends. 

In our small group Bible study on Sunday morning, we discussed the first chapter of our new study A Couple After God's Own Heart. It was based on Adam and Eve and what they did to fail one another in their marriage and how they moved on.

Having freezer meals ready to go!

Since last weekend we've had veggie soup with cornbread muffins, chicken enchiladas with brown rice, and baked ziti with steamed broccoli. It has been so freeing already having dinner ready ahead of time!

Exercising!

I had been taking it easy for the last month because I was pregnant and not feeling very well. Then we had our first ultrasound at 8 weeks and discovered that I was experiencing a type of miscarriage called a blighted ovum. I won't go into details, but I did have to have outpatient surgery two weeks ago, and I am finally feeling like myself again this week! I have exercised almost every day! Here is my workout that I did on Wednesday night on our church's indoor track:

During the miscarriage, my sweet mother-in-law got me a gift card to the spa. I am going to use it today, and I'm so excited! I'm getting a one hour facial and spa pedicure!

I'm excited about the weekend, especially Sunday. We are studying Abraham and Sarah in class, and our pastor will be starting a new sermon series on Psalm 107. I'm also looking forward to choir Christmas music practice tomorrow morning.

I hope you make time with God a priority this weekend (and every day)!

Thanks for stopping by and catching up!

What are you learning through the Bible currently?

Just curious: what's your favorite Christmas song? (I can't pick just one!)

I'm Back! {Friday Favorites}

I've been off the blog for about a month now for several reasons: cabinet renovation, vacation, cabinet renovation, needing a break from social media, and another vacation. Where did the summer go???

This break has given me some time to think about my blog and why I do it. There are times when I ask myself "Does this even have a purpose?" And I always come back to the same answers: Yes, because it is an outlet for me in this phase of learning in my life; a way to "hash out" my thoughts, record memories, and hopefully encourage others who may be struggling with similar things. I've definitely gotten caught in the trap of comparing myself to other women, especially stay at home moms who blog about faith and fitness. But that's why I want to write! I truly want my readers to sense genuineness  in my posts, to be drawn to know more about the One who holds it all together when it seems like it's falling apart. On a much less serious note, I also LOVE posting about our meals, not because I think I'm great at cooking, but because I enjoy reading other bloggers' meal plans. It keeps me from getting in a food-rut, and cooking is very therapeutic for me. When I make my grocery list after coming up with a meal plan, I feel accomplished and organized. 

I have had a couple of new ideas for my blog that will hopefully help me stay more regular in writing. So stick around, and maybe something will stand out to you! I'm just so humbled that you have even stopped by! Thank you!

Friday Favorites from the last month:

A trip to Nashville with three couples in our small group so the guys could go to a men's conference called The Main Event.

Lots of outside playtime with these two monkeys! We picked up McD's smoothies for a fun treat this day. 

Reading some GREAT books right now. This is a page from Creative Correction by Lisa Welchel (yes, that's who played Blair in The Facts of Life). I am learning so much in this book. It is the most practical application of scripture in a young child's life that I have found yet. She even has lists of verses that apply to different issues, and covers just about everything from whining to asking for help before trying alone. I love the line near the top of the pic: "Our goal should be to ensure that our reflection of God draws our children closer to Him-and that it makes them long to touch the real thing. 

I'm also reading Women Living Well by Courtney Joseph, and I am thoroughly enjoying it as well. 

New running shoes! I'm training for a half marathon that I volunteered to be a pacer for! I've never been a pacer before, but I'm really excited about it! Search #gsmhalf on Twitter and Instagram if you're interested. 

Fifth annual trip to Hilton Head Island. I was terrible about pics on this trip. It was a very relaxing vacation. We didn't really go anywhere except for our favorite restaurant for dinner one night, and our favorite breakfast spot one morning. Other than that, we stayed at the pool in the shade or on the beach!

New recipes! This was prep for lemon chicken and asparagus from Pinch of Yum. {Remember to follow me on Pinterest to find almost all the recipes mentioned here.}

It's Labor Day weekend! We are planning to camp in our backyard tonight and/or Saturday. Then after church on Sunday, Ben and I are leaving the kids and going backpacking for one night in the National Park. Little-known fact about April: Backpacking is my FAVORITE thing to do- {cue Nacho Libre voice} every day! (Not really every day, but it is my fav activity!)

I hope you have a great long weekend too! 

I'd like to know, if you read blogs or are a blogger, have you ever gotten caught in the comparison trap?

I want to know a little-known fact about you! Please share in the comments!

Friday Favorites

Hey y'all! I have not done a Friday favorites post in a while. I thought I would catch you up on what's been going on lately. 

Last Friday, Ben took me out for our anniversary to a really nice local restaurant called Foothills Milling Company, then we went to the drive-in for a double feature. We saw How to Train Your Dragon II and The Fault in Our Stars. I do not know how we stayed awake, but somehow we managed to. I have not stayed up that late in years… It was nearly 3 AM by the time we got home and got to bed! It was definitely one of my most favorite dates ever! We tried to take a picture in the back of our minivan while we were watching the movie, but it was just too dark. But we did get some pictures of our awesome food! We shared the fried green tomatoes appetizer, and for entrées I had a smoked trout stuffed ravioli which was actually an appetizer, and Ben had the pulled pork and grits, which was a version of shrimp and grits served over polenta. For dessert, we had the buttermilk pie, and oh my goodness, it was so so good!

Our small group Bible study on Sunday mornings has been going really well. Ben has been teaching about the fruit that we produce in our lives when we are living in daily repentance. There is only one more week left of this particular study, and then we are going to move onto a marriage enrichment study. I am really looking forward to that!

Ben shared his testimony with the college students on Thursday night. He did such a great job telling about how God called him to salvation at college night at our church 12 years ago. Then he shared about how God has been working in his life more recently, teaching him about daily relying on Christ to shape and grow his heart and faith. He shared two passages: Psalm 139 which says "search my heart oh God…"; and in Matthew 22:37 Jesus says that the greatest commandment is to love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself. Ben's main point was that being saved is not the end of loving Jesus. We are incapable of loving the Lord with all our heart with all our soul and with all our strength all the time. We are supposed to ask God to reveal to us when we are not obeying that great command. But we have to ask Him often to reveal it. When we are just going through the motions of Christianity, e.g., going to church "most of the time," randomly reading the Bible and praying, without doing it out of a true and pure heart for spiritual growth, God knows. By His grace, he convicts us, but it is up to confess and repent (Psalm 139); then He will lead us in the way everlasting. 

It's Vacation Bible School week at our church. I've been on the worship team and have been teaching music to the Pre-K class. It has been a blast! We are having our celebration on Sunday afternoon when the kids will get to sing for the parents/families. We've had about 500 kids in attendance!

We don't have any firm plans for the weekend other than church activities on Sunday, and I'm glad. I am looking forward to resting up when the kids will let me. ;) That is, after my 10-mile run on Saturday morning.

Do you have VBS at your church? Do you volunteer for anything?

What are your plans for July 4th???

Friday Favorites and Why I Love April

It's officially spring, y'all! The signs are everywhere.

A momma bird laid her eggs this week in our Nicaraguan lantern. (This is the best photo I could get because of the location of the lantern. Can you see the eggs?)

Daffodils are everywhere!

We're playing outside and sweating! We even have some tan lines. :)

I am craving salads! {A true scientific sign of spring; don't ya know!}

An even truer sign of spring is the fact that the weather has been sunny with temps in the high 70's all week, and today it is stormy. I'm not complaining, though. I feel so blessed to live in a place where I get to experience four seasons. East Tennessee is such a great place!

You know, I always love the changing of seasons, and fall is definitely my favorite. But spring is a close second. My name is closely related to spring. April's meaning is "new life." Wow! Such power in those two words; only something supernatural can bring forth new life. I am filled with awe when I think about all the things that happen in nature during this time of year. But I am utterly overwhelmed when I think about the new life that I was given by Jesus when he died for me. He paid the price for my sins, and that price was death {but He didn't stay dead!} - I deserve death. But my Savior bore all the pain and suffering for me, so that I can have NEW LIFE. Not only does that mean spiritual freedom here on earth, but forever freedom and joy in heaven when this life is over! Wahoo! How awesome is that?! You can have a new life, too; and I would be thrilled to help you understand more about it. You can comment here at the bottom of this post. Or you can go to this website and find answers to lots of spiritual questions. 

It's very appropriate that we celebrate Jesus's death and resurrection (aka Easter) in springtime. Everything points to freshness, beauty, new life. 

I feel like I have quoted this song a lot, but it's one of my favorites, and it says perfectly what I feel about the spring season and Easter:

And everything that’s new has bravely surfaced Teaching us to breathe What was frozen through is newly purposed Turning all things green So it is with You And how You make me new With every season’s change And so it will be As You are re-creating me Summer, autumn, winter, spring ---Nicole Nordeman, "Every Season"

I'm so glad that I have new life in Christ Jesus, and that his work in my heart is ongoing, like the changing seasons. 

Happy spring, and happy weekend!

What's your favorite season?
What do you like about spring?

Friday Favorites (3/28/14)

Hey, y'all! I haven't been making much time for blogging lately, but I have really missed it. We've had lots of things going on lately... nothing major; but you know how it is. Sometimes life just kinda takes over. 

One of the highlights during my blog-break was getting to do a service project with the young marrieds small group Bible study that we lead. We stationed ourselves at both entrances of a local grocery store and handed out water bottles with our church invite cards attached while attempting to simply talk with people. 

We had hopes of getting opportunities to ask people what was going on in their lives and if we could pray with them/for them about anything. Our signs said "Free water, free prayer." 

Many people were very distrusting of us, refusing the water; (I think they thought we were going to trap them into something if they took the water but didn't want to talk.) There are lots of great stories from that day, but the thing most worth mentioning is how much our eyes were opened to hurt all around us that people keep hidden but will gladly tell someone about if they sense genuine care. I was humbled by the experience of showing compassion to strangers in this way. I was also emboldened; I know now that it is a very simple thing to ask someone the question, "Is there something that I can pray for you about?" The worst they can say is "no." But when they say yes, God pours out His love into us, as we pour it out into another person. "For whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." Jesus in John 4:13-14

This past week has been a fairly normal one. The weather has been really wacky, but we have still gotten some outside playtime. Here are some of my favorites from the week:

Playing outside on Saturday afternoon, grilling turkey burgers for dinner, and eating on the deck. 

Getting back to reading My Utmost for His Highest in the mornings, now that our church-wide devotional is over. I love the teachings of Oswald Chambers. 

Trying out a new slow cooker recipe for pulled pork sandwiches. Oh. My. Heavens. 

Brainstorming a service project with the moms group at church related to low-income / at-risk expectant moms. I am SO excited about this!

Catching up on some blog reading. Becky's post blew me away yesterday!

Trucking on with marathon training. I did 16 miles for my long run two weeks ago and 12 miles last weekend. Both runs went really well. I am supposed to run 18 miles this weekend. It's only a little over a month away to the race!!! Eek!

Rush is sounding out words and spelling them!!! This little boy is blowing my mind! I haven't pushed this type of learning because he has never shown eager interest in it. He is much more concerned with riding his bike and scooter and playing baseball,etc. It is amazing watching his little brain develop. He is like a super-sponge right now at 4 1/2. 

We have NO plans for this evening, so we'll probably have homemade pizza and watch a movie in the living room. {My favorite!} Tomorrow, Ben is playing in a dodgeball tournament as a fund-raiser for a St. Jude fund-raising team called "AC and the Tough Kids." These are friends from our church, and they are amazing people. 

Sunday, Ben is teaching a lesson on suffering and trials in our lives and how  we are always responding to our circumstances, good or bad. I really enjoyed this chapter in the book How People Change, so I am looking forward to the lesson. 

I hope you have had a great week too!

I want to know:
What's the last service project you did?
What's your favorite meal to eat outside?

Friday Favorites (3/14)

It has been a short week this week since we drove back from DC all day on Monday. {Here's a re-cap of the trip.} Ben used a vacation day on Tuesday so that we could have some family time with our kids since they stayed back in Tennessee with their grandparents. It was a fun day, and we ended it with a meeting with our realtor. We have our house now listed with an agent again. The prospect of selling seems a bit more promising this time around than it did before, just based on the market. Wednesday I had BSF in the morning, and choir in the evening. I made a new recipe for veggie enchiladas for dinner. They were amazing!

Definitely my favorite meal from the week.

Favorite blog reads:

Parenting/SAHM: 
Gospel Homemaking: Creating Calm in the Chaos
Delights and Delectables: Adoption Finalized!

Fitness:
Miles and Blessings: Run for Jaime

Favorite Workout:
Running outside this morning. My marathon plans have changed: I am now planning to run the New River Marathon on May 3 in North Carolina. More in this later...

Favorite God-Moment:
Doing the spiritual surveys in D.C., and seeing the students be inspired to share their faith.

Favorite Kid-Moment:

Playing with Lottie on Tuesday while Rush was at school. We played doctor, tea, party, dress-up... all fun stuff! 

Rush is such a big kid now! He retold the story of Jesus miraculously feeding the crowd of 5,000 perfectly! 

We are looking forward to a fun weekend! The weather is going to be nice, so hopefully we'll get to play outside. Hope you have a great weekend too!

What are your plans?

What was your favorite meal this week?

In case you missed it:

My post on what I never expected as an engaged girl.

Friday Favorites (2/28)

Hey, y'all! I hope your week has been great.

I've been thinking a lot on my spiritual gift of mercy, and how I can use it better. I'm praying that God will give me opportunities to use it. 

Our week has been a little different than usual. Ben has been out of town for work. He travels on and off, but has not had to for some time now. I could tell that the kids really missed Daddy-time in the evenings. When Ben is gone I don't cook as much. I made quiche Monday night before he left; so the kids and I had the leftovers for dinner on Tuesday. I made a super-simple dinner for the kids on Wednesday, which was whole wheat cheese tortellini with "red sauce," as they call marinara, and then whole wheat waffles with chocolate peanut butter and sliced bananas for dessert. We popped popcorn later in the evening and watched the first 20 minutes or so of one of our favorite movies, Horton Hears a Who. It was a sweet time because the kids were pretty relaxed (for them). I planned to cook dinner on Thursday night because that's when Ben was supposed to come home-but he didn't. I cooked anyway. I made a Rachael Ray shrimp scampi with whole wheat pasta. It was good. Enough about our meals, though. This is supposed to be a favorites post. :)

Favorite Moment: (3-way tie)

Laying on a blanket in the front yard in 70 degree weather on Sunday

  

Eating popcorn and watching Horton with the kids

Ben coming home late Thursday night. (He was in New Haven, CT all week.)

Favorite God-Moment:

BSF lecture on Matthew 19 & 20

Sunday's sermon on sharing our faith with our community.

Did you notice the "note " I wrote to Ben on the top left?

Favorite Meal:

Brittany's black bean burgers and Melissa's sweet potato fries with a side of salsa and avocado. 

Yes, this meal is in a Gladware container. Don't judge- this was the leftovers version and Ben was gone-I had no one to impress. ;)

Favorite Buy:

Racking-up on Bob's Red Mill products at Big Lots again! 

Favorite Treat:

If you like Girl Scout Thin Mints, you'll LOVE these: Snyder York Peppermint Pretzel  Sandwiches. And I found them at Big Lots for $2.50! I haven't seen them in the grocery store for a while, but last time I did I'm pretty sure they were $5.99. 

I'll catch up on blog reading this weekend, hopefully. Maybe I'll do a favorite blog reads on Monday.

We have a busy weekend ahead! It's gonna be a great one, and I hope yours is too! 

Can you believe it's almost March already?!

What has been your favorite thing in February? Mine is all the warm sunny days we've had lately, and catching up on Downton Abbey.

Friday Favorites (2/21)

Hey, hey! It's Friday! I love weekends, don't you? Since Ben works fairly long hours Monday through Friday, we relish our time together from the time he walks in the door on Friday evening until he leaves Monday morning. 

Here are some of my favorite happenings from this week:

Favorite moment: 

Going out to dinner at El Paso for my birthday with Ben and the kids. I had the tacos de carne asada. Sooo yummy!

Favorite read:

Teachings of Jesus in Matthew on marriage and divorce. 

Favorite Workout:

I've been kinda lazy this week, but I did get 3 miles in at the gym yesterday and felt great. 

Kid-favorite:

Playing outside ALL afternoon on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday! The weather has been incredible! Rush is in heaven- he's been going shirtless! 

Favorite meal:

Ham and Swiss croissant casserole (NOT healthy) with orange poppyseed spinach salad. 

Favorite blog reads:

Healthy Living: 

Brittany's post on shopping at Trader Joe's. 

Running: 

Jen's post on deciding to run a marathon 6 months post-partum. 

Parenting: 

The MOB Society's post on How Not to Raise a Godly Man (can't wait to read the free e-book). 

Faith:

Becky's post on God's provision. 

I shared earlier this week that we are going for a family hike tomorrow, and I am super excited! Hiking is possibly my favorite thing to do with Ben.

Photo from 2011- same trail that we're hiking tomorrow

Because of our plans tomorrow, I am planning to do my long run late this afternoon into this evening. I do not typically have good results when I run late in the day, but this is really my only opportunity to get it in. The marathon is just 5 weeks away!

Ben is teaching on the importance of community within the church this Sunday. I'm so proud of how is he growing as a leader/teacher. I'm learning that our spiritual gifts may not be what we would expect based on our natural personalities (post on this coming soon).

Have a great weekend, y'all!

Do you get excited for weekends?

What's your favorite family activity?

Friday Favorites (Valentine's Day edition)

Happy Friday, y'all! This is my 100th post!

I hope you've had a great week. I don't know where this week went. Maybe writing this post will help me remember. ;)

I'll start with last Saturday:

Got my 15 mile training run in that morning. Went great!

We all went to my sweet niece's 5th birthday party! I made cupcake toppers with my silhouette cameo.

Ella Claire

Sunday was... different... in a good way. I shared a little but about it last week, but I did not know exactly what to expect then. We had a church-wide fast in preparation for a renewal service; a renewal of our commitment to Jesus individually and corporately. The services were reverent, meaningful, and moving. 

Rush and Lottie are growing!

It seems like both kids are in a huge learning phase right now! Lottie is making full sentences and showing so much personality. She is smart and funny. Rush is really into counting and reading letters. We do flash cards multiple times a day. I am excited for when he starts reading! I am trying to encourage "sounding out" words, but he's not very interested in that yet. I know it will come to him in his own time. He is eager to learn, but very independent. (Just like his Dad.)

Great coffee!

Our brother-in-law, Jared, roasts his own coffee as a side business. It is awesome! I love to wake up for my quiet time and have a pot ready. 

Valentine's Day!

I have always loved this holiday, mainly because it is four days before my birthday. So it's the perfect excuse to eat sweets for four days to a week straight. I always make an extra effort to make one of Ben's favorite dinners and a special dessert.  This year I am making quiche (no surprise) and my famous (to Ben) homemade cheesecake. It's in the oven right now. :)

Ben has something up his sleeve for Sunday afternoon. I am excited to find out what he has planned. 

I hope you have a great Valentine's Day full of love. 

In case you missed it, here's my post on love and marriage: http://fruitfulfamilymills.blogspot.com/2014/02/growing-love.html?m=1

What's your favorite recipe to make for your husband on a special occasion?

What are your plans for Valentine's Day this year?

Babies and Marriage! Friday Favorites (1/31)

Hey y'all! I am so glad it's the weekend. Aren't you? We've got cabin fever here at the Mills house. The kids were sick for the better part of last week and beginning of this week, and then we got snowed-in on Tuesday. But we have some fun stuff on deck for the weekend. 

Here are some of my favorite things from the past week:

Our new niece, Aubrey, was born on Tuesday morning!!! When Ben got home from work we took a snowy drive to the hospital to see her. 

 We went out for Mexican food afterward which was a treat since we rarely eat out during the week. And we took some back to the hospital for my sis and her husband. :)

Helping Ben lay-out our next Bible study lesson. The main idea is that as Christians we are married to Christ and there are many blessings that come from that. It has been really cool to see the way that earthly marriage reflects these blessings/benefits. 

Our dear, long-time friends, Brittany and John-David, were blessed with a baby boy! Their adoption story has been incredible, and it has been a privilege to pray for them and see God's work. 

Getting a gym membership! I have not had one in a couple of years, and I am so excited. We all went one evening, and the kids loved the childcare room! (Happy mommy dance.) I did part of Sarah's interval workout (again) and some extra leg stuff. Ben even ran beside me for a little while. 

Good reads from the blog world:

Becky's post on real love.

Brittany's post on meal planning. 

The Better Mom (Rachel's) post on mommy-anger. 

Brittany's posts on their adoption. 

Mmmisformommy's crockpot ribs recipe which I'm making tonight. Reviews are rave so they better be good. 

My post on grace. 

We're having friends over for dinner tonight (that's why the ribs better be good). I am running 10 miles in the morning for marathon training, and we are going to try to get together with my sister's family tomorrow afternoon/evening so the "big kids" can play.

 I am most excited about the getaway that Ben and I leaving for after church Sunday morning to go skiing in West Virginia. 

Have an awesome weekend!

What do you have planned?

Friday Favorites

Well... If you follow me on Twitter, you may have seen my post about our Little Lottie having RSV this week. So... that is my Friday un-favorite. ;) But, despite the sickness, this week has not been short of favorites. Here goes:

I decided for sure that I am training for the Covenant Marathon. Early morning runs, here I come... you may or may not see me with clothes on inside out during my training. 

Got some exciting (to me) shopping deals this week:

Awesome skirted running tights from Gap for $4.00!!! Yes, you read correctly: $4.00!!! 

I had just been thinking that I needed to find more skirted running gear for modesty reasons because of a recent conversation with Ben about modesty. Thanks for the gentle reminder, honey!

Plum Organics Fruit Straws for half-price at Kroger!

A successful first trip to the dentist for Rush. He was so brave, and his teeth looked great. Aunt Brittany, I know you're proud. 

Baking homemade Cinnamon Raisin Flax Bread. I doubled the recipe for my sister and her family since Baby Aubrey will arrive at any moment.

An awesome workout thanks to Sarah @ Sweetmiles!

I used my body bar for all of the weighted exercises. I had to cut it short, though, because as you can see on the light indicator on the baby monitor, Lottie woke up {poor sick baby}.

We are headed back to the pediatrician today for a follow-up. Then I am going to get my hair cut... just a trim, but it will mean a few hours of freedom for me because my mother-in-law will have the kids. :) I hope to do Sarah's workout again when I get home. Tonight is family movie night, and probably leftovers for dinner... my fridge is full! {I that's a good problem to have.} After the kids go to bed, we are going to do a run-through of the lesson Ben has prepped for Bible study; then we're going to watch episode 1 of North and South on Netflix. I'll have 14 miles to get in tomorrow morning, but besides that, we have no other plans tomorrow. That's a great Saturday in my opinion!

Happy weekend!

What are you currently studying in the Bible?
What's your favorite way to spend a Saturday?