::Pour Courage::

I once watched a T.V. show about a man involved in the NFL in some way who had cancer. 

He was a family man and football was a big part of his relationship with his teen sons. 

His wife spoke very highly of her dedicated husband and she described him as an "Encourager". And defined it like this...

::Definition: Someone who pours courage into another.::

I thought it was simple yet profound. Do I encourage those around me like that? Do I pour courage into them to believe they are good enough? To be great at the things they set their hands to? 

I want to be THAT kind of encoureager. 

Pour Courage into those around you today! 

- Jerri K. 

Hey good lookin'! What ya got cookin'...{Paleo}

{How about cookin' somethin' up with me!}

I've been having so much fun cooking from the cookbook my sister Andrea  got me for my birthday! Click image for a direct link!

So, here is my not-so-expert-in-the-kitchen review! Enjoy! All this is Paleo/Gluten Free! If you do not know what Paleo is see my resources at the bottom of the post. 

IMAGE: Left: Experiment #1 Right: Experiment #2

                                                                              
















{Experiment #1: "Cheesy" Kale Chips}
(Not REAL cheese...no dairy in Paleo!)

Ingredients:

Kale

Coconut Oil

Nutritional Yeast (I did not use this...but I will next time. It will make it crispy.)

Salt and Pepper to taste --> I used Trader Joe's Everyday Seasoning. But you can season it with whatever you like!

Review: 

Super simple to make and tasted really good! I buy a head of kale instead of a bag because I save about $1. I probably used 1/4 of the kale for the chips and the rest I made a kale salad. The kale salad is not in the cookbook. I'll post that later. 

{Experiment #2: "Spicy Crab, Avocado & Grapefruit Nori Rolls"}

I can't even wait to tell you in the review...these were AMAZING!!!

Ingredients: 

Homemade Mayonnaise (I made the homemade mayo from the cookbook. Review: Simple and yummy!)

Sriracha

Can of sustainable crab meat

Fresh Cilantro, Chives, Mint

Toasted (Roasted is the same thing) Nori Wraps

Avocado

Snow Peas

Grapefruit

Daikon Radish (This was not at Tom Thumbs so I did not get it. I probably wont add it. It was delicious without it!) 

Review:

If you like sushi THIS is for you! There were a lot of steps to this recipe so be sure to set aside some time. It is soooo worth the time and effort. I was even able to eat it for three meals! 

{Experiment #3: "Sweet Potato Apple-Cinnamon Pancakes}

Ingredients: 

Mashed Sweet potatoes (Note: I made mine over the weekend using 3 small sweet potatoes and froze then in 1 cup portions. Smart thinkin'!)

1 Gala Apple - grated (I do NOT recommend replacing with apple sauce. Stick with the recipe folks!)

1 Egg

Cinnamon

Potato Startch (Because EVERYTHING Paleo is gluten free!)

Salt

Coconut oil for greasing the pan

Review:

To simple and to yummy to not try! Especially if you freeze 1 cup servings of sweet potatoes before hand. I also cooked turkey beacon with mine. I will be having the leftovers for lunch tomorrow! I used sugar free syrup...NO, that's not paleo. ( ; 

How to cookie beacon like a boss? Pre-heat oven to 350', grease a pan, lay beacon on pan, cook 20 minutes and DONE! It may take less then 20 so just keep an eye on it! 

{Experiment #4: "Strawberry Watermelon Mint Smoothie"}

Frozen Strawberries (Frozen to make the smoothie cold b/c you do not use ice.)

Watermelon (Seedless is your BFF!)

Full Fat Coconut Milk (I used LITE coconut milk from a can.)

Fresh Mint Leaves 

Lime

1 Raw Egg (Optional. I did not use the egg.)

Review: 

I had this smoothie 4 mornings in a row! So, I guess you'd say I liked it! The coconut milk makes the smoothie so smooth and texture perfect! I did NOT use the raw egg and the smoothie kept me satisfied for breakfast until lunch time. 

{Tips!}

Amazon Prime membership is a must if you decided to purchase various ingredients online. Why? FREE 2 day shipping. I purchased potato flour, Coconut Flour, and Tapioca Flour. They may also be refereed to as startch. I also ordered Paleo Caveman Cookies! Great little addition to my lunch I pack for work. 

{Resource Recommendation}

 

Take a look around the Balanced Bits website as well!

Enjoy The Journey!

Jerri K. 

What if you just simply don't know?

What if you get to that point where you just simply don't know what's next? You feel like maybe you're missing "it". Whatever "it" is. You can't figure out what to do next...and you feel completely clueless as to what God is leading you to and what He has planned.

Our human minds can only handle the day to day. The rest is far to heavy a burden for our small frame to shoulder. God...He knows. He knows it is hard for us to be us. He knows our weakness and He is strong. He SEES you. He knows it's hard.

Over spring break a coworker texted me this image....said she was just thinking of me. (In that moment I knew God saw me...as I thought about His plans...my plans.)

*"As we stand at the threshold of transition we can remember how God has helped us in the past."

"I remember the days of old; I meditate on all Your doings; I muse on the work of Your hands. I stretch out my hands to You; My soul longs for You, as a parched land." Psalm 143

Receiving that text had me "meditating" on all God's promises and how He has worked all things together...and in that place peace waited.

I sat down with pen in hand and {journaled} the following...

Considering you are the God of all comfort I know it is safe to ask questions. 

(I listed those questions...the ones I don't know the answer to....)

God I am just scared...being scared seems so incredibly foolish to me when I think on truth.  
(And I began listing TRUTH.)

• I am Your Daughter.
• You will never leave or forsake me.
• You knew me before I was formed. 
• You are the God who heals ALL iniquities. 
• You make all things new. 
• You turn mourning into dancing. 
• You order my steps and You are good. 
• You cause the sun to rise and set -- the stares and moon to come out at night. 
• There is no place Your hand cannot reach. 
• You are the God who sees...all.
• You are the Victor. You have already won the battle! Amen! 
• You do not make mistakes. 
• Your plans never fail. 
• My hopes, dreams, and desires are safe in Your hands. 
• Your ears do not grow dull.
• You are kind.
• You are compassionate.
• You are patient. 
• You are steadfast. Never changing. Never leaving. 
• Your Spirit is my closest companion.
• You are wisdom and truth. 
• In your presence is JOY.

Answers did not come flooding to me after journaling and prayer....in fact they still haven't come. But PEACE came. And that was what my small frame needed...not answers but peace.

So friends, if you find yourself in a similar place...think on God and His promises. And one day ALL THINGS will be set right. Heaven will be a glorious place.

To Know Him More,
Jerri K.

P.s. "As we stand at the threshold of transition we can remember how God has helped us in the past."

All There Was Of Me To Have

"Someone asked General Booth the secret of his success, he said, "God has had all there was of me to have! From the day I got the poor of London on my heart, and a vision of what Jesus Christ would do for them, I made up my mind that God would have all there was of William Booth. God has had all the adoration of my heart, all the power of my will, and all the influence of my life.

Luke 17:10 

 "So you also, when you have done all that 

you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; 

we have only done what was our duty.’”

Amen, Amen! 

"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose." - Jim Elliot

"The harvest here is indeed great, and the laborers are few and imperfectly fitted, without much grace, for such a work.  And yet grace can make a few feeble instruments the means of accomplishing great things - things greater even than we can conceive." Hudson Taylor, 1832-1905, China     

 

Don't waste a moment, 

Jerri K.