a weekend in the swamp

Ok guys... I think I'm really on my way to be a real blogger. There were several times this weekend when I thought to myself "I need to blog about that when I get back". Now I just need to get a little memo pad so I can remember what all I wanted to share with you.

On to the weekend....

1st... Diet News....

Well because we are never consistent in my parents home on where we will be and when so that means that any diet I ever am on when I go there goes out the window... plus it was baccalaureate service at church sunday and we went to Copelands... no one in their right mind would give up a free meal at a fancy restaurant to cook their own healthy food. Enough about that... I do not regret my decision to enjoy myself with my family, but I will get back on the boat this morning.

2nd.... Swamp People....

So my mother and sister were quoting this show all weekend and I was trying to figure out what they were saying. They were quoting lines from the A&E show "Swamp People". It is about natives from the waters all over the south Louisiana hunting alligators with hook, chicken or beef, and a rifle. Its so intriguing and I'm now officially addicted. I find it strange that I don't need the subtitles... A&E thinks we should need them but I can understand everything they said.

3rd... Family....

This was the first time in a long time that we just all had a good time together with minimal fighting. We even all sat on my parents bed and talked while my dad was trying his new fishing shirts on that he got for his B-Day... It was weird and nice at the same time. Some of you know that I have a family time limit of about 48 hours.. Really, I do... And although I love my sister, 48 is all we can take of each other. She's a bossy pants and I am used to living by myself and doing what I want when I want it... So that is our main beef most of the time other than the back and fourth about who's clothes are in Who's suitcase... haha

4th... The drive...

Its a 4 hour drive from here to Slidell, LA so I do alot of praying and singing of country music. God really revealed some things to me this road trip for which I am very grateful! I'll talk about those in a later post when they flesh out a bit.

I listen and sing along with the never ending variety of country music stations on the way down Miss 101, 97 okk, b 95, k 99, and Kicker 108. Yep thats the order from Northern MS to Slidell. And they all play the top hits of today which are The Band Perry's new song, "The way you lie" and I now know all the words and timing of it. I'm pretty sure that if there was a chance for me to sing it karaoke style I would do a great job at it.

Well, I'm sure there is more but this is already a long post so when I remember I'll let you know!

Enjoy the day, You can't take it with you!

-Chels

a success and a unquenchable craving

So on this weight loss journey of mine I have my ups and downs...

Thursday was an up. I didn't cheat at all. I didn't get too hungry and kept busy and accomplished alot on that lazy day. I even made a great appetizer SB style that i'll blog about later.

But...

Today is another story. I can't get full, I haven't felt full all day and instead of just going to sleep or soothing it with tv watching I can't stop thinking about what i can eat... and i feel miserable because I want to be skinny but right now my desire to be thin is overwhelmed by my desire to eat... thats my biggest problem with weight loss... Food is more enjoyable to me right now because i can't see the end result and see how much i will love being thin.

So today i'm feeling down... but tomorrow I will wake up and start all over again... one day at a time right? One day at a time!

- Chels

First Food Blog- Pecan Crusted Chcken

So phase 1 of south beach is pretty much a no sugars or starches, processed or natural. Meaning that it mostly consists of lean meats, cheeses, most nuts and veggies.

As I was craving nugs (chicken nuggets) the other day I just knew there had to be a suitable, delicious, phase 1 alternative. That is when I found a recipe for pecan crusted chicken thighs, with a few changes to the original, I made it SB friendly and totally yummy!! Now I will share it with you!

Easy Pecan Crusted Chicken

Ingredients

1 1/2 c. crushed pecans 1 tsp salt 1/2 tsp Ms Dash 1 tsp Tony's

2 egg whites 4 servings of boneless,skinless, chicken thighs

Almost completely thaw chicken.

Grind or pound pecans to fine as possible, add 1st 3 ingredients & mix well.

Whisk egg whites. Then dip breast in egg & pecan mix making sure to cover both sides. Roll back into shape.

Place in a baking dish & Bake at 350 for about 35 min. or until brown & juices run clear.

I made some green beans to go along as a side with my chicken and it was so good.

What is so great about this recipe was that everything I needed to make it I already had in my freezer or pantry. Its so great to just pull a few simple ingredients and make such a delightful dish! Hope you enjoy with your family!

Love always,

Chels

Starting South Beach

Hi friends,

If you've read my post a couple of posts ago you know that I'm on a mission to lose weight. Well, kind of. The stress of graduating and finishing up with school got the best of me, but NOW i'm doing something about it. I've started the south beach diet again.

I did this with my roommates The baking bride and Watkins Wave Ride when we all lived together before they got married and left me!! But it worked so I'm going on it again.

Roomie Photo!! Man that was a long time ago!!

Its harder this time. I'm doing it by myself. I have a skinny roommate now and there is no one here to judge what or how much I am eating. I've been on it 3 days and cheated each of those days, but the important thing is that each morning I wake up and commit to it again. No matter how bad I mess up (from one value sized coke to a horrible late night taco bell run-I know... its horrible... I know) I will get back on the diet in the morning and just make it through tomorrow.

That said I will be sharing this journey, my successes and not so great days. I will also share my favorite recipes with photos. So... Keep me honest, encourage me and keep me on track. I need the support and the accountability.

I Love Y'all!

Chels

Fresh air and bugspray

The scents that get a girl in the mood for a good hike... so... I went!!

Yes, there are hiking trails in MS and although they are mostly short 1 mile round trip trails, it was perfect today. Here are some photos from my adventure.

This is the map of the trail of hwy 25 outside of Starkville.

Trees recently fallen from the storms a couple of weeks ago... they were so pretty and

I felt like a real explorer as I climbed over them.

You can't tell it from here but this view of the winding trail is just breathtaking and looks alot like a photo I used a couple of posts ago.. I love nature!

And this is ME!! It was cool enough wear a sweatshirt in the middle of may... weird.

The best part of hiking is the conversations you get to have with God. Some real hard conversations and problems have been resolved while on a hike. I just love it and am so glad to find a trail that is close to my home.

love always,

Chelsea-Lou

I Miss Mondays

No, I've not gone crazy and i know that mondays are probably the most hated and dreaded days each week ...

But....

Not for me!

I've come to love mondays this past semester. They have actually become one of my favorite days for a couple of reasons... and I'm so sad that summer has come and stolen my routine!!

Reason 1 why I love Mondays this spring:

I held a girls bible study with some of the most amazing girls

that are part or have been a part of the ZTA sorority here on campus. I'm not part of ZETA but I LOVE THESE WOMEN!! We just have an hour and a half each week to share life and just pray and seek the word together. I miss them so much and that time with them is truly treasured by me.

Reason 2:

Supper Swap...

Some of you know what this is and some of you are about to be enlightened.

Supper Swap is an idea that my favorite neighbor and friend came up with where 4 or 5 households eat together each night of the week, each household buying groceries and cooking dinner one night a week. You can just pick up your food or are welcome to stay around and fellowship or watch WHEEL but nothing is required other than cook on your night. This was started to keep us all out of the drive thru as we are all trying to lose a few lbs. and has worked for the nights we are together.

Well.. Monday nights are my night but we have taken a break over the summer and are now just cooking only one night a month... Which is good and frees everyone up for traveling and doing family things later in the day since it doesn't get dark until 8:30 now... but its bad because I miss getting to cook a big meal. I love to cook ... LOVE IT... but i don't like to cook when i'm the only one eating because its really hard to just cook for one and i'll eat it all tonight if its in the fridge for tomorrow's lunch.. so I miss cooking for people and i miss having those people in my home.

So there it is.. I miss mondays.

love always,

Chels

PS.. if anyone wants someone to eat meals with during the week I'll be in starkville most of the summer! Just facebook me and i'll cook for you!!

The Scenic Route

So my great friend and neighbor were talking the other night and I realized something that I never had before. We were talking about a possible supper swap vacation and the locations we would like to go. And of course the Great Smoky Mountains came up. I was talking about how beautiful it was and how amazing the drives are and all the back roads I learned about when I lived there and worked for Smoky Mountain Resort Ministries. I told her "I love taking the scenic route!"

Then it hit me....

God knows I love taking the scenic route.
He knows my heart and desires and he will provide all those thing to me. He knows that I would hate to look back when all those dreams come true and see a safe and boring life. So He's taking on me on the scenic route to get there.

How Awesome?!

And me... i've been like a whiny 3 year old, begging just to get there already, not realizing all the cool things I get to be a part of along the way.... I keep forgetting I love the scenic route.

Ugh... I am soo silly.

So, now that I have realized what is going on, that I'm walking the scenic route with JESUS, I am determined to enjoy it and take it all in. The scenic route can be scary and lonely at times but thats ok... it adds to the richness of the adventure. I'm excited, you guys just don't even know.

I know I'm a little nuts!
love y'all,
Chels

Preparations...

Ok... so its really got to happen this time.

A couple of my friends and I are really going to hit it hard this time for real. We did such a great job at getting thin 2 years ago when we were all living together but since then ... well... their husbands have ruined our diet! Skinny boys don't mix well with diet food... and we don't mix well with unhappy men.

BUT....

We are going to hit it hard beginning the morning. Its gonna happen for real this time. We have each got our own goals and needs for why this needs to happen so its going to. We are going to do this together.

I've got to conquer this weight thing. Not only for me but for so many others, most importantly my husband and children. I don't know them yet but I know that this version of me is not the best one I can give them. I need to be the fit woman I want to be when they get here before they get here not try to get there later. I want to be the best me, able to be active and not be worn out or in pain because of a little bit of strenuous activity.

I think this spring break is going to be a great turn around for me. I'm ready for something new. I'm ready to see what is coming next and I need to be preparing myself for that.

That reminds me of a special time that occurred this christmas break while I was in Ghana. A few minutes before we were to leave the orphanage for the last time I walked over to the courtyard and spoke with the house mothers and other workers that were holding the infants there. When I walked up one of the male teachers said to me "You're here to see the baby?!" I said "Yes! How did you know?" and laughed. He replied, "Because you are his mother." as the house mom handed beautiful King Robert over to me. I just smiled at him, not knowing if he knew how much I took those words to heart. After only a few short minutes of holding that baby and just loving on him as much as I could I saw the rest of the team heading for the bus, so I handed him back over, wishing with everything within me that I could just take him home with me but I couldn't.On that 45 second walk to the bus God revealed something to me, that no matter how much love and passion I had for that little one, I was in no way ready to take him home that day. Even if everything just supernaturally worked out on the African side of things no way was my life ready for a baby. Babies need things, food, clothes, diapers, insurance, etc., etc., etc. Lots of things and I didn't even have a part time job at that point. I'd really been enjoying the fact that I was a student and didn't have to have a job because God had provided me with parents that provided for me. But no way was my life ready for this child. He showed me that now is the time to really begin that preparation for the day when my husband and I head back to Rafiki and bring King Robert back with us to the US. It was time to begin to steward the funds that God was providing for me in a way that was future-minded, not in a worried about the future way but rather in a God is partially providing for then with the overflow of blessings now kind of way.

I need to be about this daily. I need to be reminded of this moment regularly. And tomorrow I'm gonna hit it hard for my babies. I'm gonna hit it hard for my hubby. I'm gonna hit it hard for myself. Most importantly, I'm gonna hit it hard because God wants me to. Preparation starts now.

God is just soooo cool

So.. i've been going through a really tough time lately but have been seeking God in all of it. Now because of some certain circumstances I have plenty of time to just seek him and work on me. The things that i have been praying for opportunities to do have fallen in my lap, and i am so thankful. I have just been able to hear God a little more clearly in my crying out to him. and it is awesome!

One thing he keeps telling me is that I asked him and begged him to make me more like Jesus and when I start asking why these things have happened to me and what have i done to deserve this he calmly says to me.. "you asked to be like Jesus.. i know its hard but you asked to be like my son, and i want that so badly for you so I'm giving it to you. Just hang in there sweet girl... the day will come when you will look back on this struggle in your life and see all the fruits of your tears."Its hard sometimes to see the end.. but i know its there...

This weekend I did alot of driving and praying and just felt like God wanted me to go to The Ramp for their sunday night service but things just didn't work out that way, I had already been to Huntsville and back on saturday and Hamilton is a long drive in the woods alone.

This morning i found out why he wanted me to go. He wanted me to hear this sermon by Casey Doss. I'm sure that there may have been some other blessings in store if i could have made it there but God still has a way of getting us the words we need even when we think they are just out of reach.

Listen to the sermon and be encouraged to stick it out and seek God... No matter how good or bad things look right now.

Can you survive resistance? by Casey Doss

Love you all!

Chels

Men of God and Some struggling princesses of the father

So... God has just been blessing my socks off this week in every possible way he can.

HE is sooo good to me... to everyone really... but especially to me...

My thursday nights are busy and full of God.

Tonight was On the Horizon's (Our church's campus ministry) first meeting on camps... it was great..God was there. Anyways.. when we started it was just me and the guys and about 45 seconds into worship i was just struck by this wonderful sound. it was the sound of 6 men's voices filling the room ... all singing in worship to our God... and they had become one voice, strong and stirring. It is something that i rarely get to experience and it was beautiful tonight. I felt like God was smiling and saying "I love those guys..." we worshiped about an hour and God moved in our midst... it was good.

Then i left before the teaching to get to girls growth group

I love this group. It was our first meeting but its working out perfectly. We are reading a book entitled "So Long Insecurity" by Beth Moore. and its exactly what every girl needs to read.

As we were meeting I was listening to all of the insecurities we each face and just felt so much love and compassion for each of these girls. It brought to mind what we are learning about in my gender issues class and how books and movies and stories we hear/read/watch influence how we view ourselves. -This stuff is true guys... we don't even realize it but all of the things these girls named in Growth group are the things my group in class listed as characteristics in disney movies or fairy tales....

I couldn't believe it... All of these Beautiful beloved Princesses were struggling with the failure of not living up to the fairy tale and our demented version of perfection.

And God has arranged for all of this to coincide on this one day.... hmmm, sounds kind of like him. I don't know what to do about it yet but i just needed to talk about it... and would love to talk about it more if anyone wants to give me a call.

love you guys!!!

-chels

i'll probably be writing about Growth group alot so just brace yourself!