Double Portion Inspiration

Harvest Time in Fall A new season is upon us.  What's not to love about cooler temperatures and less humidity.  Living in South Florida you really only have two seasons-hot and less hot.  But indeed, I welcome Fall with great anticipation.  The time will change in a few weeks and we will fall back one hour.  My early morning workouts (6am) will have brighter skies instead of complete darkness.  Days will become a bit shorter but we look forward to leaves changing, college football and Pumpkin spice coffee.  If you have a garden, Fall is also harvest time.  Your hard work to tend to your seeds during Spring and Summer allow you to have a bountiful harvest in this new season. What is new in your life?   A new relationship, new duvet cover for your bedroom, new idea/strategy or maybe even a new remodel in your kitchen.   Whatever it is, don't bring the past season into your new season.   God has given each da...

Life is an open book.  It's the journey of a lifetime with so much to learn.  The other day while cooking dinner, I looked at my daughter and realized that I have learned so much from my babies.  As much as we think we teach them, they have plenty to educate us about. Here are my top 3 lessons from my children: Read at least 30 minutes a day My daughter LOVES to read.  She reads in the truck, at the dinner table, and anytime she can squeeze it in.  Reading 30 minutes every afternoon is part of her daily homework.  As adults, we should do the same.  Just 30 minutes to quiet ourselves and curl up with a good book. Eat like an infant When my son and daughter were babies, they had the healthiest diet.  Organic milk (from their mommy), fruits, vegetables, and some occasional cereal was the majority of their food consumption.  Their days weren't filled with sugar, preservatives, saturated fat, and sodium.  Removin...

Who will be President?  Has the cancer spread?  Will I have enough financial resources to retire?  Will this application help my child get accepted into college?  Who will I marry?  Will I get this promotion?  Do I have what it takes to pass this test? Our world is riddled with uncertainty, and oftentimes we have to get back to the basics.  Our core values are what sustain us in times of change.  What we know for sure, helps ground us in our mountaintop experiences.  It also helps sustain us during our dark valley seasons.    Ask yourself, what core beliefs do I know for sure?   What beliefs do you rely on when life hits hard and fast?  Sometimes we are overwhelmed with trials and adversity. We can also be overwhelmed with blessings and success.  Either way, we must stay true to our morals, core values and beliefs.  I hope this post will inspire you to evaluate what you know for sure . Here are my top...

Getting ready for 4 mile hike with park ranger Roslyn and I love so many things!  Our morning prayer time with each other, exercising and eating are just some of our favorite things.  We're always looking for great ways to challenge our bodies and great healthy foods to prepare for our families. Snacking is a part of our 5-6 small meals daily routine.  We thought Fitness Friday would be a great time to share some of our favorite snacks.  We don't always make the best choices but we strive hard. Our 7 favorite snacks : Fruit We don't go to the store without buying some type of fruit.  Apples & grapes are some of our favorite picks.  They are especially great this time of year.  Shake it up a little by serving apple slices with peanut butter.  It's a yummy snack that even my kids enjoy. Granola bars It's such a great snack before or after a workout.  Cascadian Farms is usually our bar of choice.  ...

We've been sharing some of our fun times from our summer vacation in the Smoky Mountains.  If you missed last week's post, read it here .   Butterflies on the ground  During our stay in Tennessee, we visited one of our favorite places, Cades Cove.  It's a beautiful scenic 11 mile loop nestled between two mountain ranges.  On a good day you can find black bears, deer, and all sorts of wildlife roaming free.  This area is also home to a large species of butterflies.  During our trek, we were blessed to find an area where they were fluttering around low to the ground.  The kids were ecstatic!  They tried with all their might to catch a butterfly.  Their ability to quiet themselves long enough to allow a quick passing butterfly to rest gently on their fingers was more than they bargained for.  In theory it shouldn't have been hard for them.  All they needed to do was stand still .  If they could remain calm...

This Monday we continue our Mountain Post Series: No hair or makeup-just God's natural beauty I was recently on vacation in the Smoky Mountains . Many people chuckle when I say relaxation for me is in the mountains. Florida is such a tourist destination (Disney World, beaches, etc.) so they wonder why the mountains are so appealing.   The world becomes much quieter as you journey to the top of the mountains. The experiences are so different from "city life". For instance, I never once put on makeup during my vacation. I even went five days without combing my hair-yikes! Life just becomes rustic and organic. Everyday was spent hiking. We explored the massive habitat of over 17,000 species that live in the Smoky Mountains. The views are breathtaking. One photo can't capture the majesty of those mountains. Skipping over rocks, digging for crickets, searching for beetles are all apart of my country living vacation. It's a time to unwind, listen and...

Don't you just love this time of year?   College football is here.  Every Saturday you will find my family on the couch watching countless hours of football. As we head into the weekend, what is your favorite college team?  Who will you be cheering for this Saturday? (Posted by Roslyn)  I am passionately a Florida G a t o r !