Monday Motivations ....

It Monday morning and we are on week 2 of the new Gospel Doctrine study routine. This week's lesson is Matthew 1 and Luke 1 - "Be it unto Me according to Thy Word".

Matthew, chapter 1: So it starts with the "Begats", which I skimmed through, starting to properly read on verse 17, this is where the story really starts. There were 14 generations between Abraham and Joseph and as we know, it was "spoken of the Lord". It was interesting to read that Jospeh wasn't "with" Mary until after the birth of Christ, even though they did get married, although, the marriage is not spoken of here.  Joseph must have really had a lot of faith, even though he was visited by an angel, to believe Mary that she was still a virgin, being with child.

Luke, chapter 1: John the Baptist will be born to Zacharias and Elisabeth, which was told to them by the Angel Gabriel. In the sixth month of Elisabeth's pregnancy, Gabriel visited Mary and told her she would have Jesus and to not be afraid, that this was a great, but worthy sacrifice. Then Mary, her cousin, visited Elisabeth and they rejoiced. then Mary expresses her salutations of the Lord. It's interesting that the priest tried to call him after his father, Zacharias, but they know better and called him John as was told to them by the Angel Gabriel. Then the dumbness that Zacharias was lifted and he spoke and proclaimed his salutations of the Lord. And they are grateful and recognize the Lord's hand in all of these things and the promises which were given and fulfilled.

Questions & Learnings:
Who were Matthew and Luke? Matthew was a Jewish tax collector and Luke was a Gentile (non-Jewish) doctor. Matthew, in his writing, mostly reflected on the Old Testament prophecies and Luke told his more in story form, via eyewitness accounts and from the women's perspective.

Why did the Savior need to be born of a mortal mother and an immortal Father? A personal sacrifice was needed. Mary being mortal gave Jesus the ability to die, and Heavenly Father gave Him the power to overcome death.

God's blessings come in His own time. God's timing has and always will be His own. We must work within those parameters. As we are mortal and able to sin, we must learn patience and humility in our waiting. The Lord's doesn't make us wait to be mean, it is because either we are not ready for the blessing and need to learn more OR the blessing is not ready for us. This is HARD! If we can just remember though that the Lord is not being mean, we can have a better understanding the seek those things which we must learn to be ready for the the blessings we they come.

The faithful willingly submit to God's will. Sometimes the things which are asking for are not good for and that is why they don't come. The Lord's allows us to chose, yes, but I think for somethings, he stops things from coming to pass because he knows where those paths go and He is trying to protect us. I don't think He is making the choice for us, but i think He can and does make His thought known if we are willing to listen.

Mary testifies of Jesus Christ's mission.
Marys' insights on Christ:
* He will grant us to be delivered out of the hands' of our enemies so we can serve without fear
* He will give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins with tender mercy
* He will give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death to guide their feet into the way of peace.
* He will save His people from the bands of death and the adversary.

It's a Monday .. A Perfect Day to Start Over!

It's always been a part of my life, this Gospel, but to say that I truly believe, I'm not sure I do with ALL my soul! I know who He is, but I don't really believe he can do what is said about Him. This year, I would like to try, put Him to the test, in a way. I think it's time I tested my faith.

It's Christmas Eve, I awoke at 6:20am and didn't bother trying to go back to sleep. Last night I decided that I should try to start a new routine, as it was Monday. New week, New start! Breakfast, reading and studying the Sunday lesson, going for a walk in the morning air. As I am currently unemployed, I have a lot of time to do good things for myself. However, the motivation hasn't caught up with my desire yet. Hopefully soon. I weighed myself tis morning - I'm down 6.3 pounds, this helps!!!

Come Follow Me Lesson - Week 1

Learning has always been up to us and we have always had all the tools we needed. We've just had our hands held via the previous methods. This new way of learning/teaching allows us to hold the reigns and truly be inspired and become the learned disciples we can be. 

Saturdays in LA

Went a on lovely hike today with my friend Sarah up through Will Rogers Pass. Took a few photos .... Enjoy!

This is why I love LA - I can find nature in its truest form just a short drive away!

Day 23:

Rylinn's Crock Pot Pasta Sauce:

1 pound ground beef, at least 70% lean
2 tbsp Worcester sauce
1 tsp pepper
1 tsp salt
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 medium yellow onion, diced
1 shallot, diced
1 8oz can Hunts Fire Roasted Tomatoes, NOT drained
1 8oz can tomato soup, condensed
1 tbsp dried basil
1 tbsp dried oregano
1 tbsp Mrs. Dash
3 tbsp brown sugar
1/2 cup water

1. In large pan, mix ground beef with Worcester sauce and brown, drain. Transfer to Crock Pot.
2. In the same pan, sauté diced onion, shallot, and garlic until softened. Transfer to Crock Pot.
3. In the Crock Pot, mix in the tomatoes, soup, and all spices. Mix well with onion mix and meat.
4. Stir in brown sugar and water.
5. Cook on low for 5-6 hours or high for 2-3 hours. Serve over your favorite pasta.

Makes from as many servings as you like :) Depends on how much sauce you like!

Can be keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days OR frozen for up to 3 months.

Day 7:

Saturday --- up at 9:30 am, slow start, was up at 5:32am starving because had a terrible dinner last night.

Had breakfast, Eggos with Maple syrup, then went for a walk and got a few groceries. Had lunch: Spinach Salad from Trader Joe's. Watched some YouTube.

My life can be seem pretty boring, but I'm kind of in a comfortable phase right now.

Day 6:

Didn't write yesterday ....

Today - I got up at around 9am.
Had breakfast, Raisin Bran cereal, went for a walk, got some groceries. Will read scriptures later on. Had Trader Joes BBQ Chicken Salad for lunch.

Day 4:

Woke up around 10:00am.
Had 2 eggs and sausage for breakfast.
Read Scriptures.
Worked out Belly, Buns, and Thighs with Jessica Smith.
Watching "Secret Life of Pets" Gidget totally reminds me of my friend Sam Barrios.
Going to have Dill Mustard Salmon, Quinoa, and Grilled Asparagus for lunch:

This was really good, although, way too much Quinoa, need to adjust the measurements.

Day 3:

Got up earlier this morning around 9:00 am, slept way better too. Had breakfast: scrambled eggs and toast with marmalade.

Did my second day of Yoga practice - felt way better this morning afterwards. The time seems to fly by as well, which is nice.

Now I'm watching more Bones :)

Day 2:

I didn't sleep very well last night, had several dreams, of which I can't remember any of them now. Usually, I remember very well what I've dreamed as I usually dream in vivid color and great detail. Woke up at around 10:30 am.

11:00 pm: Watched Sherlock on PBS while having Cherrios for breakfast.
Joined a 21 Day Yoga Course - hopefully this helps with my health, body structure, and overall well being.

1:30 pm: Just finished my first yoga practice: felt great while I was doing it, discovered I can do a pretty nice downward dog! During the cool down, I started to feel nauseous and needed to lay there, on the floor, on my back for about 2 extra minutes.  I now feel better and am going to watch more Bones and have some Panera Broccoli Cheddar soup.

New Year ... New Me - Day 1:

Today I watched Bones all day :) Also, I put the tree and decorations away. It was a good Sunday, skipped church today too.

Just Really Good Soup

I was inspired by my friend Sarah, I had the most incredible soup yesterday for 

Sunday lunch at hers and I thought I would come up with my own concoction. 

Here is a recipe I created today. 

Just Really Good Soup:

3 cups broth (low-sodium)

2 cans (14 oz.) tomato sauce

1 can black beans, drained and rinsed

1 can garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed

½ cup soybean, frozen or fresh

3 tsp. Italian seasoning

1 tbsp. coconut oil

1 small onion

2 cloves minced garlic

3 carrots, peeled and sliced

2 cups fresh or frozen green beans

1 zucchini, diced

1 yellow squash, diced

1 tsp cayenne pepper

• In a large crockpot, add broth, tomato sauce, beans, and herbs.
• In a large frying pan, melt coconut oil and sauté garlic, onions, green beans, zucchini, squash, and carrots for about 5 minutes or until al dente.
• Sprinkle cayenne pepper and cover pan allowing the cayenne to steep the veggies for 1 minute.
• Combine sautéed vegetables with the ingredients in the crockpot.
• Cook on high for 2-3 hours, or until vegetables are cooked.

NOTE: This makes a large batch of soup. If you would like to freeze portions of it to use later, undercook the vegetables just a little. Pour the soup into freezer Ziplock bags and let as much air out as you can. Lay the bags flat on a cookie sheet and freeze. Once the soup is frozen flat, it is easy to layer in your freezer and won't take up much room. To thaw, place the bag in the fridge for 24 hours and then reheat.

DYI and a New Start

So I have been doing some DIYing this weekend. 

I'm not really going to explain step by step, 

but here are some pictures .....

 Here is what the counter top color before .....

Here is it after ... pretty grey ....

Here is the bookshelf before ....

First coat of primer .....

Grey coat .....

Dark Grey Shelves .....

First coat Dark Grey Shelves ....

Dark Grey done ....

 Here is what is going into it ....

Here it is filled and done ....

Done and Done - So happy with it!!

Healthy Infused Waters

1. Green tea, mint, and lime - For fat burning, digestion, headaches, congestion and breath freshener.

2. Strawberry and kiwi - For cardiovascular health, immune system protection, blood sugar regulation, digestion.

3. Cucumber, lime, and lemon - For water weight management, bloating, appetite control, hydration, digestion

4. Lemon, lime, and orange - For digestion vitamin C, immune defense, heartburn, (Drink this one at room temperature)

Infused waters are good for detoxification energy and hydration. Put as much fruit in water as you like and let the water sit for at least 30 minutes before drinking.

Share if you care!

17 Things To Expect When You Date A Girl Who’s Used To Being On Her Own

Another this gem on Thought Catalogue:

1. Expect her to do her own thing often and without letting you know, at least at first. It’s not that you don’t matter; it’s just that she’s learned to love doing what she wants, when she wants, and without asking permission or informing anyone.

2. She’ll probably want to take things slowly because she’ll not be used to all the attention. Don’t think she doesn’t like you enough, she probably likes you a lot; it’s just all new to her.

3. Expect her friends to be overprotective of her and to be suspicious of you at first. They’re not used to her being with someone and they’ll want to make sure you’re the kind of guy who will treat her well.

4. She’ll have a hard time letting you do things for her. Try not to take this personally. She’s just used to taking care of herself and it’ll be hard for her to live in a world where she’s got someone else looking out for her in that way.

5. Expect her to be stubborn, to always want things her way, and to fight you when she doesn’t get it. Don’t always give in to her, but do let her win sometimes.

6. She needs to be left alone often especially when you first start seeing each other and it should feel like she’s head over heels. Believe that she has more butterflies in her stomach than she knows what to do with, which is why she’ll need to compose herself.

7. Expect her to pull away from you, especially when she realizes how much she likes you. She’ll come back to you but she’ll need time to think her feelings through.

8. She’ll question you, sometimes directly, sometimes implicitly, about your feelings for her. She’ll always want to know if they are real or if she’s making things up in her head.

9. Expect her to be headstrong. She’ll tell you, “I’ve got this,” more than you’ll want to hear. But she’ll get used to your offers to help. And in time she’ll know how to let go of the tight grip she seems to have on everything.

10. She’ll be guarded, and she won’t be keen on letting you in. She’s waiting to see if you’re patient, she’s waiting to see if you’re worth it. She’s hoping that you’re worth it.

11. Expect her to be stingy with trust, to only give a little bit at a time. But every time she gives you a little, it’ll feel like a big step for her. Cherish these big steps.

12. She’ll come across as strong, maybe too strong for you at first. But don’t be intimidated, this is her outer shell. And when you get to know her, you’ll know she’s strong but soft; tough but kind.

13. Expect her to be reserved, at least about the things that matter. Until you really get to know her. And then you’ll see the untamed, raw, and always beautiful open version of her that she’ll let you fully discover.

14. She’ll be slow with her vulnerabilities, and hide many of her weaknesses. And when she shows you them, she’ll feel naked. Clothe her with your words.

15. Expect her not to need you, and not to believe in needing much of anything at all. But she’ll want you. And when she does, it’ll be the most exhilarating feeling you’ve ever experienced.

16. She’ll be scared – scared to be hurt, scared to love, and be loved. Scared that you’ll eventually hurt her or leave her and if and when that happens, she won’t know who she was before.

17. Being alone is her default, it’s her comfort zone. But expect her to fall in love with you faster than she’ll admit and in a way that isn’t loud but still powerful; it’ll be like a little bit of heaven. And it won’t matter if you love her for a while or for a lifetime; her love will change both you and her forever.

20 Things You Should Know About Dating An Independent Girl

Found this gem on Thought Catalogue:

1. We need alone time. A little each day and more than a little on other days. It doesn’t mean we’ve lost interest in you.

2. We don’t mind if you don’t call or text us every second. We like it. We won’t be contacting you either. That said, if you’re late, don’t keep us guessing as to when you’ll show up as we’ll make other plans.

3. We can clean up our own messes. We’re not waiting around for you to fix our problems.

4. We are perfectly fine doing chores, running errands, and exercising by ourselves. If you want to join us, we’re glad to have you along, but don’t talk to us while we’re in the zone.

5. We sign up and attend charity events, races, and cultural exhibits on our own. We don’t need a date to feel comfortable at these things. Set us loose in a room with a bunch of people and we’ll have 10 best friends before the night is through.

6. If we have a sleep over, don’t expect me to cuddle you all night and cook you a hot breakfast. I will actually want to sleep and we can go out to the diner for brunch.

7. If we go to a party where it’s mostly your friends, I don’t need you hovering. I’m perfectly capable of chatting it up with endless amounts of strangers. I’ll even enjoy it. But don’t completely forget about me either as you’re probably my favorite person in the room.

8. We are comfortable paying our own way and will feel funny if you constantly insist on treating us. We don’t mind splitting restaurant bills with you. In fact, it makes us feel like we don’t owe you anything. We never expect you to pay for us or buy us gifts. If it’s not on a birthday or an anniversary, it feels like a bribe.

9. We will never ask you to lend us money. If we do, we feel odd and uncomfortable until we pay you pack.

10. We are capable of going to the bathroom by ourselves. But sometimes we just prefer the company of a friend.

11. We work because we want our own career. We’re not depending on you to be our sugar daddies. Don’t expect us to take a day off on a moment’s notice just because you bought tickets to a baseball game at 1 PM on a Tuesday. We have ambition and take pride in our work.

12. If you want to go watch football or to happy hour with friends, we’re cool with that. Actually, we prefer it, on occasion, because it gives us the chance to catch up with our own friends or spend the night catching up on our independent interests.

13. We know how to save money and are actively interested in planning for our own retirement. We know what a 401K plan is.

14. The idea of getting married sounds great with the right person. But we’re perfectly capable of taking care of ourselves if need be. We choose to be in relationship because we like you, not because we can’t live without you.

15. Sometimes, instead of a romantic partner, we secretly want to marry a cook / cleaning person / personal trainer / masseuse / stylist versus anybody else. If you happen to be one or more of these things, we will love you even more.

16. We like to fix things ourselves and will usually bring a step stool over to get things off of high shelves, even if you’re way taller.

17. We can be stubborn and adamant about handling things a certain way even if you’ve been through something before and want to give us advice. Forgive us. Let us try it our own way first, even if your intentions are good.

18. We get very frustrated with extremely needy, co-dependent people. This frustration may make us seem callous or icy, but it’s more about wanting to see people help themselves.

19. At times, we may seem so self-reliant, content and in control that you may wonder whether you’re needed in our lives. You are. We are confident and directed but cherish someone who appreciates, rather than fears, these qualities.

20. We still love a big hug, lots of affection, and to be told how much we’re loved. Tell us we look pretty every now and then and don’t let us shrug it off. Independence will never trump the desire to feel adored. 

Homemade Ice Cream Making 101

So today I uploaded my very first YouTube video!! It's very exciting for me! 

I did a tutorial for making Homemade Ice Cream. If you know me at all - you know I don't really like being on camera or having my picture taken unless it's under my own parameters. However, for my Church calling, I was put in charge of a Christmas Recipe Exchange for our Christmas Faire. So I bit the bullet and created a video.
Here it is ... please be kind. It's grainy, fuzzy, and out of focus at times, but it's my first effort and I'm really proud of it!

Video

Here is the recipe if you feel so inclined to actually make the ice cream now that you know the basic:

Peppermint Ice Cream

8 Large Egg Yolks             2½ cup Heavy Cream

1 ½ cup Whole Milk         2 tsp. Peppermint Oil Extract, Real Stuff

¾ cup White Sugar           ½ cup Crushed Candy Canes

1 tsp. Salt

                 

*      In a medium bowl, whisk together the egg yolks. Set aside.

*      Fill a large bowl with ice cubes and put a smaller bowl on top with a mesh strainer on top. Set in the fridge to keep cold.

*      On the stove, warm the milk, sugar, salt, and peppermint extract in a medium saucepan. Stir until sugar is dissolved.

*      To make the custard, slowly pour the warm milk mixture into the egg yolks a Tablespoon at a time to temper the eggs until all eggs are incorporated.

*      Whisk constantly to avoid curdling, then scrape back into the saucepan.

*      Heat over medium heat, while stirring constantly with a heatproof spatula or wooden spoon and scraping the bottom of the pan as you stir in a figure Eight motion.

*      Continue to heat and stir until the mixture thickens into a custard and coats the back of the spatula.

*      Retrieve the Ice Bowl from the fridge and pour the cream into the top bowl.

*      Strain the custard through the mesh strainer and stir it into the cream.

*      Stir until cool over the ice bath.

*      Chill overnight in the refrigerator.

*      When ready to churn then freeze the custard in your ice cream maker according to the manufacturer's instructions.

*      Once the ice cream has frozen to a soft ice cream, transfer to an airtight container and mix in the candy cane pieces.

*      Freeze for at least 4 hours.