Strawberry Jam with Honey

Today was officially the kick off of my canning season for 2014.  This may not be exciting to you, but it sure is to me :)  Since this is Thursday I can classify today as Thankful Thursday due to the fact that its Thursday and I'm Thankful that I know how to preserve food and have all the supplies to do so.  I am thankful that my mom and grandma who taught me how to can when I was younger despite the unwilling attitude I used while learning.  

Today, I canned 4 quarts of fresh picked strawberries and made 10 pints of strawberry jam.

I have made strawberry jam for several years now, but I made it differently this year as I have been eating differently.  I am making a conscience effort to cut out as much sugar as I can on a daily basis and eating no processed food.  Thus far I have lost more than 20 pounds and I really do feel good.  No stomach bloating or pain, more energy and dropping pant sizes quicker than I could have imagined without exercise.  (Honestly, I'm saving exercise for when I plateau and need that bump to keep losing)

In the past I have made most of my jam with Splenda to cut down on the sugar content.  Its very tasty and better for you than using the 8 cups of sugar it calls for making a regular batch.  BUT this time I thought I would try no sugar and some raw honey.  So far it tastes wonderful.  I traditionally make the last pint as a sample jar and eat it on bread while its still warm.  Its a bit tangy and tart but it has the delicious flavor of a strawberry still there.  Often when you put the called for amount of sugar in the jams I feel like they are just so sweet you really lose that true fruit flavor.

Warm jam on bread.. YUM!

Here is the Recipe I used:

4 pounds of washed and hulled strawberries
3/4 c. Raw whipped Honey
1 c. unsweetened apple juice
1 1/2 packages of No Sugar Needed Pectin

It's a Keeper!!

31 for 21: I am the Child

I AM THE CHILD

I am the child who cannot talk. You often pity me, I see it in your eyes. You wonder how much I am aware of -- I see that as well. I am aware of much -- whether you are happy or sad or fearful, patient or impatient, full of love and desire, or if you are just doing your duty by me. I marvel at your frustration, knowing mine to be far greater, for I cannot express myself or my needs as you do.

You cannot conceive my isolation, so complete it is at times. I do not gift you with clever conversation, cute remarks to be laughed over and repeated. I do not give you answers to your everyday questions, responses over my well-being, sharing my needs, or comments about the world about me. I do not give you rewards as defined by the world's standards -- great strides in development that you can credit yourself; I do not give you understanding as you know it.

What I give you is so much more valuable -- I give you instead opportunities. Opportunities to discover the depth of your character, not mine; the depth of your love, your commitment, your patience, your abilities; the opportunity to explore your spirit more deeply than you imagined possible. I drive you further than you would ever go on your own, working harder, seeking answers to your many questions with no answers. I am the child who cannot talk.

I am the child who cannot walk. The world seems to pass me by. You see the longing in my eyes to get out of this chair, to run and play like other children. There is much you take for granted. I want the toys on the shelf, I need to go to the bathroom, oh I've dropped my fork again. I am dependant on you in these ways. My gift to you is to make you more aware of your great fortune, your healthy back and legs, your ability to do for yourself. Sometimes people appear not to notice me; I always notice them. I feel not so much envy as desire, desire to stand upright, to put one foot in front of the other, to be independent. I give you awareness. I am the child who cannot walk.

I am the child who is mentally impaired. I don't learn easily, if you judge me by the world's measuring stick, what I do know is infinite joy in simple things. I am not burdened as you are with the strifes and conflicts of a more complicated life. My gift to you is to grant you the freedom to enjoy things as a child, to teach you how much your arms around me mean, to give you love. I give you the gift of simplicity. I am the child who is mentally impaired.

I am the disabled child. I am your teacher. If you allow me, I will teach you what is really important in life. I will give you and teach you unconditional love. I gift you with my innocent trust, my dependency upon you. I teach you about how precious this life is and about not taking things for granted. I teach you about forgetting your own needs and desires and dreams. I teach you giving. Most of all I teach you hope and faith. I am the disabled child.

Author Unknown

Don't Quit

As I'm sitting here drinking my coffee this morning out of my favorite mug,  I felt compelled to share the saying on it with you all today.  I have been inspired and motivated so many times myself with this poem on this little coffee mug I've had  since college when a dear friend gave it to me.  (Thank you Penvose family)

Don't Quit
When things go wrong,
as they sometimes will.
When the road you're trudging
seems all up hill,
When the funds are low,
and the debts are high,
And you want to smile,
but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing
you down a bit,
Rest if you must
but don't you quit.....

Success is failure
turned inside out
The silver tint
of the clouds of doubt
And you can never tell
how close you are,
It may be near
when it seems so far,
So stick to the fight
when you're hardest hit.
It's when things seem worst,
the you must not quit.

e

Motivation = 2 lil ole ladies

For those of you who know me personally, you know that I've lost a little weight over the past few months. About 40 pounds to be exact.  I started back in September getting motivated to take control of my weight issue and start focusing on taking time for M-E once the twins were in preschool a few days a week.  In October I began dropping them off in town at school and then swinging over to the beautiful Beaver Meadow Walkway.  Honestly, I was never on that walkway but I heard so much about it.

Here's my lil old lady story:

October 2009, I strap on my headphones and hit the pavement with my arms a swingin.  About 100 yards in front of me were two older ladies (my guess is they are in their 60's or 70's)  I figured the competitor in me was going to catch up to these ladies and finish my walk before they did.  Little did I know, they are faithful daily walkers of this walkway.... and I couldn't catch them before I was so winded I had to slow my pace.

Well, 7 months later I still see these sweet ladies on the walkway.  Today I was really late getting to the walkway so I knew they had a BIG head start...LoL

About 1.25 miles into my jog I see them on their way back to the beginning already.  I politely say Hello and continue on kinda chuckling at myself being bummed that I probably can't catch up to them at this point.  I still had 1/2 mile to go to the end before I would turn around and head back to where I began.  I kept my pace trying to push it every once in awhile with some sprints... then I see them.. I see them!!  They are about a 1/4 mile up and I only have 1/2 mile to go... I think I can I think I can I think I can...

And.. I did!!!  I finished and was in my car pulling away when they were coming up on the finish point.

Thank God for lil ole ladies to keep this lady motivated to move her butt a little faster every day :)  I finished 3 miles in 37 minutes today, not so bad.  6 months ago it took me an hour to do 3 miles.

Lil Delay on my first 5k..

Today was supposed to be the first 5k of the year.  I set a goal at the beginning of the year to run in at least THREE 5k's.  Today was to be my first and I have faithfully trained for this for three months now and felt pretty confident that I could run the entire 3.2 miles, but Mr. Caleb decided to have a hospital stay and demands mom's attention.. So, there will be more 5k's.

A bit of me is disappointed as I have had the count down going, my thoughts will be with those running the 5k and 1/2 marathon today.. See ya Next Year!!

I'm Spreading the Spark, come see how....

As you may know, I am an active member of the popular healthy-living website, SparkPeople.com.  In an effort to help SparkPeople live out their mission of helping millions of people reach their goals and live healthier lives, I have joined a contest they're holding called "The Spark Free Chapter Challenge."  If you have one minute to spare, I could use your help, because I REALLY want to win!

So here's the deal with the challenge…

Chris Downie, SparkPeople's CEO and founder, recently published a book called "The Spark" that offers a proven new approach to improving your health, transforming your life and reaching your goals (for example, real people have lost over 10 million pounds using their free online program)!

People like me who are helping them "Spread The Spark" through The Spark Free Chapter Challenge are encouraging our friends and family to download a FREE chapter of "The Spark" book.  And for every person I can encourage to download the chapter, I will get an additional chance to win a $500 weekend getaway and other prizes, as well as something they offer called "SparkPoints," which also help motivate me to reach my goals.

All you have to do to help is download a free chapter from The Spark book. Nothing else.  To do so, simply go to http://book.sparkpeople.com/book.asp?u=pookeymom  and click the button to download your free chapter.

If you would be willing to help me with this, I would truly appreciate it, and I also think you will enjoy reading this free chapter from "The Spark".  I know I did!

Thank you for your time.  I really appreciate it.

POOKEYMOM
(my username on SparkPeople)

Sometimes, when in leadership positions, it is easy to sit back and dictate orders to other people and expect that things go your way with little argument. And, true, you probably worked hard to earn that leadership position, but don’t forget the path that you took to get there. Other people are now in your place. As a leader, try making other people’s jobs easier, instead of just thinking about yours. Think about pitching in whenever possible, always being a positive force. Be hands on. Be accessible and open to suggestions. Be a team player, even if you feel more like a coach than anything else. You’ll accomplish a lot more in the long run.

I got this off of my daily Motivation on my SparkPeople.com site.  I have been using this site faithfully since September and I have been tracking my food intake every day and my fitness.  I have had alot of success with it and would highly recommend it to anyone looking to try weight loss.  If you do sign up you can use me - pookeymom as the person who referred you and that way we can connect easier.  I am truly looking for extra motivation this year as I continue on my weight loss journey and my fitness jorney.

I was reading through some motvational clips today and came across one that has just stuck with me all day so I must need to listen to it.

A Goal NOT written down is just a wish.  So here goes:

My goals for 2010 are as follows,

#1 Continue my weight loss.  I would love to lose another 40 pounds by my birthday in August.

#2 I want to run/walk in THREE 5k's this year.  I ran my first 5k on Thanksgiving morning and loved it!!

#3  I will donate blood at least three times this year.  With us being featured in a Red Cross Campaign locally here I feel its very important that I give blood more than twice a year.  I will shoot for four times this year, but definately will make it a point to donate three times.

#4  I will try to get all my computer time in while kids are at school and hubby is at work and spend more time with the family than I did last year.  Working from home can be so hard sometimes because you always have stuff to do and you sit down at the computer and before you know it hours have gone by and not so much just working, but getting side tracked with facebook, emails, games, etc....

#5  I will grow my spiritual walk with God even more this year.  I will commit to fellowshipping with someone from my church once a month.  Dinner at  my house, coffee at local coffee house, bowling, whatever it takes, I want to get to know more people outside of the church building.

#6  I will continue to pray daily for orphans with Down Syndrome and God's will for each of them.

#7  I will pray for the future of all five of my children and the parents of their future spouses to be raising their children with the same values we have.

I think thats a good start :)  I pray that I can keep each and every goal written out.  I will print this and post it where I can see it to be reminded and check them off when completed.

So what are your goals for the year??