Hillsong UNITED Oceans (Where Feet May Fail) Lyric Video

It's a pool, it's a mess..No wait..I think it will be a Patio!!

 Hello to all of you!! Wow..this summer is shaping up to be super busy..we have moved on from the first project of redecorating the Masterbedroom to the back yard..which will include a privacy fence along the back and an enlarged patio..we are knee deep into it..well, okay..to tell the truth..Matthias is knee deep into it.. as I give ideas and freak out about the mess and condensed space for the dogs...for those of you who know me personally and my slightly OCD tendencies you are probably nodding your heads in understanding..if not laughing outright. I find it interesting and a bit amusing that when we have a large task at hand such as firewood..or now the building of a patio.. that most of the materials seem to end up in the driveway making it impossible for it to be used. At any rate I am grateful that Matthias is motivated and the weather..though hot is cooperating so we can make some progress here ..We are looking forward to sitting outdoors in jammies and drinking coffee without scaring the neighbors so early in the day..I am speaking for myself here..in reference to bed head..one thing about having short hair..it looks like crap until it is washed and gets a smidge of product with a few seconds benefits of the hairdryer!! I have finally broken down and bought some of those stretchy headbands to disguise the mess until showertime..which ALWAYS comes after a minmum of 2 cups of coffee..;D !! As I arrived home from Kaiserslautern I was so suprised with the yard..all of the plants have absolutely exploded..the berry bushes, grape vine, strawberry plants..veggies..one thing about living where we do--plants of all kinds do really, really well.
Speaking of where we live..as most of you know..things have not always been so easy for me here but upon my return I came to the realization that my mind and soul have FINALLY settled in here and Ostfriesland has become home for me..even though I will always be an outsider to quite a few of the people I encounter here..I have slowly but surely built a life and found my way here..yesterday was Tafel Tag..where I do some volunteer work at a food distribution center and since the weather was so amazing I rode my bike..and enjoyed every second of taking the backway along some water ways and next to sheep, cows, and horses..

and could not help but thinking about how blessed I am..and we are..we found each other from worlds apart and have found a way to make it work though tons of stress, lots of red tape, and even some folks working against us..granted as the days, weeks, and months pass I sometimes feel like we are trading places..I am taking on more habits and traits that are considered to be German as Matthias is picking up habits and tastes that are considered to be more American....who would have thunk it??!! Interesting how things work themselves out! I had been told a couple of years ago that this transformation from thinking I will never accept this location at home to doing so would take about 5 years..and lo and behold..here I am this month at the 4 year mark!!..

Okay..time for me to get outdoors and help while I can before my travel schedule kicks off again next week..for all of my fellow Americans I wish you all an amazing and wonderful 4th of July!! and for all of you that serve, have served or will serve in the Armed Forces..a very special Thank you..as I know that those fireworks and the meaning of the day take on a completely different feeling once you have worn a uniform and developed families which are not blood related- but grown out of a sense of respect, trust, and belonging.. within whatever branch you serve in..God Bless!!!

Whew..Glad I did that!!

Good Morning all! So, for some reason my mind decided that I needed to be wide awake from 0200 on this morning..and as much as I considered taking it easy this morning and NOT..(this is a word I am going to work on deleting from my vocabulary by the way!!)..do my morning workout I am super duper happy that I didn't because after about an hour of movement I feel AWESOME!! Completed my project for my first class yesterday..25 pages in all.. of information, lots of reading, writing, and revising involved but what for a sense of accomplishment..3 more posts and a quiz for this class over the rest of this week and next and Monday sees a bit of an overlap as my next course begins on Monday..
So, even though I am away from home I must say I am feeling good about how my time here has been spent so far, have gotten a lot done, made some new contacts, made friends out a couple of people who were before just co workers, drank a few Starbucks, worked on my afterwork anti social skills..usually at the end of a work day I don't join others for dinner, etc..but this time I have made it a point to do so ..even if it means missing my 2030 bedtime!! ;D ...okay..the clock says 0600..time to get a move on and rock this day!! Hope yours is wonderful..as always..don't forget to share your smile!!

                                            In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not
                                 accompanied by action, is dead.
                                                                              James 2:17 

Hi there..did you know it's Friday??!!

 Good Morning to everyone..you all have heard the phrase "if you are going to play, you are going to have to pay.." well, all I can say is yesterday evening I went out to dinner with co workers who have turned into good friends..had a great time and indulged with this little jewel of a dessert..shared it though!! But never fear..even though I am living out of a hotel room for the next several days I have everything I need to make moments like that just what they are..moments to be enjoyed and cherished..tennis shoes, resistance band, music, and a trainer in a watch..for those of you who have a Samsung phone but don't have the Samsung Fit..get one!! They are amazing!! and of course I have my Herbalife which is so much a part of my daily routiene now that I don't even think about it as being something new anymore..but a couple of days without it and I can feel a difference..note to self..never..ever.. run out of products ;D Have stuck to a 0445 wake up and early morning walk time since arriving and have even recruited a girlfriend to hang out with me..before coffee!! (you know it's true love..or 2 Texas girls who totally relate ;D) and have been able to see gorgeous sunrises..being awake this early is nothing new but being outdoors is!! So..time to get a move on..it may be Friday but am here to work..yes, the weekend too but it feels great! I wish you all an amazing day and don't forget to share your smile!

                                     Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. Let your spirit 
                                 lead me on a level path.
                                                                                       -Psalm 143:10

You know what really sucks???

 ..is when you have in your mind that 8.6 km equals 6 miles and when you are about 75% of what you think is done you realize that your math is all wrong and it is really 9.6 km..but you know what really doesn't suck?? When you reach down inside of you and push through to meet your goal anyway!! 
Have to give a shout out to one of my Herbalifers here in Deutschland..Way to go Kim..another 2 lbs down..and this my wonderful readers was accomplished while she was on vacation!!..Watch out Trinity..here she comes!!

As you can see I have been working on some new smoothie recipes..here are 2 new ones..

Sunrise Serenade:
- Soymilk for desired thickness
-3 Nectarines (with skin)
-1 Apple (with skin)
-1 tbsp Flax Seeds
-1 Orange
-2 scoops Herbalife Vanilla Protein Powder
 
Blend and enjoy..makes 2 smoothies...


Peanut Butter and Banana Bam:
-2 frozen Bananas
-Soymilk for desired thickness
-1 to 2 tbsp Flax Seeds
-2 spoonfuls NATURAL Peanut Butter
-2 scoops Herbalife Vanilla Protein Powder

This is like ice cream--sit back and enjoy--makes 2


   

 We have been working on getting  healthier around here..that means that my husband who 2 years ago told me that he was not a rabbit and needed to consume meat on a regular basis has slowly but surely been transformed..we now eat very little meat..I have discovered an awesome magazine called Slowly Veggie and have shared a couple of my meatless meals previously..made another one last night..burgers made with kidney beans with a mustard mango sauce..let me tell you..they were yummo!! See steps below..maybe you will also be inspired..also featured is Spa Water for the beginning of the week..oranges, lemons, and limes..:D

Okay..shower and homework is calling..don't forget to stay hydrated and share your smile!!

What a facelift!!

   Hi there!! Wanted to share the Masterbedroom makeover finished product with all of you-am super happy with the results and so grateful for all of the work my hubby put into this..Wishing you all a wonderful Motivational Monday!!

WooHooo!! It's warm outside!!

 Hi y'all..the weather here has finally taken a turn for the better..and my grumpy mood is gone just like that..whalaaa!! Love it, flip flops are in full force use as are my summer skirts, purses in yellow and green..my new passion for the summer are Spa Waters..super easy, super easy to try out some new flavor combos, and super refreshing and easy way to get those 2 to 3 liters of water in every single day!! Marli has been enjoying exploring the garden and chasing bugs outdoors..but of course only under supervision ..number 1 because she is technically an indoor cat due to the fact people drive way too fast down our little street and number 2 the birds of the world would be in danger if she was allowed to run free!! So grill season here in NW Germany is officially open-note lots and lots of grilled veggies and some yummo grilled pineapple are staples for us..one thing I love abut grilling out is almost no mess in the kitchen and we always make enough to carry use through about 2 to 3 days..perfect for my crazy schedule. The Masterbedroom project is about 100% complete and the materials for the new backyard fence will be delivered tomorrow..along with a Herbalife goody box!! Whoopwhoop..so this morning has included starting the day with God's word..prayer journal, and positivity journal,made Matthias a hearty Sunday breakfast, 6.4 km on the treadmill, a touch of cleaning, of course my Herbalife breakfast shake also..this morning was strawberry!! Now a bit of computer work such as FSF, emails, and then a few hours of homework time..week 5 of an 8 week term is already here..craziness..and of course that means yet another large project is coming due..so..there you have it..lots of reading and writing coming up!!

I wish you all a relaxing, blessed Sunday..take a few minutes to do nothing, be grateful, and don't forget to share your smile!!