Happy Wednesday! The sun is shining here, so it's a great day! The boys are playing or making a mess! I'll look at it as, playing. ;) Thank you all for the sweet Valentine cards and happy's last week. The boys had fun shopping Friday night. They bought Superman lunch boxes on clearance at Old Navy, cookies at the mall, and a few books at Barnes & Noble. They even shared a dollar with Mark and I!

If you would, please keep Mark in your prayers for the next 2 weeks. He has his last big test March 2. This one actually counts and can/will impact what fellowship he gets accepted into in a few years. He still loves what he does and the schedule has been so nice this month. However, next month will change and April will be even tougher. It's hard to believe we've almost been here a year and won't be packing in a few months! So nice to know and will be better on our pocketbook come June!

This year I am challenging myself to give more and forgive those that I need to forgive (for whatever reasons) basically just not hold a grudge. Money is tight when it comes to just handing out cash to others, so I've been trying to make things or cook or volunteer or just pray for others. I feel God has really been blessing me and showing me things to make me rely more on him. I've been going through a rough time personally with different issues. I recently started a new class at the gym and LOVE it! I'm not one to do classes especially by myself, but it's been good for me to make that change and do something for myself for an hour. I've found peace these weeks in knowing that God has our day planned for us and know exactly what we will experience. That alone just amazes me and stops me in my thoughts sometimes. It's comforting to know we are not alone. That being said, we must love ourself before we can move to pleasing and doing for others in hopes that they love us more or like us enough to do ______. We were created beautifully in God's eyes and should accept that!  

Thought I'd share a few new recipes too! Both can be made healthy. The first is creamy chicken for tacos or I even think it would be good on a taco salad. The second is Banana Bread.

Creamy Chicken:
Place chicken breasts in a crockpot. Add a packet of taco seasoning to the top. Mix a cup of salsa with 1 can cream of chicken. Pour this over the top. Once the chicken is done, take it out and shred. Put back in pot and add 1/2 cup sour cream. Mix together and serve in tortillas.

 Low Fat Banana Bread Recipe:

Ingredients: 
2 cups all purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
2 eggs, beaten
1 1/2 cups mashed ripe banana (3-5 bananas)
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup applesauce
1/4 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Directions: 
In a medium bowl combine eggs, mashed banana, sugar, and applesauce.  Add flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg.  Mix well.  Pour batter into greased pan and bake at 350 degrees for 55 to 60 minutes for one 9x5x3 pan or bake 40-45 minutes for two 7 1/2x 3 1/2x 2 inch pans.

Hope you'll try and like as much as we have! Have a fabulous rest of the week! Love to all...