I was so excited when I was approached by Family Christian Blogger group to write a post and receive a free copy of their 2015 Book of the Year pick: Before Amen by Max Lucado. All opinions expressed are my own.


Before Amen by Max Lucado book MyWAHMPlan.com

Before Amen stays on top of my reading list! 


The idea of a simple prayer, one that would be good enough, powerful enough, dare I say it- Christian enough was intriguing to me.  I am a Christian woman, living smack dab in the middle of the Bible belt, so I have heard my fair share of impassioned prayers. 


In church, in bible study group, in the pick- up line at my kid’s school… and my simple prayers always felt small and somehow less than when compared to others wordy and usually, lengthy prayers. To put it bluntly- I would never be asked to join the Prayer Warriors group! 


After reading and in some parts, re-reading the amazing Before Amen, I now know something that gives me great confidence and helps me stand tall when I feel the need to pray. My simple prayers of “Dear Lord, please help me in this moment”, are perfectly okay to the only one that matters; Christ.  






Before Amen book by Max Lucado MyWAHMPlan.com


“We all pray ... some. We pray to stay sober, centered, or solvent. When the lump is deemed malignant. When the money runs out before the month does. When the marriage is falling apart. We pray.

In Before Amen, bestselling author Max Lucado joins readers on a journey to the very heart of biblical prayer, offering hope for doubts and confidence even for prayer wimps. Distilling prayers in the Bible down to one pocket-sized prayer, Max reminds readers that prayer is not a privilege for the pious nor the art of a chosen few. Prayer is simply a heartfelt conversation between God and his child. Let the conversation begin.” 



My Thoughts:

Max Lucado welcomed me into this book, like a dear friend would welcome me into their home. He hit the perfect mix of being an authority on the subject of prayer and the Bible without being overbearing. There wasn’t one single moment in this book where I felt I was being talked down to, or preached to.


I actually learned biblical lessons from reading Before Amen that I somehow hadn’t retained from church sermons or bible study. For instance, did you know the first followers of Jesus needed prayer guidance? In fact, the only tutorial they ever requested was on prayer!

There really is something in the delivery of information folks and Max Lucado teaches in a way that I get.


I have leaned heavily on the pocket prayer since first reading because it is such a simple, yet powerful prayer.




The Pocket Prayer:

Father,
You are good.
I need help. Heal me and forgive me.
They need help.
Thank you.
In Jesus’ name, amen.




Now that I know more about Intercessory prayer, I can expand on my prayers without feeling I’m not “Christian” enough. 

As Max says; “Intercessory prayer isn’t rocket science. It acknowledges our inability and God’s ability.”


If you are just entering your walk with Christ, or if you are like me and you feel like your prayers don’t quite measure up, I highly recommend you read Before Amen because the author is a self- professed prayer wimp that gets us!


The best part about reading Before Amen is that the words and teachings are staying with me. I’m praying more in the moment, not just for myself or my family, but for the world at large. 


I’ve shared many passages with my family as well and they have been moved as well. In fact, my youngest daughter who’s 12 asked if she could please read this book next. That’s how impactful this book is.


Family Christian has named Before Amen their 2015 book of the year, so I invite you to visit their website where you can read more thoughts on Before Amen and if you are so moved, purchase a copy for yourself or a loved one. You’ll be able to discover more books and guides from Max Lucado as well.

Please share in comments: How many books do you have started right now?


My thanks to Naturally Fresh® dressing and The Motherhood for sponsoring today’s post and inspiring our recipe shared below. All opinions and love of wholesomely good dips are 100% my own.


With the Super Bowl just days away, my husband and I were happy to take on the challenge of creating a Big Game recipe to share using Naturally Fresh® dressing.  My family has loved their Classic Ranch salad dressing for some time now. In fact it gets the “Dang-Diggity” seal of approval! The only trouble we had was deciding which Naturally Fresh® dressing we would use. 


Chickin' Chicken Buffalo Blue Cheese Dip #NaturallyFresh #recipe



About Naturally Fresh® dressings and dips:

#NaturallyFresh #giveaway on MyWAHMPlan.com

NaturallyFresh® is a line of high-quality, homemade-tasting salad dressings and dips. Many foods on store shelves today contain artificial flavors and colors that change the way the food tastes and looks, as well as preservatives that extend their shelf life. Naturally Fresh® refrigerated dressings are different. The company creates products that taste great by using wholesome ingredients, and leaving out artificial preservatives and artificial colors.  That's a total win in our book!


Their product line includes:

  • Classic Ranch- made with Naturally Fresh’s ® own buttermilk.
  • Lite Ranch- made with Naturally Fresh’s® own nonfat buttermilk with half the calories of the original.
  • Bleu Cheese: Made with Naturally Fresh’s® own buttermilk and aged bleu cheese chunks.
  • Lite Bleu Cheese: Made with Naturally Fresh’s® own nonfat buttermilk and aged bleu cheese chunks.


Chickin' Chicken Buffalo Blue Cheese dip party tray #NaturallyFresh


For the big game, we decided to take a classic entrée and turn it in to a dip that eats like a meal! Our Kickin’ Chicken Buffalo Blue Cheese Dip will have your guy stepping away from the wings to try this yummy dip. He may even pick up a veggie to dip. Score! This “better for you” dip is super easy to make too. Here’s what you’ll need.


Ingredients:

  • 1 Large can of Chicken Breast meat in water
  • ¾ jar of Naturally Fresh® Blue Cheese Dressing
  • 2 tablespoons (or more to taste) Cayenne based Hot sauce (think Tabasco®, Franks® or Texas Pete®)
  • 1 cup celery, diced small (reserve celery greens for garnish)
  • 1 package Neufchatel Cheese or softened Cream cheese



Directions:

  • In large mixing bowl, mix all ingredients together until Chicken breast meat is broken apart and ingredients mixed in.
  • Garnish with celery greens and chill for at least an hour before serving.
  • Serve with your favorite chips, crackers, carrots, celery sticks or any dip-able veggie.
  • Makes 3 cups.

Digging into the Chickin' Chicken Blue Cheese Dip #NaturallyFresh



Are you ready to make our Kickin’ Chicken Buffalo Blue Cheese Dip recipe? Then make a grocery list and head to your nearest Kroger or Publix to pick up a jar of NaturallyFresh® Blue Cheese Dressing found in the refrigerated section. If you aren’t sure which of your local grocery store carries Naturally Fresh®, just use their mobile app to locate them. 




Win It!


#NaturallyFresh dressings #giveaway MyWAHMPlan.com


Thanks to the nice folks at Naturally Fresh®, one lucky reader will win 5 coupons for free 12 oz. #NaturallyFresh dressings! Entering is easy using the Rafflecopter form below. 


Terms:

No purchase necessary to win. Must be 18+ years old and live in the United States. My WAHM Plan is not responsible for prize fulfillment. This giveaway is in no way endorsed affiliated or associated with Facebook, Twitter or any other Social Media Networking Site. This event will end on 12:00 AM (EST) 2/6/15. 



Good luck!


a Rafflecopter giveaway
Many thanks to Pop Secret for sponsoring today’s post and inspiring me to live in the moment with my princesses!



We fell asleep last night to the gently falling snow and awoke to a bright and snowy scene. There wasn’t enough snow to build a proper snow man, but my girls still had to get out there and play in the rare treat that is snow in middle Tennessee.  Soon enough, the magic wore off and in they came, changed their clothes and then announced they were hungry and bored. 



My #tween is bored. #PopSecretForts to the rescue MyWAHMPlan.com


What’s a mom to do? I whipped out the box of Pop Secret popcorn and suggested we make a pillow fort like we used too when they were younger. My teen and tween looked at each other and happily agreed. 


Pop Secret regular butter flavored popcorn MyWAHMPlan.com


First, we decided to make a snack worthy of a princess day, so we invented Chocolate-Caramel Princess crunch! This is super easy to make and you may already have the 3 ingredients on hand. 



Ingredients:

  • 1 bag of regular buttered flavor Pop Secret Popcorn
  • 1 squeeze bottle of chocolate syrup
  • 1 squeeze bottle of caramel syrup


Directions:

Microwave the Pop Secret popcorn according to directions. Place in large bowl and allow to cool until it no longer steams.


Pop Secret Chocolate-Caramel Princess crunch ingredients


Now, let your kids have fun adding as much of the syrups they want to make their own special version of Chocolate-Caramel Princess crunch! Of course, you’ll want to change the name if you have boys. The point is to have fun with this and let the kids sneak bites...


Pop Secret is always a favorite snack MyWAHMPlan.com


and be as loud and as messy as they want. In other words- let you kids be kids! Thankfully, my girls who are a bit older now, decided not to go too overboard with the syrups.


chocolate drizzle on Pop Secret Popcorn MyWAHMPlan.com


We all had such a good time making this easy, yet tasty treat. Even this older princess thoroughly enjoyed letting loose and laughing and eating with them. 


Chocolate-Caramel Princess Crunch MyWAHMPlan.com

This super yummy creation was way to hard to resist. You have to try it if you love sweet and salty treats!



Then it was pillow fort time for the princesses!


Outside our princess pillow fort #PopSecretForts


This sheet has served as our fort door and roof for a lot of years, so it was fun getting it back out of the linen closet and borrowing clamps from their Daddy. The girls and I added lots of soft, comfy blankets and pillows and transformed a corner of our living room into princess headquarters; complete with their Pop Secret Chocolate-Caramel Princess crunch!


My princesses inside their pillow fort #PopSecretForts MyWAHMPlan.com


The girls had so much fun in their fort, they asked if it could stay up all weekend- just like when they were little and I happily agreed.


Make your own #PopSecretForts and join the fun!

Pop Secret knows that fun, like popcorn, is better when it’s shared. Send Pop Secret your pillow fort stories and pictures on Facebook. You can upload them right to the Pop Secret timeline and tag them #PopSecretForts. They might just share a little something back! And when you visit the Pop Secret Facebook page you can download a coupon for $1 off, along with a customizable flag to name and claim your pillow fort! 


I look over at my not so little princesses and take in their smiling faces, storing this happy moment in my mind for later, when life gets crazy busy again. 

Why not take time out this weekend to get in touch with your inner kid again and build a pillow fort with your kids too? And make it super special by serving up Pop Secret!


Please share in comments: 

What fun, kid activity do you enjoy doing with you kids? Are you a pillow fort builder? A push me higher on the swinger? Share you happy moments!
Admittedly, there isn’t a whole lot to do in our winter garden, but when the mercury starting rising to a high of 60 yesterday in middle Tennessee, I had to get out there and do something!


I started raking leaves out of the front flower beds again. That was a nice little job, since we have several large pin Oaks and Maple trees in our front yard. Actually, it was a good workout, even though I know I’ll never win the battle of the leaves.  Some of the trees are already showing signs of new growth. 


buds on trees in January #Nashville area MyWAHMPlan.com



Next, I swept the front porch and noticed some new growth coming up in my succulent. I never over winter this plant, she prefers to live year round on the front porch. She’ll be stunning by April again.


new growth in succulent planter MyWAHMPlan.com



Since I had out the broom, I cleared the corner of the flower bed that the rake never works in and swept the walkway.   I know this is another thankless task as the leaves are just going to blow over it again and right back into my flower beds, but it made me feel good knowing I’d done it.


swept walkway MyWAHMPlan.com


After I’d raked and swept up, I had played a nice round of pick up sticks. Some I walked to the burn pile, some I dragged, but I got them there, working up a nice, healthy sweat along the way and loving the feel of the warm sunshine on my face. 



I couldn’t help but notice on my many trips back and forth to a centralized spot in our vast back yard known as the burn pile, that our hedge line was teaming with birds.  I tried to capture the birds playing, but after a few failed attempts, I gave up stalking them and just stood and admired their beauty. It didn’t take much of a walk along the fence line to find the bird’s lunch spot.


berries for birds MyWAHMPlan.com



A few steps more and I was at our pond, which had lots of air bubbles on the top, letting me know our frog population hasn’t diminished by much in winter.



our pond in January MyWAHMPlan.com


Standing there feeling the sun on my face, the wind lightly blowing through the trees and bushes, the birds chatting at the berries, all was right in my world. This gardening ladies soul saw and felt the New Year in the best possible way. 



I knew I might be tempting fate, because the weather man assured us our warm weather wouldn’t last, but as I walked past the corner where my heirloom Iris’ bed is, I took a peak to see if there was any signs of life- and sure enough, there was Iris fronds staring back at me.


Iris fronds in January MyWAHMPlan.com


My stomach growled, letting me know my gardening time was done, so I stood up and  headed back towards my beautiful, perfectly imperfect red ranch house content.



Please share in comments:

How does your January garden look? What planting region do you live in? We are in a nice, temperate 7. Don’t know your planting zone? Reading my post here can help you find out. And hang in there, spring begins in just 58 days!

Colors play such an important role in our daily lives. I thought this would be a fun and creative way to share my love of colors with you. Each month, I'll choose a color that reflects the month's mood or theme as I see it. I'll set up a monthly Pinterest board and share it here with you, my awesome readers. 



This months color pick is Ice Blue.


Jan. 2015 color of the month #iceblue MyWAHMPlan.com



I've started the board and will add more pictures of this color all month. Got a pin or picture, you'd like me to add? Let me know in comments or catch up with me on Pinterest! 






Please share in comments: Look at my 4 photo collage above and tell me which photo you would most likely re-pin and why.

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