Here is a short but sweet update :)
Faith-
Last Sunday we went to the contemporary service at church! (if you don't know us personally, my hubby is usually big on the traditional service!) I really enjoyed it- it was inspiring to see so many young people there worshiping together!
Something that's still heavy on my mind is the plane crash last weekend. So many of the kids (from the gym) are still hurting, and I can't even imagine what the family members are going through. I pray that they will turn to God in this time of sadness & tragedy.
Family-
My mom's (29th- haha!) birthday was last weekend, and we had a great time with everyone! Graysen is growing up fast, and I'm loving seeing the smiles :) Movie, dinner, and an evening of sports made a great birthday for mom!
Last night we had a family night (Pat, myself, Elisabeth, & Ryan) at Incredible Pizza with some friends- it was great! Tonight my daughter is cheering at a football game- it should be a cool, clear evening for some football! I can't wait!!
Fitness-
My classes, personal training clients, and my own personal fitness are going great! I was so impressed with everyone's fit test results- lots of inches lost, pounds lost, & strength gained!
Have a wonderful rest of the day!
Jen
Welcome! I'm Jen, and I am so glad that you popped by to check out my blog! I'm a Christian, wife, mom, personal trainer, and wellness coach! Helping people get healthier & happier is one of my passions, and I like to share my journey of faith, family, and fitness on social media! *To understand my reason for this blog, make sure that you go all the way back to post #1- it explains everything :)
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Pumpkin muffins!
Fall is here - cooler temperatures (& allergies- ugh!), and I even had a pumpkin spice cappuccino this morning :) I need some snacks around the house for these busy nights, so I decided to make some pumpkin muffins (no, these are not paleo!)
I started with a box of cake mix, 1 T. pumpkin pie spice (optional), some dark chocolate chips (approx. 1 C- optional), and a can of pumpkin (15 oz. can is all that you need, but WalMart only had the big cans, so I'm using half!)
I started with a box of cake mix, 1 T. pumpkin pie spice (optional), some dark chocolate chips (approx. 1 C- optional), and a can of pumpkin (15 oz. can is all that you need, but WalMart only had the big cans, so I'm using half!)
Ingredients-
Cake mix & pumpkin (100%, not the filling!)
Optional: Pumpkin pie spice & chocolate chips
Mix the cake mix & pumpkin. This is all that has to be done unless you want to add in the extras!
I added in the pumpkin pie spice & chocolate chips
Scoop it into a muffin pan (I used liners because I didn't have cooking spray!)
bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes
Voila!
Pumpkin Muffin- Yummy!
Monday, September 17, 2012
In times of loss...
It's been a very sad weekend for many in the Ozarks. A local family was killed in a tragic plane crash, and several of our kids from the gym were friends with the children. As a mother, I can't even imagine what the mothers are going through now. I've been praying for them, as well as the rest of the families and friends, and I hope that they can find peace eventually.
God is good, and in times of tragedy I know it's hard not to think "WHY?" I don't have a good worldly answer. But I do know that God does have a plan for each of us.
In John 16, He says "In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I’ve conquered the world.” (John 16:33, MSG)
Comfort each other. Loss is difficult for everyone, especially one of this magnitude. "So speak encouraging words to one another. Build up hope so you’ll all be together in this, no one left out, no one left behind. I know you’re already doing this; just keep on doing it." (I Thessalonians 5:11)
"... He comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, he brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us. We have plenty of hard times that come from following the Messiah, but no more so than the good times of his healing comfort—we get a full measure of that, too." (2 Corinthians 1:3-5)
Come together, comfort each other, and pray. And know that many out there are praying for you as well...
~Jen
God is good, and in times of tragedy I know it's hard not to think "WHY?" I don't have a good worldly answer. But I do know that God does have a plan for each of us.
In John 16, He says "In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I’ve conquered the world.” (John 16:33, MSG)
Comfort each other. Loss is difficult for everyone, especially one of this magnitude. "So speak encouraging words to one another. Build up hope so you’ll all be together in this, no one left out, no one left behind. I know you’re already doing this; just keep on doing it." (I Thessalonians 5:11)
"... He comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, he brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us. We have plenty of hard times that come from following the Messiah, but no more so than the good times of his healing comfort—we get a full measure of that, too." (2 Corinthians 1:3-5)
Come together, comfort each other, and pray. And know that many out there are praying for you as well...
~Jen
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
It's Apple Season :)
This is a HUGE bucket full of apples! I brought home 2 overflowing Walmart bags, and there are still many more left!
Elisabeth & Grandma put together some Apple Crisp desserts (YUMMY!)
And at home that evening, Elisabeth & I made some crock-pot apple oatmeal. It was delicious, and oh-so-easy! Just get it ready & cook it on low overnight, and breakfast is ready in the morning (& BONUS!! -your kitchen will smell delicious!!!)
Have some good apple recipes? Email them to me at trainingbyjen@hotmail.com
If I end up making it, I will feature you in a future blog post with your recipe!
Happy Wednesday :)
Jen
New photos :)
Whew! It's been a busy few weeks! Here are a few pic's of what's been going on in my world!
I'll be gushing about my handsome little nephew every day, I'm sure :) Here are a few of his adorable pictures from his 2 week photo shoot! What a beautiful family- God is good! (Photos are by Meg White Photography - she did an amazing job capturing their happiness on film!)
I'll be gushing about my handsome little nephew every day, I'm sure :) Here are a few of his adorable pictures from his 2 week photo shoot! What a beautiful family- God is good! (Photos are by Meg White Photography - she did an amazing job capturing their happiness on film!)
I have to say, the boots are about my favorite picture out of all of them! Adorable!!
I'm back on track with healthy eating! This was today's breakfast- egg, chicken, & sweet potato! Healthy, filling, & yummy!
Many evenings are spent at football fields, watching my daughter cheer! This pic was taken last week as the storms were blowing in- this cloud curled around and went as far as you could see!
We spent most of last weekend at my parents house- Pat worked on his trailer remodel, and we picked apples and enjoyed the outdoors (other than my allergies- boo!)
While it's still not anywhere near ready, it's definitely come a long way!
Gotta show off my parents honey! It's the best tasting honey around :) I use it all the time- local raw honey is the best kind!
I'm so jealous of my moms flower bed- it had just been rained on so this isn't the best picture, but her flowers are all overflowing the beds this year! All of the landscaping turned out great!!
This is Jake, my parents dog! He is a sweet lab who is about 12 years old now!
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Another HIIT Class for you :)
This morning we did a HIIT Class that was a goodie :) I thought that you guys might like this one to do at home!
Set a timer for 12 minutes
Every minute on the minute, do 7 Burpee Box Jumps
(Rest after you finish, and wait for the next minute)
(Your box should be a challenging height for you!)
This is a good one!! It works you from head to toe, and gets that heart rate up! You should be nice & sweaty when it's finished!!
"You're welcome!"
Jen
Set a timer for 12 minutes
Every minute on the minute, do 7 Burpee Box Jumps
(Rest after you finish, and wait for the next minute)
(Your box should be a challenging height for you!)
This is a good one!! It works you from head to toe, and gets that heart rate up! You should be nice & sweaty when it's finished!!
"You're welcome!"
Jen
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Happy September!
It's a very warm end-of-summer day here in Missouri! 97 degrees is a little warm compared to the 70's and 80's we had over the weekend! I hope that you all had a fantastic Labor Day weekend! We went out of town and enjoyed some time outdoors and on the river (& had lots of rain, courtesy of Hurricane Isaac coming through!
Here are a few pics from our weekend near Van Buren, MO:
FAITH:
Last night we sat down & had a family devotional. It was nice to just have some quality family time with God & discussions! We talked about how being close isn't the same as being fully invested. You may be an excellent person that doesn't do anything bad, which is fantastic; however, if you haven't accepted Jesus & been saved, then you still won't go to heaven. You can't get there by works, and this was a great topic to discuss with an 11 year old!
Today's verse on YouVersion is from Matthew-
"Jesus answered by quoting Deuteronomy: 'It takes more than bread to stay alive. It takes a steady stream of words from God's mouth.'" Matthew 4:4 (MSG)
FAMILY:
It's been a family filled weekend! I spent Friday, Saturday & Sunday with Pat & some great friends. Yesterday, Elisabeth came home & we went to my Grandma's for a fish fry with the family! It was a great time, full of tasty food & good conversations! Here are a few pics of Elisabeth & my nephew from yesterday (isn't he handsome?!)
My classes are going great- we had a really good HIIT class this morning! I think everyone thought it would be easy since it was all body weight- but it was definitely a challenge!
Have a wonderful day friends!
Jen :)
It's a very warm end-of-summer day here in Missouri! 97 degrees is a little warm compared to the 70's and 80's we had over the weekend! I hope that you all had a fantastic Labor Day weekend! We went out of town and enjoyed some time outdoors and on the river (& had lots of rain, courtesy of Hurricane Isaac coming through!
Here are a few pics from our weekend near Van Buren, MO:
FAITH:
Last night we sat down & had a family devotional. It was nice to just have some quality family time with God & discussions! We talked about how being close isn't the same as being fully invested. You may be an excellent person that doesn't do anything bad, which is fantastic; however, if you haven't accepted Jesus & been saved, then you still won't go to heaven. You can't get there by works, and this was a great topic to discuss with an 11 year old!
Today's verse on YouVersion is from Matthew-
"Jesus answered by quoting Deuteronomy: 'It takes more than bread to stay alive. It takes a steady stream of words from God's mouth.'" Matthew 4:4 (MSG)
FAMILY:
It's been a family filled weekend! I spent Friday, Saturday & Sunday with Pat & some great friends. Yesterday, Elisabeth came home & we went to my Grandma's for a fish fry with the family! It was a great time, full of tasty food & good conversations! Here are a few pics of Elisabeth & my nephew from yesterday (isn't he handsome?!)
FITNESS:
Other than the crazy amounts of food consumed over the weekend, my fitness & nutrition is going well! My classes are going great- we had a really good HIIT class this morning! I think everyone thought it would be easy since it was all body weight- but it was definitely a challenge!
Have a wonderful day friends!
Jen :)
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