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Heather's Dish

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Live Out Joy & Compassion: Operation Christmas Child

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This past weekend I was humbled in a big way. Saturday morning I woke up and went to Walmart to buy a plastic shoebox and a bunch of fun things to fill it, praying that I would pick the right things to bless a sweet little boy somewhere in this great big world.

The concept of things that kids like is still pretty new to me. Wes is at the point where he just wants to explore everything, and usually his toys are the last on that list. He likes spoons and jump rope handles and shaker bottle lids – those are his favorites right now. As for toys and things that other kids enjoy though? Still kind of clueless.

So Saturday morning I’m standing in the middle of Walmart, people swarming around me, and just trying to imagine what a little boy somewhere in Africa or Asia or South America would want for Christmas. I’ve seen the pictures of kids who have literally nothing, and the only thing I can imagine them wanting are the things that I take for granted every second of my day: clothes to wear, a roof over my head, a pillow to sleep on, a warm and SAFE place for my family to live. And I just stood there, at a crossroads in Walmart’s shopping aisles (and apparently in my own life) just looking at all of the STUFF around me.

I imagined what it would be like to bring that little boy – the one we built this box for – to Walmart and just let him go crazy getting whatever he wanted.
Anything.
Everything.
What it would be like to bring him to our house, for him to see the food and the overabundance of soft blankets and the pillows that are overflowing onto the floor in our guest bedroom. For him to see that our dogs have massive fluffy things to sleep on. For him to see all of the things that we have and the way that those things fail to bring us joy.
I imagined how he would feel to see that the tangible things he’s always wanted are tucked away in the closets of people across the world, only to be thrown away after years of storage. How those things would help him learn and grow, and how we just sit here and hoard it all for the sake of having our stuff.

I know that this may be a heavy dose of perspective, but I have to share it because as I stood there my heart changed. It broke for the things that break God’s heart. It felt heavy and dirty and bratty and rotten for taking all of the blessings in my life for granted. However, change has to start somewhere; it has to be instigated somehow and some way. This past weekend was my heart’s instigation, God’s way of teaching me that I can do better than just SAY that I believe in Him – I can GO and DO and TEACH and GIVE the love he’s so freely given me. I can live out that joy.

This Christmas season we’re starting with Operation Christmas Child as a way to make a small change in one child’s world, and as a way to start teaching Wes the spirit of generosity and compassion from an early age. It’s an amazing program aimed at showing Christ’s love in a tangible way to a child in need through boxes filled with Christmas gifts. Although Weston is too young to really “get it” right now, we want to be the kind of parents who teach through the way we live our lives. The instructions are all on the website, but here’s the rundown:

  • Get a standard cardboard shoebox or a shoebox-sized plastic container. You don’t have to wrap it, but you certainly can!
  • Decide if your gift is going to be for a boy or a girl. The age ranges are 2-4, 5-9, or 10-14. Print out the appropriate label and check the category!
  • Fill the box with gifts – toys, school supplies, hygiene items, hard candy, gum, new clothes, etc. Add a personal note – if you leave your address the child may write back!
  • Include a $7 donation to help cover the cost of shipping and other costs.
  • Drop off at your closest collection center during the week of November 12-19, 2012.
  • !!!IMPORTANT!!! If you don’t have time or you don’t have a collection center nearby you can also donate a box through the Build-a-Box program online! Perfect for deleting any excuse to not do this šŸ˜‰

I have to confess: I’m selfish with my money. Instead of donating to help others, I buy expensive chocolate with sea salt and yet another bottle of fancy shampoo. I know that there is a lot that I can and should forgo that would help save people across the world through education, clean water, food, shelter and helping to provide safety. Our box, with the $7 donation, will have cost about $30 total (which is the same amount as the Build-a-Box program), and is well worth it to know that it will bring a beautiful little boy joy in a time of need.

My hope and prayer for all of us this: to live out the commandment to love others as we love ourselves. When we love ourselves by buying Christmas gifts and lavishing love on our family, I pray that we would do the same for those who need those gifts and that love more than anything in the world. We have been blessed with much – let’s take the time to bless others!

Now what are you waiting for? Go out and build your box!

This holiday season build a box with your family to teach kindness, compassion, and generosity.

Operation Christmas Child and influencer marketing platform BlogFrog have teamed up with 200 bloggers like me to spread the word about this great cause.

BlogFrog will match the first 200 boxes that are built. Pledge your commitment below to build a box today on Facebook or Twitter!

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Operation Christmas Child. The opinions and text are all mine.

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ā˜€ļøSamples time! Interested in snagging some ā˜€ļøSamples time! 

Interested in snagging some clean sunscreen (FSA eligiblešŸ™Œ)? Or what about brightening your complexion? Or both? I’m sending out samples this weekend and would love to get some happy mail to YOU TOO! Drop your favorite emoji below and I’ll be in touch!
Just popping in from the place moms flock to on ra Just popping in from the place moms flock to on rainy days just to get out of the dang house: the aisles of Target. šŸ˜‚ Not a lot to say, but I’m going to leave you  with 3 affirmations I want you to repeat to yourself today:

ā¤ļø I AM STRONG
ā¤ļø I AM CAPABLE
ā¤ļø I AM ENOUGH

BECAUSE YOU ARE. Have a wonderful day friends!
Working on my #avoquados y’all! This protein smo Working on my #avoquados y’all! This protein smoothie has 40 grams of protein, lots of green goodness and tastes like a pineapple-vanilla dream!

- 1 cup water
- 1 cup frozen pineapple
- 1 cup frozen kale or spinach
- 1 scoop vanilla protein
- 1 serving collagen peptides (I use 2 scoops of @bulletproof brand; some brands just have one big scoop)
- 1 scoop greens powder (I used @amazinggrass)

Blend and enjoy!
šŸ„— FAST FOOD! Real real: I hate when people are šŸ„— FAST FOOD!

Real real: I hate when people are all, ā€œyou can cook food in the same time it takes to grab takeout.ā€ That is not always true, and sometimes it’s just about not wanting to try. Effort is hard, amen?!

Today I’m thankful to have had the energy and want-to to cook something a little healthier and save a little money. That’s not always the case, but today it was and I’ll count it as a win!

In the bowl: 3/4 cup black beans, 1/4 cup corn, 2 big handfuls of spinach, and two eggs. Seasoned it all with salt, pepper, garlic and smoked paprika!

Any wins y’all feel like sharing today? Let’s hear it and celebrate!
Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Oats! (AKA the thi Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Oats! (AKA the thing I’ve been eating on repeat all week):

- 1/2 cup old fashioned rolled oats
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/2 cup milk of choice
- 2 tablespoons brewed coffee (optional)*
- 2 tablespoons powdered peanut butter
- 1 tablespoon cocoa powder
- 1 tablespoon ground flax seeds
- 1 serving unflavored collagen peptides
- Sweetener of choice
- 1 tablespoon chocolate chips

Heat the oats, water, milk and coffee in a small saucepan over medium heat. Cook until thickened to your liking (although keep in kind the flax seeds and cooling will thicken it even further). Remove from the heat and stir in the remaining ingredients except the chocolate chips; I like to use a whisk to make sure the collagen doesn’t clump. Pour in a bowl, sprinkle with the chocolate chips and enjoy!

*I love to add a little coffee to mine to help enhance the chocolate flavor, but you do you!
And sometimes this is what it means to ā€œwork fro And sometimes this is what it means to ā€œwork from home.ā€ šŸ˜‚
Mentioned this yesterday in the ol’ stories, but Mentioned this yesterday in the ol’ stories, but thought it was worth sharing here too. When it comes to how I plan out meals, I look for 3 things:

šŸ„—Whole foods. Not like the store (that’s called Whole Paycheck, right?), but meaning foods that haven’t been minimally processed. Fresh veggies, lean protein sources, whole grains, etc. I do have a few processed things on hand (protein bars) just in case I’m in a place where I need something SUPER quick, but that’s it. 

šŸ„—High fiber. There are so many reasons we should be getting in plenty of fiber (Google is your friend here guys), but if I’m being honest I just feel better when I’m getting plenty of it. Leaner, more regular, more satiated. The list goes on! Besides the obvious fresh produce, I also eat plenty of legumes, whole grains (rolled oats, farro, quinoa - even though it’s a seed), flax and chia seeds.

šŸ„—Hit my protein goals. Again, an essential nutrient. I have composition goals, and for my muscles to recover from my hard workouts I have to make sure I’m getting in enough protein. For me this means chicken, fish, and the occasional beef or pork.

Wondering - would y’all be interested in how I do my meal planning and shopping trips?  If so just drop your favorite emoji below!
It’s Friday, which means a myriad of things:

1ļøāƒ£Weekend vibes! Think soccer games, yard work, church, family time. Love it!
2ļøāƒ£The end of my meal prep. Not gonna lie, I won’t make this stew again...although the couscous was a fun addition!
3ļøāƒ£Sleeping in. HALLELUJAH.
4ļøāƒ£A chance to set up next week to be a great one!

It’s going to be a fabulous weekend y’all. What are you up to?!
#brinner to the rescue tonight! I could just kick #brinner to the rescue tonight! I could just kick myself for not showing y’all how orange these yolks were. šŸ³ Eggs are one of the foods I spend a little more on because the flavor and nutrient density are worth it!
.
Pictured: seared mushrooms, roasted baby broccoli, bacon and 2 eggs. Not pictured: another parfait like last night’s because šŸ˜‹.
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What’s your brinner go-to?!
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