Rob the freaking robber

*This post was written during a dark time for our family several years ago. It’s remained in “draft mode” since then but today I told a loved one I would share it. Continue reading if you’re ready to fight.

So we have this enemy. Ya know. The devil. We hate him and he hates us. And he wants to take everything from us. He wants our house and our money and stuff but really, he wants our faith and our souls. Right now he's coming against us hard. It says in the Bible that the enemy comes to steal, kill, and destroy. And my friend, he is trying.

Our home and financial future are on the line right now. Because of lies and negligence. The enemy wants our stuff. But we say no. We aren't giving it up. And you know what? Even if he does manage to get our house and money, it doesn't really matter. Because he won't get our soul.

And we're going to rob the robber. He might want our money but we're going to dig down deep into the word of God. And we're going to honor Him in what we do and say. And we're not going to live in fear. And we're going to come out a million times stronger than we were before.

And then, we're gonna rob the freaking robber. We're going to win back souls he thought he had. We're going to shine God's light where he thought his darkness would always rule. We're going to look our enemy in the face and take back what is ours and even more. We're gonna rob the robber. And the thing is, he won't win at that game. Because OUR God has won the world. And OUR God is fighting with us to win back these souls. And we're gonna win.

He bit our heel and now we're ready for some head smashing.

Let's just have a good cry

*This was written in 2018… our particularly awful year.*

Do you ever just have a day? You know, the kind where you just say, "Oh my. I've had quite a day."? The kind where you aren't as strong as you wish you were and you forget to lean on God and feel sad and anxious instead? I really, really hate those days. They're the dark days, the evil days, the anxiety and worry filled days. They're not fun.

And sometimes, on those days, you just need to have a good cry.

Lately, I've had more of those days than I'd like to admit and they're really pretty awful. I tend to chip at my kids and get offended way too easily. I have a hard time focusing on those days and find myself wandering off into my sad or anxious thoughts and it's hard to come back.

Recently, during one of those particularly sad days, as we were packing up to leave yet another home we had been staying in, my husband mentioned that we should start cleaning up and packing since we had to leave in the morning. I said, "I don't want to." He asked what I wanted to do instead and I said, "Honestly, I just want to lay on the floor and cry." "What?" "I said I just want to lay on the floor and cry." And my sweet husband replied, "Okay." "What?" "I said 'Okay.' Let's lay on the floor and cry." So we both climbed off the couches and laid on the floor in each others' arms and I cried and cried.

I realized that sometimes life is really hard. Sometimes we just can’t do it. Sometimes a good cry is in order. And it’s okay. It’s okay because in our weakness, Christ’s strength is shown. It’s okay because even Jesus wept. It’s okay because on those dark and lonely days, God is there with us… holding us, loving us, comforting us, and encouraging us.

A story of gratitude

in

Okay guys I have a little story for you. It's a story about a woman for whom ungratefulness was no longer an option. It goes like this...

This woman and her husband and four darling children bought a new house. It was big and beautiful and they couldn't wait to start painting and make it their own.

They moved in and noticed a little mold. After a week of living there they had to leave so it could be remediated. Turns out, the entire house was covered with mold.

After bouncing around from friends to family for 3 months and this woman and her kids being apart from her loving husband and their sweet father, their friends gave them a camper to use.

This little family moved into a small camper in their yard. More mold and more problems kept popping up and they slowly went from being committed to doing the work in the house to realizing it was probably not realistic.

The little family of 6 now lives in the camper in their yard full time as they try to exhaust every last option.

Today that mom had a bit of a surreal moment. The breaker popped in the camper, yet again. She had just gotten home from a huge grocery trip with her kids and after lugging all the groceries into the camper and trying to look around to find where she would put all of them, she turned on the air conditioner. Pop. She flipped the breaker and it popped yet again when she turned on the air. As she walked through the house to flip the circuit breaker, she looked around. She remembered how happy she was about the attached garage so that she could park in it and bring her groceries right through the hallway into the house. As she walked to the basement, she was struck by how good the cool basement air felt on a hot day like today. She imagined that if she was living in the house, she would have parked and brought all of those groceries in while her kids escaped to the basement to cool off and relax for a while while she put the groceries away.

And she got a little angry inside. She got angry that they gave so much money to this house. She got angry that she had to walk through her big dream house to pop the breaker for her little camper where the thermostat said 91°.

And then she remembered. She remembered that she couldn't afford to think about the what-ifs. She couldn't afford to think about anger. She couldn't afford to go there. Too much was on the line. You see, the enemy had been after her heart all along. He wanted to see her dissatisfied and jealous. He wanted to see her angry and discontent. He wanted to see her question her God. And, you see, she knew this. She knew what he was after. So she picked up her head and walked out to that little camper and thanked God for those sweet little children that used a wheelbarrow to bring in her groceries. And she smiled with joy because her husband was coming home from work soon and she gratefully put away each of those things she had purchased because she was able to buy her children food and clothing. And she stood on the truth she knew. And she remembered the promises God has made.

That woman had too much on the line. She had too much to lose if she gave in. So she let the truth wash over her and submitted to Jesus and let him purify her mind. And suddenly, 91° never felt so good.

A 7 Point Guide to Proper Self-Care

"Self care" is a pretty trendy term these days. People use the term to refer to anything from a vacation, a night of drinking, or a great cup of coffee. I'm going to show you how self care can be an amazing benefit in your life AND the lives of the people you love.

1. Do self care before you need it.

I'd like to propose that self care is far more beneficial when done BEFORE we hit our breaking point. I believe that we can avoid many 'break points' by exercising proper self care while we're still going strong. It's kind of like the parenting philosophy about filling their love buckets. You're much better off to fill their love buckets before they are sad and angry than trying to fill the bucket of a hysterical or emotionally empty child. Deal with rough emotions all evening or spend 15 pleasant minutes of quality time early in the afternoon. It's kind of the same with us. Taking care of yourself so you can handle the setbacks is much more successful than trying to get it together after you’re already a mess.

2. Know why self care is important.

Self care isn't the same as "me time." Although it is often time spent alone, this is NOT "Treat yo self!" time. This is time to care for yourself for the purpose of enjoying and succeeding in the rest of your life. If my self care tonight is so I can be a better mom and wife and friend, drinking too much tonight isn't going to help and neither is spending too much money, having a gossip sesh on the phone, or zoning out on Netflix. If you're running on fumes, you need quality gas in your tank, not sugar water.

3. Plan ahead for self care.

It's hard to make wise choices when you're fried. Plan for times of self care throughout your week. It might be a five minute devotion podcast while you shower in the morning or a weekly date night or workout with friends but if you don't plan ahead it's unlikely to happen. So get your planner out, text your husband or friend for accountability, or set a phone alarm. And then follow through!

4. Remove the ideas in your mind about what self care is.

It doesn't have to be expensive or time consuming or indulgent. In fact, the most beneficial things rarely are. You don’t need a babysitter or a lot of money. You don’t even need to leave your house! If you CAN do those things, more power to you, but that’s not what self care is about or how it works. It can be small moments of time found in the cracks of your day or daily disciplines that center you.

5. Start with gratitude.

Always start by being grateful. I like to pray and just start by audibly thanking God for all the amazing blessings I have in my life. If you're going through a lot, it might feel hard but once you get used to it, it's amazing how much it can change your perspective and make that time more powerful for you.

6. Know your needs and get creative.

Here are some ideas to get you started:

  • Exercise

  • Uplifting podcast or sermon

  • A warm, comforting beverage

  • A cold, crisp beverage

  • A walk outside

  • 10 minutes to sit with your eyes closed and breathe deeply

  • A phone call with an encouraging person in your life

  • A bonfire

  • Laying in the sun

  • Comfortable clothes

  • A cozy chair and blanket

  • Quiet music while rocking a baby to sleep (and staying rocking after they are in dreamland)

  • An early bedtime with clean sheets and a clean room

  • Candles and an epsom salt bath with lavender and cedarwood

  • PRAYER TIME

  • A gratitude journal

  • Time reading the Bible

  • A Bible study

  • A great morning routine

I used to put on my favorite relaxing station on Spotify on my phone, put oils in the diffuser, and grab a fresh cup of coffee for my shower. It was such a relaxing time for me and it felt great to let my thoughts untangle. I didn't have a lot of extra time so I would just take something I had to do anyway and make it work for me.

7. Be in the moment.

Turn away the stressful thoughts, silence your phone or put it in another room, smile at your loved one that interrupts you instead of snapping at them, close your eyes and breathe deeply. Allow yourself to focus on the good and beautiful things in life and change your focus. "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." Philippians 4:8

Free your mind

in

Recently my family started going down a fairly intense journey with our house. We also happen to have a family member that went through a similar thing a few years ago. We talked many times as they were walking that journey out. When we realized what we were dealing with, I was on the phone with her and talked about how we were staying positive etc. A little bit into the conversation she said, "Nicole, do you remember what you told me when I started going through the same thing?" I didn't and she said, "I was having such a horrible time and I just found out what we were dealing with. I remember calling you upset and not knowing how I was going to do it. You told me, 'Well, you're just going to do it. And you're going to figure out what you're dealing with and then you're going to fix it and do what you have to do. And it's just a house and it's just money. You have your family and God and this won't destroy you. You'll take it one step of the time.' Nicole, what you told me then about my situation is exactly what you just said now about yours."

I was shocked.

I've given a lot of advice and wisdom over the years. And sometimes, even as I'm saying it, I know that although it's wise and good, I'm not sure how I'D actually be able to do it. I KNOW that it's easier said than done. A few years ago, when I gave that advice, I don't think I would have walked it out the same way in my own life. I cannot begin to tell you how exciting it is to SEE that you've actually grown in your faith. It's so humbling to realize that God actually DID something in you. Because don't you feel like sometimes you're just never going to learn? I know I do. Sometimes I just feel like I keep getting sucked back into the same thought patterns time and time again and I'll never get free. But isn't that the worst lie? That because you've always done it, that you always have to do it? I say no. I experienced what it was like to think better and I'm ready for all the changes God wants to do in me.

Because it's freedom, my friend. Freedom. No longer bound by the same anxious thought patterns. No longer a slave to fear. What is it for you? No longer punishing yourself for mistakes you've made? No longer buried in shame? No longer battling the same insecurities you've dealt with for decades? What are those lies you listen to? The areas you feel you'll never get free from? You have to know that YOU. CAN. BE. FREE. God can and WILL free you from the toxic ways of thinking you've always dealt with.

And one day, you will think differently. And on that day, you will realized that you've changed. You will realized that you aren't who you once were; that God has dramatically changed you in marvelous ways. His way is freedom. So it's time to get free.

How to get bad news...

in

I wrote this one a month ago but I'm FINALLY getting to posting it. Here's a little update...

Okay friends, I gotta get real with you today. 2018 is NOT going how we planned. Alert. 2018 is NOT going according to plan.

Some of you know that we recently sold our first home. Our 1100 square foot first home. We loved it. It was adorable. It was tiny. And we bought a rather large, BEAUTIFUL home on 11 acres of beautiful land. The home is amazing with incredible views and an (awesomely) unique layout that feels like you're in a vacation home. We've waited years for a move like this, always saying we didn't want an "in-between" home for 5-10 years. We just wanted to wait and so we did.

The house was a little outdated in paint, etc and had a few repairs we were prepared to do but we could absolutely see what it would look like with our own touches on it. We daydreamed and planned until it was time to move in.

A couple days after we moved, I noticed mold in the basement. I looked around and found some more. A month later [2 months later now] and here I sit. In Pittsburgh. At my parent's house. Because my house has been mostly gutted. I'll be perfectly honest and say we have no idea what we're going to do. I started to list everything that needs to be done but had to stop myself because it was too intense. No. Idea. What. We. Will. Do.

And today we got more bad news.

I feel like we've been pretty even keel. Doing what we need to do to be responsible and trying to stay focused on our job/college/homeschooling and marriage and being parents (albeit long distance for the last ones.) We've been encouraging each other and staying the course. But today was different. Today was much more intense and although we stayed positive on the phone with each other, we both fell apart a bit after. I stayed in shock for about an hour and thankfully my mom took over when I had to leave the room before I yelled at a kid. I walked downstairs and through my tears muttered, "I can't do this." I can't parent and be kind and patient and care about them wanting an apple when I said no or wanting to play instead of going to bed. I can't do that while I'm falling apart. I'm not capable. And the moment I said, "I can't do this.", my next thought was, "But HE can. Jesus, I need you. Holy Spirit, fill me. I can't do this but you can." Filled with determination, I walked to my dad's study to be alone and as I sat down in his chair, I started singing a song many of you might remember from childhood, "The wise man built his house upon the rock, the wise man built his house upon the rock, the wise man built his house upon the rock, and the rains came tumbling down. The rains came down and the prayers went up... And the house on the rock stood firm." The song is talking about building our house (life) on Jesus, our rock. Because he is always faithful and never changing, our house will stay firm if built on Him. But when our life is built on the changing sands of this world (friendships, money, power, jobs, kids, houses, status, etc), it's sure to "go splat" like I believe the song says. Those things are ever shifting and changing. They'll never bring the security we desire.

As I thought more, I realized that my intense emotions were because I wasn't firmly planted in my faith. After talking to Eric and my mom, fully encouraged in my faith, my mom started talking about joy and I remembered that in the Bible, Nehemiah says, "Don't be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength." I don't know that I've experienced it in such a strong way before. As soon as I turned my eyes to the Lord, I felt SO strong and full of joy. When I placed my joy in HIM, I was strong, but when I was placing my joy in financial security and a house, I was weak and easily attacked. And I don't like feeling weak. So I will anchor myself in the Lord and if we lose all financial security and everything goes wrong, I will not have lost out. 

"And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are yourself lost or destroyed?" Luke 9:25

I won't be lost or destroyed. In fact, it's been a while since I was this focused and secure. I was so looking forward to living in the beautiful home we've dreamed of for so long. I was excited for the earthly feeling of success (even though I hated thinking that way.) But I'm clear again. And I'm strong. And while I hope so much that everything works out wonderfully and that God tangibly blesses us in amazing ways and that this miraculously isn't an epic financial setback, the spiritual implications here are huge. And you can't put a price tag on that.

Here's to the Broken One...

in

I see you.

I see you in churches, on facebook, in Bible studies.

I see you.

You're the "broken one." The one with the story. The one with the past. The one who feels cast aside, unwanted. The one who is to be helped, not to help. The one who can't hold a job. The one who can't have a baby. The one who has failed. The one who has been abused. The one who has been abandoned. The one who has lost so much. The one who is barely making it. I see you.

I see you and I've been you. Sometimes I still am you. The voices talk to me too. The voices that say your story is too messy. The ones that say you can't have anything to offer. The ones that tell you that God doesn't use people like you. People like you who took a path He told you not to. People like you who've walked through the valley of the shadow a bit too much. People like you whose stories aren't all tied up neatly with a bow just yet.

I know what it is when the pain and heartbreak and loss and frustration and failure changes  into something worse. I know what it feels like when it becomes worthlessness and purposelessness. I know what it is to feel like a constant burden. When you feel that you are more a problem than a blessing. I see you. I know you.

My dear friend, God says differently.

God says he loves you. He says you are beautiful. He says he knit you together in your mother's womb. He says he has already laid out good works for you to do. He says you aren't worthless.

And he's always right.

And He knew you'd be here and He knew you'd feel this way and He laid out a ton of stories in the Bible to show you just how NOT worthless you are. He gave you example after example of how he used broken and hurting and sinful people to complete His work. He chose people that were poor, prostitutes, adulterers, weak, doubters, selfish, and imprisoned. And he used them. He didn't pick the people that could take the best picture of their Bible or who had the nicest houses or the people who were the best at public speaking. HIS POWER IS MADE PERFECT IN OUR WEAKNESS.

Friend, don't ignore what God will do through your brokenness if you let Him. Because it's gonna be amazing. HE has not forgotten you. He has not forgotten the plans for you. He won't quit on you because you got divorced or because you're in a miserable marriage or because you can't have kids or because you have too many or because you can't hold a job or because you've been abused or because you don't fit in at church or because the money is all gone. His mighty plans for you can't be stopped so easily. I promise... you aren't too messy for Him.

Change your overwhelmedness

in

It has been quite a season here in the Thayer home. It's been a good season but a trying one nonetheless. Through the fall and winter, we've gone through the process of listing our house, selling it, and buying another house. It's a tall order while parenting four young kids! And we're finally here. In the homestretch. It's moving week. The box truck comes home tonight and we spend the next two evenings finishing up our packing and loading the truck and we move on Thursday. It's the week we've been waiting for and we're so excited and thankful. But friends, I'm overwhelmed. The list in my head is going something like this... you have to make lunch but wait first you need to do dishes gosh why didn't i pack the cups yet i need to pack the cups and silverware still i need to assemble another box okay now i really need to start laundry and start packing a suitcase for the kids to go to grandmas oh crud lucy drew on the wall again wheres that magic eraser oh no i totally forgot about that closet should i really throw this away what time is the cable company coming where are we going to put all the food from the fridge for 36 hours when should i go drop off that trunkload of donation items what are we going to have for dinner?

It's not my favorite mode to live in.

I texted Eric today as asked him to bring home Taco Bell for dinner. Again. (We'll stop grabbing fast food AFTER we move. For real. We really will.) And I told him I was overwhelmed and there is so much left to do and pack. He sent me this link and said, "Watch this. Change your overwhelmedness." Change your overwhelmedness. Overwhelmed is a pretty big word. It means to bury or drown beneath a huge mass. It's pretty much how I've been feeling yesterday and today but I listened to that song. And I was overwhelmed. I actually took my moment to be buried in God's great love. I let myself drown in his grace. For a moment I just sat and allowed myself to be quiet with him and reflect on his love and grace for me. And I was overwhelmed. It's hard to be drowning in these short lived fears and anxieties when you are drowning in His eternal love.

God talks a lot about what we look at. He tells us to "behold" him and what he has done. He tells us to turn our eyes on him and when we do something happens. We're overwhelmed in a different sea and it's a sea that gives us life, not destruction. God tells us to cast our anxieties on him because he cares for us and as I spent those moments with him, it was so easy to hurl those cares on him. It was easier to toss them when I was focused on HIM. In Philippians we read, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."

Now, I'm not about to think that my stress about moving compares to what you're going through. Maybe you're in the midst of losing a home or important relationship. Maybe your marriage is falling apart. Or your career. Maybe your health is deteriorating or the car repairs are more than you will earn in the next two weeks. Maybe right now motherhood feels like running a marathon with bricks tied around your ankles. But, dear friend, I promise that the greatness of God's love and grace is bigger. I PROMISE. I promise that his perfect peace is available to you and it will BLOW YOUR MIND. I mean, after all, it transcends all understanding. Just look at him. Look at him and who he is. He is not disappointing. Lift up your eyes, friend.

Psalm 121

1 I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
    where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
    the Maker of heaven and earth.

3 He will not let your foot slip—
    he who watches over you will not slumber;
4 indeed, he who watches over Israel
    will neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The Lord watches over you—
    the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
6 the sun will not harm you by day,
    nor the moon by night.

7 The Lord will keep you from all harm—
    he will watch over your life;
8 the Lord will watch over your coming and going
    both now and forevermore.

Guest Post and a Giveaway

in ,

So. I homeschool. I homeschool four very young children. In an 1100 square foot house. Just take a minute to picture that, okay? I’m gonna tell you something. There isn’t much that humbles you quite like homeschooling does. I love what I do. I love it with all my heart. I’ve grown more by homeschooling than I could have ever grown any other way I think. It’s pretty rad. But. I homeschool four very young children in an 1100 square foot house...

I'm guest blogging over at Let Love Invade and I've teamed up with Amber for a really fun giveaway for you! Head over to her blog to read the rest of this post and learn how you can win!!

http://letloveinvade.com/meet-him-in-your-mess-guest-post/

Love ya, friends!

 

A Week of Healthy Meals

in

Full disclosure: Organization is not something that comes easy for me. That being said, God redeems everything so I figure he can redeem that quality about me as well. I won't be a disorganized mess anymore in the name of Jesus! Amen! Recently my husband started a new job which we're SO thankful for and SO excited about but it's a BIG change from the 7:30-4:30 Monday through Friday schedule we've been used to. He's a full time college student as well so now he's balancing about 65 hours a week at work and full time school and ministry at church. Thankfully he really enjoys his job so he's a happier person in general but for me, it's changed how I have to do things a bit. I definitely feel the pressure to be more "homemaker" which, I've gotta be honest, is NOT what I always dreamed about as a little girl. I definitely thought more about writing scholarly essays than doing laundry but our plans are not God's plans and thank the Lord for that! That life wouldn't have given me what I needed. Anyway, the 'moming' and 'wifeing' stuff are both fun and challenging to me and I love it but the "homemaking" part is a struggle. I just want an Alice. You know, from Brady Bunch. A cheerful, smiling, mom figure that mentors my kids, does my laundry, and makes dinner. Dude. She even went on family vacations with them. But since I don't have an Alice and Eric can't really help at all anymore, I figured I'd better get my act together.

So this is week one of meal planning. We do eat relatively healthy so you can expect EASY and healthy dinners. I don't really use recipes so I'll either link to a recipe or just type what I do. Maybe some ambitious day I'll come back to this blog and add pictures (but probably not.) Either way, hopefully this will help you out a little! And be sure to comment with your favorite easy, healthy meal ideas. I LOVE suggestions!

  • Dinner 1: Tikka Masala
    • Ingredients:
      • Coconut Oil
      • Chicken
      • Tikka Masala sauce (found mine at Aldi)
      • Peppers
      • I added broccoli because it was in the fridge
      • Rice
    • How to do it:
      • Put oil in a pan and pan fry chicken until cooked. Once cooked, add peppers and tikka masala sauce and simmer about 15 minutes. Serve over rice.
    • Review:
      • This one was a HUGE hit with all of us. So incredibly easy and very tasty.
  • Dinner 2: Nicole's Italian Soup (isn't that an original name?)
    • Ingredients:
      • Olive Oil
      • Butter
      • Onion
      • Garlic
      • Sausage (if you're trying to keep it healthy, even just a quarter of a roll of sausage will give a substantial amount of flavor)
      • Kale
      • Golden Potatoes
      • Diced Tomatoes
      • Cannellini Beans
      • Freshly grated Parmesan for topping
    • How to do it:
      • Heat olive oil in large pot on stove. Add chopped onion until tender. Remember to add a pinch of salt and pepper after you add each ingredient. Add garlic and sausage until sausage is browned. Add LOTS of kale (remove ribs.) The kale cooks down a lot so I put tons in. Once kale is tender, add water and/or chicken stock to cover and chunked golden potatoes. About 10 minutes later, add diced tomatoes and cannellini beans. At this point, I add butter for silkiness and check the seasonings.
    • Review:
      • This is always a hit at our house. We like to top with fresh parmesan if we have it and my kids will often have three or four bowls. It never disappoints!
  • Dinner 3: Southwest Chicken Salads
    • Ingredients: (Don't ignore it because of all the ingredients. You probably have most of them or could skip some you don't have.)
      • Garlic
      • Olive Oil
      • Fresh Cilantro
      • Crushed Red Pepper
      • Salt and Pepper
      • Chicken
      • Corn (Thawed, if frozen)
      • Bell Peppers
      • Onion
      • Lettuce
      • Black Beans
      • Fresh corn
      • Sour Cream (or Plain Greek Yogurt if you want it healthier)
      • Shredded Cheese 
      • Salsa
      • Hot Sauce (to taste)
    • How to do it:
      • Combine the first five ingredients in a food processor until well processed.
      • Pour mixture with chicken to marinate. (Can be done ahead of time and even frozen like that if desired)
      • Grill chicken.
      • Make salad with lettuce, sauteed peppers and onions, black beans, corn, salsa, sour cream, cheese, and chicken. 
    • Review:
      • We love this salad. It's a hit and really hearty!
  • Dinner #4: Baked Sweet Potatoes
    • Ingredients:
      • Sweet Potatoes
      • Sour Cream or Plain Greek Yogurt
      • Ground Beef
      • Chives
      • Shredded Cheese
      • Butter
      • Hot Sauce to taste
    • How to do it:
      • This one's SO easy! Bake the sweet potatoes and top with whatever you want!
    • Review:
      • Tasty and so simple. If you want this to be the easiest ever, precook the meat and freeze it so you just have to thaw it out for dinner.
  • Dinner #5: CrockPot Roast
    • Ingredients:
      • Beef Roast
      • Golden Potatoes
      • Onion
      • Carrots
      • Olive Oil
      • Butter
    • How to do it:
      • Put thawed roast in crock pot with sliced onions, cut potatoes, and cut and peeled carrots. Drizzle with olive oil and add a dab of butter for flavor. Season with salt and pepper. Cook on high for about 4 hours depending on size of roast.
    • Review:
      • A total hit every time. My kids LOVE how tender the meat is and the flavor is outstanding. Can't go wrong! This week I also set aside some of the meat to top a roast beef salad or two for my husband for work.

Well I hope I gave you some great ideas. Like I said, EASY is key here. Also, I'm thinking about getting an InstaPot. Does anyone have any experience? I'd love if you'd share your favorite EASY (and somewhat healthy) recipes in the comments!