South of the Border Hashbrown Bake

This recipe can be found on the All Whites website.
I find all kinds of tasty things that I want to make when I am looking through Runner's World magazines!  This casserole was on a page advertising All Whites egg whites.  I used it for breakfast sometimes and for snacks and even sides for dinners.  It has egg whites, potatoes, beans, corn, cheese, and peppers, topped with cilantro.  I added some chopped jalapenos and black pepper also to give it a little more kick.  Next time I think it needs some onion, too.  Any recipe can be altered to what you are liking!

Who doesn't love a cookout style dinner?

I had been looking forward to these burgers all week!  (in the background is my casserole I will share about in another post)  Burgers are a great way to fuel up on some protein and can also be made even more satisfying with the toppings added.  This burger I fixed the other night was one of the best I have ever had!  It is on a wheat bun with spinach, mustard, black pepper, goat cheese, tomato, pickle, onion, and roasted red pepper hummus.  I couldn't have chosen a more tasty combination!

Powerful Recovery Pancakes

Pancakes are one of my absolute favorite foods to make for after I run, especially during the summer when I have more time after our morning practices.  They are easy to make and can be dressed up any way to fit your taste bud or energy needs.  This morning I was in need of some extra fat and protein, so I decided to add some peanut butter.  Here are the ingredients I used: (I blended them to make the batter smoother) -Planters cinnamon raisin granola nut peanut butter
-peanuts
-raisins
-a banana
-oatmeal
-whole wheat pancake mix
Once they were done cooking, I sprinkled cinnamon on top, spread blackberry preserves on some, and drizzled honey.  Pancakes like this are great for those long, tough days to keep you going!
As this is one of my favorite healthy foods to make, I'll share more creations in the future!

Great Recovery Meal/Snack

I come home from team cross country camp every year with new food ideas I want to have again.  This is a great source of grains, protein, and some fruit.  First I scrambled two slices of wheat bread in egg whites for French toast.  Then I topped it with almond butter, banana slices, cinnamon, and honey.  Last, I stacked it into a sandwich!  This has become one of my new favorites! 

Buckeye Cupcake From Friends

I would like to post this today to give two of my best friends Chantal and Cherie some props!  They always home-make the best and most decorative cupcakes and are so willing to share!  I must say, I have never had such yummy cupcakes.  We have always joked about them opening a cupcake store one day (and me having the food part of the restaurant), but I really think that anyone would love to have them make some desserts for any occasion!  The one they gave me today (pictured above) is a white cake with a buckeye in the center filling, topped with a little chocolate peanut butter ganache and then frosting. 

True Team

“I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.  And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”  Ephesians 3:16-19

This is what I love about my team.  We focus on putting Christ at the center, even when others oppose that.  We know that it makes an impact in the world when people see young athletes putting their faith before their performance.  This picture was taken last Saturday as we got ready to pray around the entire team for safety of our trip to camp in the mountains of Gatlinburg.  The main purpose of this camp is, yes running, but growing as a team.  We spent literally all hours of the days and nights together.  Each morning and some days more often, we did Bible studies together.  We discussed during activities how we want to incorporate Christ into our team.  Finding a group of girls like this is one of the biggest blessings I have ever received.  It is so important to have a close group that you can work together with to learn and encourage others with.  I ask that anyone who reads this, please pray for our team this season, as many people here believe that God is already working to do mighty things this year!  Please pray that we stay focused on His purposes and joyful through all the victories and defeats we may face, and that we show His love through all and to all.

Team Verse

This is the verse that my team puts on our tshirts and some of our gear. Hebrews 12:1-2 "Since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith..."

It is hard in this life when people discourage us and things go wrong. We just have to put that aside and run the lifelong race for Jesus because unlike and cross country race we participate in, running the race for Jesus will always have a lasting reward. 

Hebrews 11-The Faith Chapter

I have been doing a lot of Bible study through different books on my own lately, and right now I am on Hebrews.

Hebrews 11:1 starts out the chapter with a definition of faith: "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."  Then later on, verse 6 says, "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him."
This really meant a lot to me right now because with friends, family, and at church we have all been talking about how we feel that God is going to do something really big soon.  He has really been working in my life personally lately, which can be a little scary.  But as a Christian, I have to have faith.  I have hope in Christ that He has a beautiful plan for my life and will give me the reward of eternal life when I go to meet Him one day.  Although I have no idea what is ahead in my life, I can be certain that it will "work together for the good of those who love Him."   Romans 8:28

This 11th chapter of Hebrews is often called the Faith Chapter because it gives so many examples of people who acted "By faith..."  However, these characters did not always receive a reward on earth, but they knew that by living for God, they had an eternal crown waiting on them in heaven, that is better than anything we could ever receive on earth.  The chapter ends by saying, "God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect."  Verse 40.  We may not get things easy while we are on earth, but once in heaven, God may look at us and say, "Well done My good and faithful servant."  Matthew 25:21  No matter what happens in life here on earth, we will never lose what God has promised.
 

Quick Snack

Balance Bar protein bars are very tasty snacks with 13 grams of protein, gluten free, and use 40-30-30% carbs, protein, fat ratio for lasting energy. This new kind I tried today also uses rainforest alliance certified cocoa! 

Mental before Physical

This morning was our first summer practice with Coach Farmer, and I was excited.  We did a 10k run we call "in-park" that has some treacherous hills.  It is a road run that goes through the campground, up to the top of the drive-around called "the heart" for its shape of grass (this is the hill that kills most people because it is so steep, long, and curvy), and to the boat ramp and back.  I enjoy this run, as it is a great challenge.

We started out running whatever decent pace we wanted, but not killing it.  I started with a two of my best running friends who are twins at a good pace with the top two guys.  I had run many times with all 4 of them, so this was a good start!  The girls started struggling, so going up the hill I went ahead with the 2 guys.  I could hear them breathing so hard from the top.  I asked the coach if I should go back to them, but he said he wasn't taking a time so it was up to me.  I went back to where they were, but still gained on them later.  After going back again, I went ahead on my own to finish.

This decision not to push with the guys was a decision that I made to help me mentally more than anything.  One of those two guys had really been making me mad, and had made some very rude comments that tempted me to respond with something ugly.  So I let them go ahead, but with doubling back a couple times, I still got a mildly fast pace done.  Even though most of the comments I had were reserved in my mind, that is still sinning because God hears it whether I say it to the other person or not.  After I got him far enough out of my sight, I felt much better inside and could carry on with less of a burden on my heart.  I didn't get as fast of a time as I could have, but right now that does not matter a bit.  Even if it had mattered, doing the godly thing is more important than my performance.

1 Timothy 4:8 says, "While physical training is of some value, godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come."  Lately, I really need to work on my attitude.  Even if I don't say something ugly, I may still think it.  That makes me feel bad on the inside, too, because my conscience knows it is wrong to do so.  Although my running performance is important to me, it means nothing without God's perspective.  By winning His prize of eternal life, I will have all the rewards I need.

Blackberry Sundae

My First Post

I've heard of a couple of my friends blogging, but I didn't really know what it was.  Now I have looked at a few things that interest me, and it is pretty neat!  Like a scrapbook online for all to see!  I have also been looking for more ways to share my faith and encourage others in their walk with Christ.  I have crazy ideas for lots of things like food and fun, too, and I want people to see good ways to have a lot of fun in today's world!

I named my blog From Faith to Footsteps because I am a runner.  My faith has grown so much as I have become a more dedicated athlete, as my athletics have changed focus with my faith.  Both my faith and my running have matured and shaped my life.  There is so much I have learned and ways to relate every step we take in all aspects of life to our footsteps in our relationship with God.  Sometimes it is difficult to keep focus on where God wants me to go, and difficult things happen in life.  But no matter where He leads, something beautiful will happen in the end!

I am also a big food and outdoorsy person, so you'll probably see all kinds of creative foods and activities, too!  My relationship with Christ, running, fun times, school, and food are all very important to me and just living in general, so I hope I can be a light into the world!

"Let your light shine before men so that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."  Matthew 5:16