Calamity J

2012-02-10T16:27:00.001-06:00

Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is the time for home. ~Edith Sitwell

I am counting down the minutes to the weekend. I am excited to be home, watch movies, make dessert for a special lady's birthday, work out, read my Bible, clean the house and get in some good R and R with my Hubs.

As you know, I am not a fan of winter, but sometimes it is nice to just give in and stay home. I have already begun to daydream about my garden. I can't wait to be planting flowers, picking fresh herbs and talking to the butterflies as they flit by. But for now, I will embrace winter's blessings and bundle up by the fire.

Have a lovely, warm weekend!

Singing for Joy

2012-02-07T16:28:00.000-06:00

{Pinterest}

My heart craves joy and peace. And these winter months make me crave it even more with the cold temps and cloudy skies. Thankfully, this winter has been kind. I love sunshine, so during these dark months, I strive to find the light in the darkness.

One positive I have found is that the winter allows for quiet hearts and self-reflection. God has been searching my heart this new year, and revealing to me His truth, love and even joy that I can find in Him. There is much sadness in our world, and you will easily find it if you should turn on the TV. But, God has created a desire for me to find joy in His word. And joy I have found. He knows me so well and provides me with all that I need.

Joy. I know I said it already, but I crave it. And not only have I found it in His word - I am reading through the whole Bible. It is one of my New Year's resolutions - but I am finding joy in the dark months of life. One wouldn't think they would find joy in the story of Adam and Eve, but there is! God has given me new eyes, and I feel like I am reading and hearing the story for the first time. I guess it could be because He is teaching me about Grace and there is so much joy to be found in that.

Grace. I crave and desperately am in need of Grace.

I've also found joy in two little girls getting adopted by a lovely family. Both little sweeties just celebrated their birthdays and express so much joy in the video their parents made for them.

There is joy in a baby's smile...

And I find that there is even joy in the changing of a baby's diaper.

What a lesson about humility for both parties.

Conversations that bring about repentance and forgiveness; bedtime prayers with my husband; letters of encouragement to friends in need; songs of worship; cooking dinner for loved ones; and the sharing of laughter with friends all reveal joy. Grace upon grace.

I am thankful for the grace that has been given to me during these winter months. The darkness has given me time to dwell in the light of savior. And I have tasted such sweet joy, love and grace.

{pinterest}

I hope you find joy, grace, faith, hope, and the greatest of these, love during these winter months.

"My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips, when I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night; for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for JOY." ~ Psalsms 63:5-7

January Photo Challenge

2012-02-01T09:43:00.000-06:00

One of my New Year's Resoloutions was to live more intentionally in all realms of my life - relationships, finances, faith, art, work, etc. I thought doing a photo challenge might hold me accountable and be fun along the way. And I was right. It has been fun AND challenging. When I look back at the photos, I can remember that day clearly. January was a actually a pretty fun month, and that's saying a lot coming from me who typically loathes January. But the photo challenge has helped me to enjoy and appreciate the little things in life more, look for excitement and creativity in all things, and realize how incredibly blessed I am.

Good bye January 2012. It was nice to meet you.

And now, I'm excited to discover the challenges that February will bring!

What's not to love?

2012-01-30T15:59:00.000-06:00

The Hubs and I love to embrace our roots, specifically our Irish roots. Even non-Irish folk love to say there Irish especially on St. Patty's Day. But, we took it to the extent of visiting the motherland, and getting engaged on the Cliffs of Moher. You might remember this little beauty.

Yea, that really happened, and it was awesome.

Our love for Ireland brings me to my Hubs' birthday cake, which I created thanks to the help of Smitten Kitchen. The recipe is originally for cupcakes, but I tweaked here it and there to make the Hubs the the most awesomely delicious birthday cake EVA!

The cupcakes are awesome too, but the ganache melts into the cake and it is truly to die for.

Guinness Chocolate Cake with Jameson Whiskey Ganache and Bailey's Irish Cream Frosting

So I made everything the same. Yup, didn't change a thing when it came to the ingredients. It was perfect exactly the way it is. But I did change the way I cooked the cake.

I greased 2 cake pans (cake pans for 2-layer cakes - don't know the exact size) and evenly poured the batter into the cake pans. Then, I cooked the cakes for 40 minutes. Next, I spread the ganache in between layers after letting the cakes cool for 30 minutes. Once the ganache was on the bottom layer, I added the top layer and started spreading on the icing. We immediately cut the cake, ate a piece or four and passed out on the couch. It was the best sweetest thing I've ever eaten.

So go make it. Like now. You won't regret it. And you're welcome.

If it ain't one, then it's the other

2012-01-11T16:54:00.000-06:00

Well, I'm sick. Not by far what the Hubs had, but I am sick enough to be annoyed by it. I've got a sore throat, headache, and restless legs = sleeplessness. However, I did go to bed at 7 p.m. last night and woke up at 7 a.m. the next day. It was good, but not full sleep. I kept waking up periodically through the night, but was still dreaming while awake. I think the Hubs was annoyed by it because it resulted in me getting up a lot and kicking my legs around. Hopefully, tonight will be a better night's rest, but at least I got some rest out of last night's sleep marathon.

I had a request (YAY!) for my chicken noodle soup recipe, but to be honest, I stole it from the Reames bag and barely tweaked it.

Reames Classic Chicken Noodle Soup
With minor tweaks by me to make it extra fatty for my poor dehydrated Hubs.

1 pkg. (24 oz.) Reames Homestyle Egg Noodles
Rotisserie chicken - removed skin, bones and shredded with a fork.
2 cups carrots, chopped
1 cup celery, chopped
2 cups onion, chopped
3 T. olive oil
2 tsp. dried parsley flakes
2 tsp. dried thyme
1/2 tsp. pepper
8 cups water
8 tsp. chicken bouillon granules
2 bay leaves
1 can of cream of chicken soup
Milk
1/2 cup flour

Preparation:

In a large pot, add olive oil, carrots, celery and onion and cook till tender - about 3 minutes.
Meanwhile, boil 8 cups water and then add 8 tsp. of chicken bouillon granules and mix together. (I didn't have any chicken stock on hand, so I made it with what I had :))
Add parsley, thyme and pepper, stir and cook for one more minute.
Add the chicken broth, shredded rotisserie chicken and bay leaves to the pot and bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
Add noodles, cream of chicken soup and 1 cream of chicken soup can filled with milk, and return to a boil.
Reduce heat and cover; simmer 20 to 30 minutes or until done.
Meanwhile, mix together 1 cup of milk and flour and stir together till smooth. Add to noodle mixture.
Continue cooking over medium heat until thickened and heated through.

And tada! YUMMY Chicken Noodle Soup :) We were done eating it this weekend, so I froze it, per my mother's instructions, in freezer bags. May have to bust some out tonight!

I am sorry for being so awkward today

2012-01-09T13:42:00.000-06:00

Today, I have learned that sleep deprivation results in awkwardness.

It began when I decided to roll out of bed at 7:20 a.m. (leaving me with 20 minutes to get dressed, clean and ready for the day), and thought not washing my hair after having slept on it wet was a good idea. I threw my hair into a braid and tossed on a headband, and thought, "I'm going for bohemian." Not a good idea. I also thought not wearing makeup today was ok. Seriously? Am I just trying to look ugly today? Apparently.

Then, it was off to work where I awkwardly talked to someone in the bathroom

(Note: I hate talking to people in the bathroom, especially when you are doing your thing in there. Just get in and get out, and then we can talk if you still want to talk.).

Next, I found myself in the lunch room heating up my meal, when someone I didn't know introduced himself to me, and I said, "I thought you look familiar." What? I don't know you. Then, I proceeded to stutter and say, "What I meant to say was I thought I didn't recognize you." Nice recovery. Hmm.

Then, I did a few awkward bump into you "dances" with the same person. Third time, I just stopped and put my head down. Go around me and just avoid me for the rest of the day.

I'm sure there will be more "situations" since I have a 2 hour meeting to end the day.

And on that note, I need a haircut.

Like I said, I'm awkward, random and pretty much anything that makes you feel uncomfortable today.

That's me.

I need sleep.

We've got germs, folks

2012-01-06T15:56:00.001-06:00

We are sick around here folks. Sick I tell ya! Well, I'm not sick yet, but the Hubs is sick, poor guy. He is never sick and he is all about sucking it up and going to work despite sickness. But on Wednesday night, the flu got the best of him, and he actually asked me to stay home and take care of him - new stage in our relationship. I have never taken care of a sick person before (besides myself), and I was bound and determine to nurse and bring him back to good health. I made homemade chicken noodle soup (a very fatty, but delicious kind), bought 2 things of Pedialyte, Gatorade and Tylenol, changed the sheets and cleaned up after him. Unfortunately, his stomach was only in the mood for Pedialyte, water and Gatorade. Fortunately, he is on the mend, and now let's just pray that I don't get sick because it didn't look like fun.

On a different note, here is my menu for the week. I'm going to let the Hubs finish off the chicken noodles. Can you freeze chicken noodles? I made a lot.

Friday: Leftovers

Saturday: Coconut Chicken Salad with Warm Honey Mustard Vinaigrette

Sunday: Carne Asada Taco with Avocado Pico de Gallo and Rice

Monday: Smoky Roasted Chicken Corn Chowder

Tuesday: Leftovers

Wednesday: Maple-Thyme Pork Chops and brussels sprouts

Thursday: Leftovers

The holidays

2012-01-04T14:32:00.000-06:00

{Me, the Hubs and my Sister-in-Love on Christmas Eve}

I am still recovering from the holidays. What a whirlwind of fun and cheer that was! It was my first Christmas away from my parents, and I have to say it was a success! No tears. Yay, I'm a big girl! haha. How old am I again? Oh that's right. I'm 28 years old.

I worked all the way up to Friday evening, and was ready to hit the road when I got home. Once we arrived at the in-loves' house, we didn't meander too much because there was a lot to do the next day for Christmas Eve. My mother-in-love and I woke up (not so bright and early) to go get our fitness on at the gym, and then we headed home to start cooking. The hubs and I made a quick trip to Red X, an interesting little grocery store that has anything and everything you could want and not want, for some vino and brussels sprouts. Then it was back to the house where I made roasted brussels sprouts and holiday brie en croute. It was my first time making the brie and it was delicious!

{via puffpastry.com}

My mother-in-love is Italiano and makes some amazing and delicious food for the holidays. She made two types of pasta sauce (puttanesca and a meat sauce with chicken and meatballs), yummy pasta noodles, tons of olives and cheese...oh the cheese. Best Christmas Eve meal I've ever had. And she did all the work. I tell ya, the lady is awesome and has mad skills when it comes to pasta sauce.

After dinner, we opened a few presents, drank some wine and played a White Elephant game. Then it was off to bed so we could wake up at noon to unwrap presents on Christmas Day! I think that was the first time I slept in on Christmas morning and it was glorious! I got a Swiffer Sweeper, some yummy fuzzy socks with aloe in them, fleece pajamas, scarves, candles, a sweater and a jacket! I am spoiled rotten, I tell ya.

We stayed in Kansas City for two more days, and then it was back home where I got to enjoy two more days off work.

On New Year's Eve, the Hubs and I were recovering from a cold so we decided to start the year low key and stay at home. I went out and bought some white tuna, salmon and sashimi tuna so we could make our own sushi from home. I also purchased avocado, cream cheese, cucumbers, jalapenos and mango to add to the sushi. It was so good and we had a lot of fun making it together.

Our ingredients.

My sous chef hard at work slicin' and dicin'.

The final product was delish!

After sushi, we played some Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3, where I kicked major booty, and finished the evening watching Ryan Seacrest wear way too much bronzer and Lady Gaga dress as a human whisk. What a way to end 2011 and ring in 2012 :)

Don we now our gay apparel

2011-12-23T08:49:00.000-06:00

I love scarves. I practically wear one every day in the fall/winter. So, when I found this tutorial, I got really psyched: 25 ways to wear a scarf in 4.5 minutes. Oh what fun!

5 days left

2011-12-20T15:32:00.000-06:00

The holidays are quickly approaching.

Are you ready?

I'm all done with everything. Bragger, I know. I'm actually adding things to my to do list just because I don't want to be done yet.

Yep, I'm crazy like that.

How are you spending your last 5 days before Christmas?

Hopefully, not stressed. Just remember the reason for the season, curl up on the couch with a loved one and cup of hot cocoa, pop in your favorite Christmas movie (Elf) and all will be well.

I promise.

Merry almost Christmas!

Fast away the old year passes

2011-12-08T13:34:00.001-06:00

{sparkle}

Big breath in...sigh.

December is quickly flying by and I'm trying to soak up every bit of the month, holiday and cheer.

Acting embarrassed, but let's be honest.

As you know, my birthday was last week and I got the BEST present! I met up with some amazing women, ate tacos and drank margaritas, had happy birthday sung to me by the local Mexican restaraunt employees (who then pied me in the face...yes, true story) and then went to a girlfriend's house to watch Christmas movies where I was surprised by my husband!

IS THAT NOT THE BEST DAY EVER!?

{pie in the face}

The hubs drove a car from Ft. Collins, Co., to Denver where he hopped on a plane to fly to Kansas City, Mo., and then got back in his car to drive home to surprise me. What an amazing man I am married to. Seriously, I'm one blessed gal, this I know.

I love December because I get to kick the month off with my birthday and then relish in the cheer and joy of the season for the rest of the month.

One of my favorite things to do is watch Christmas movies. It drives the hubs mad. He'll be at a meeting tonight so I'm going to watch Home Alone in my pjs in my bed with a cup of hot coco. I'm a Christmas freak, I tell ya.

{It's a Wonderful Life}

My fourth favorite Christmas movie, after Elf, The Santa Clause and Home Alone, is It's a Wonderful Life. The hubs hates it. Says it makes him depressed. My mother-in-love agrees with him. Crazy. It's suppose to do the exact opposite. Make you appreciate life, your loved ones and all that we are blessed with. I told them this, but they made me turn it off. At least my father-in-love likes it. Apparently, he cries like a baby when its on. I can't wait to cry with him this Christmas :)

Today is my birthday

2011-12-02T10:43:00.000-06:00

{pinterest}

And while it is an insignificant one (28 years old), I feel more blessed and loved this birthday than any others I can remember. Yes, last year's birthday was AWESOME with my Hubs and mom surprising me with a trip to Chicago to see Wicked - truly an amazing blessing and gift. But as I get older, I realize its not about the gifts or the facebook messages. It's about love and friendship.

I'm sure its all in my perspective. God has really been doing a lot with my heart this year. And this birthday, I feel so much gratitude and humility for all the love I have been given and shown. In the past, I took it all for granted and just expected it or felt entitled to it all. But this year, I've realized how much it all really is a gift. This birthday, my dear friends have blessed me with the gift of time. My hubs is away on my birthday doing med school stuff, so I would be spending my birthday alone. But I asked my girlfriends if they'd spend the evening with me at a Mexican restaurant eating tacos and drinking margaritas. And I am truly blessed by all those who are giving up their friday evening to spend it with me. In the past, I would have been ok and happy spending it alone - watching movies alone, cuddling up on the couch alone, eating pasta alone, drinking wine alone. But God has made me aware that he did not create me to be alone. That life is about fellowship and community. And that is the best gift a girl could receive on her 28th birthday. Friendship.

Happy December

2011-12-01T17:10:00.000-06:00

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"When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy."

Matthew 2:10

Overstuffed with daily bread

2011-11-29T11:58:00.000-06:00

{pinterest}

I am horrible at keeping up on things, and so I didn't post all the things I was thankful for like I had planned on doing at the beginning of November. But I have just so many things to be thankful for that I figured I'd list them out in one post and maybe, just maybe, that could make up for it.

In addition to all the others I have listed, here are a few more things I'm thankful for:

1. Old friends - They know your dirt and still love you.

2. New friends - They are learning dirt and lovingly help you grow.

3. My job - puts a roof over my head, food on the table and clothes on my back.

4. My home - a safe haven of love and creativity.

5. Cooking skills and food - Thank God for blessing me with cooking skills because I seriously can whip up some tasty and healthy food.

6. My boss - She is patient and easy going.

7. Wine - I really am thankful for it. Wine warms the heart and reddens the nose.

8. Laughter - It cures a multitude of ills.

9. Forgiveness - I'd be lost without it.

10. Love - most important of all and most thankful for.

And this is how we spent our Thanksgiving - snuggling and reflecting on all that we have to be thankful for. Every good and perfect gift is from above.

“[Thanksgiving] I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. For in him you have been enriched in every way—with all kinds of speech and with all knowledge—”

~ 1 Corinthians 1:4-5

Thankful for my Bestie

2011-11-15T17:09:00.000-06:00

I have been extremely blessed by the friendship of my bestie and "soulmate...of friends," Janellie.

So today, I'm thankful for:

Miss Janelle.

Miss Janelle is one of those friends that is more like family. A sister from another mother, if you will. She is also a mentor, confidant, adviser, personal comedian, life coach, etcetera, etcetera.

We are one and the same. Well, that's not true, when you get her going she sounds a lot more like Eddie Murphy than me, but boy, is it glorious when she does. Ya see, if my writing changes when I start talking about this girl. I start using words like "glorious" and "etcetera, etcetera." She brings out the ridiculous, the real, and the best in me.

We found each other at a very low point in our lives, both needing love, acceptance and strength. It is my personal belief that God placed her in my life for that purpose, which she continues to serve. She is another strong woman I dearly love. On a public level, her strength roars, and she is a beauty to behold. But in the quiet, raw moments, her strength really shines. She is one of God's really awesome blessings that I just know He must be so proud of. I'm sure that when He looks at her, He thinks "Dang, I did good on that one. Some of my best work."

This woman is a lot of things to me, but most of all, she is a blessing from God.

I love you, J.

Cousin Love

2011-11-11T15:55:00.002-06:00

I love all my cousins dearly, but this little lady is not only one of my best friends, but she is also delivering her third child today. So, today I'm thankful for:

Cousin.

Cousin {as we affectionately call one another} was my first best friend I ever had, and we have been best friends ever since. From building forts (and locking her in them along with my other cousins) to picnics to inappropriate mullet haircuts to weddings, we have been there for one another.

While I say this about pretty much all the women in my life, Cousin truly is one of the strongest women I know. She is a wonderful Cousin, wife, mother and Christian. She is extremely patient, forgiving, loving, wise, trustworthy and compassionate towards her family and others. She is a wonderful example to me of a wife and mother. I can only hope to be as patient and loving of a mother as she is one day. AND, she is funny to boot. Love this girl and her growing family that will become a family of 5 today!

The "Cousin" pose.

The In-Loves

2011-11-10T17:08:00.000-06:00

In-Loves = Double the love, my friends. Unless they're scary in-loves and then its not so lovely. Fortunately, the Lord has my back and blessed me with a fabulous mother and father-in-loves.

So today, I'm very VERY thankful for:

My In-Loves.

Where to begin with how thankful I am for these two folks? They are two of the best parents I know, next to my parents of course ;) HA! But they are extremely loving, supportive and strong for their family. They have created two of the strongest and kindest people I know, The Hubs and Abbs. I write like a dork, but I'm serious. I often ask them how they created such strong, independent (and stubborn) children, and they say "Oh ya know." But I think it was all by example. My father-in-love has a huge heart and would literally give the shirt off his back if I asked for it. And my mother-in-love is, well, a stud. She is extremely kind, hilarious, loving, giving and doesn't care what others think. She is a strong woman and fierce with love.

If I ever need directions, I call the FIL. I know he'll always answer his phone and he'll always get on it right away. And if I get a text, it most likely is from MIL with some ridiculous photo or text that just makes me laugh and smile. They get me, and I get them. It works.

When I look at the both of them, I see strength. I'm not going to go into detail, except to say that they could have really failed at being parents and it would be understandable. But they rose above it by the skin of their teeth and put their family first. They are fighters, and I like that about them. I know that I have a lot to learn and take away from their example when I'm a mom, and I am so thankful that I have them to look up to.

Love you In-Loves!

Abbi-dabbi-doo

2011-11-09T17:09:00.000-06:00

I never had a sister, but always wanted one. And I finally got one the day I got married.

Today, I am thankful for:

Miss Abbs.

I am very thankful and proud to call Abbi my sister-in-love. Not only because she is my sister-in-love, but because she is a wonderful example of strength, perseverance and love to me.

Abbi is my Hub's little sister, and she is the epitome of "kid sister" in the most positive, loving way. She adores, supports and loves her brother. She looks up to and respects him, and is his biggest fan, supporter and will beat you down if you do anything to hurt or upset him. Not that I know from personal experience, but you just get the hint by her actions and words towards him. Ain't nobody gonna mess around with him when she's around. And now that I'm in the family, she'll take you down if you mess with me too. And vice versa. I mean, fo realz. Just look at this picture of us. You're scared aren't you?

This girl got some serious strength and heart. When she is passionate about something, she goes for it with all her might. She loves and pursues life with abandonment. And while she acts all tough and whatnot, she has one of the biggest hearts I know. She isn't afraid of or judgmental of anyone. She embraces others with love and her sweet laughter. I've seen it first hand, and I am humbled by her spirit.

She is hand-picked by God to be my sister-in-love. She has shown me much love, grace, strength and forgiveness, and I know that she only has more to show and give.

I love you, Miss Abbs. And while I know you are feeling awkward reading this (because she claims to "hate mushy stuff), I want you to know, it's all true. You are strong. You are kind. And you are important :)

And I love you.

Thankful for my Chimichangas

2011-11-09T16:54:00.000-06:00

Today, I am so thankful for my two little Chimichangas:

Buddy & Peeps!

Aka my nephew and niece. I love these two little rascals. They are seriously the most adorable, well-mannered and awesome chillens you will ever meet. AND they speak English and Spanish, and they are only 5 and 4 years old. Hey, I'm their Tia (aunt), ok! An auntie can brag :)

Buddy and Peeps (their nicknames) bring so much happiness, joy, laughter and love to my life. I love being a Tia to these two lovey doveys. They give me oodles and oodles of hugs and kisses. They also think I'm awesome and make me feel pretty cool for an oldie.

I also love watching these to accept my Hubs into their lives. They LOOOOOOVE Uncle Blake, and think he is just the coolest thing since sliced bread. Peeps is his biggest fan and side kick when he is around, and Buddy wants to grow up and be big and strong like Uncle Blake. Make my heart melt!

But what I love most about these two is that they remind me about God's love for us. Their child-like faith is so sweet and inspiring. They approach everything with trust and love, and are quick to forgive and give you a hug. They are the sweetest glimpses and reminders of God's love for me and you. Unconditional.

I'm over-the-moon blessed by their love and sweet souls, and I can't imagine life without them in it.

Thank you for your love, Buddy and Peeps. I pray that you will always embrace life with vigor, joy and laughter, love and forgive others unconditionally, and trust in God and learn to walk with Him throughout life's journey.

God bless my sweet Buddy and Peeps.

My Sister-in-Love

2011-11-07T16:40:00.001-06:00

A few years ago, God blessed me with a sister...in love. My brother's wife, Elsa, is truly a blessing to this family, which is why, I am thankful for my sister-in-love today.

Elsa.

I never would have thought there would be a woman out there who could tame my broseph. But along came Elsa. She has brought so much joy, love and happiness to my brother's life. AND, she is the mother to my favorite niece and nephew - Maya and Miguel. She is a wonderful example of a mother to me. She is playful, kind, patient, loving and nurturing to her family. She also is a great nester. She loves to cook, rearrange her furniture (multiple times a day!) and make her home peaceful and cozy for all who enter.

If she is the hostess, she serves everyone till they are done with seconds, and THEN she might sit down and have a bite to eat, but that's doubtful. And don't even think about trying to clean her dishes. NO! You are the guest at her house, and guests do NOT do dishes. Unless she is the guest at your house, and then she cleans your house till it is spotless. She definitely has God's command of a "servant-like attitude" and "the first shall be the last" down, and of course, a smile and cheerful laugh to go along with it.

My sister-in-love blesses my family's lives with her joyful spirit and serving heart. And I'm very thankful to call her my sister...in-love.

Broseph

2011-11-04T11:34:00.000-05:00

Today, I'm thankful for

My Brother.

Though he is 7 years older than me, I feel like we are very close in age. Must be because of how mature I am. HA! But really, we are both just very young at heart and have a ridiculous sense of humor, which equals a strong bond. The best Christmas present he ever gave me was a calendar of all our funny faces we make. We are quite ridiculous together. And even though he has little children of his own now, we still find time to act goofy together, and now the chillens (yes, you read that correct, chillens) join in on the ridiculousness that is Beanzer and Broseph. And for your information, Broseph is just one of his many names. For example, Jeffy, Jefferson, Hefty, Jebby, Jeffari (ala Janelle), Jubby, Brudder, etc. So many special names many have developed for him over the years. haha.

But in all seriousness, I am very thankful for my brother. I love him very much. I have never felt the age difference between us because my brother always made me feel loved and important. We had the best times in the car riding for hours to our family vacation destination making up words, secret languages, songs, you name it. And every Christmas Eve, we'd sleep in the same room talking the night away about nothing and everything. I can even remember one instance where I bawled my little 3-year-old eyes out because he was going to spend the night at a friend's house and I didn't want him to leave me. He gave me one of his favorite toys to hold on to for him while he was gone. And I still remember it, and I was 3! Yes, it was a bribe (and it worked), but it meant a lot to me. I took really good care of that toy for him, too!

He has taught me about God, perseverance, faith, hope, unconditional love, the importance of joy and laughter, family, forgiveness, patience and parenting. It also needs to be said that he is one of the best father's I know. I'm sure he doesn't feel like it all the time, but he is very patient, loving, supportive and strong for his family. He is one of those strong, silent types like my own dad. He brings so much joy and laughter to my life, and for that I am extremely grateful.

Love you, Broseph :)

My Ma n' Pa

2011-11-03T17:04:00.001-05:00

Those are two faces that only a mother could love. And I guess their children, too {wink}.

Today, I'm thankful for those two crazy kids shown above who I am proud to call my parents.

(now you know where I get it from, huh)

Mom and Dad.

You know God must love you (or think you are in need of some divine intervention) when He gives you good parents because you really don't see too many marriages that last long these days (ehm, Kim Kardashian - 72 days to be exact, not that I'm judging...just saying) or good parents. My teacher friends tell me stories that bring tears to my eyes about some of their students' parents. And, you can just see by some people's character and behavior that they were not raised by good parents or maybe their parents were just plain old absent from their lives. But by the grace of God I turned out well thanks to good parents.

My parents have taught me a lot of things, but here are a few that come to mind: commitment in marriage, selflessness, humility, God, the importance of a good work ethic, spreading joy, laughter, perseverance, forgiveness, individuality, embracing your strengths and laughing at your flaws, patience, hope for sunny days, strength on rainy days and love.

My parents give and give and give, and don't ever ask for anything in return. I see God in them every day, and I am humbled by their love for me. I don't know what I did to be given such loving and funny parents, but I do know that I am beyond blessed and a better person because of them.

So thankful for my Hubs

2011-11-02T08:53:00.005-05:00

Today kicks off Thankful on Paper.

A chance, this Thanksgiving, for each of us to truly reflect on who we are thankful for and actually write them a letter telling them so.

It makes me so excited to think of all the snail mail going out. People's hearts will be touched and smiles will abound.

This week I started with my Hubs, who also happens to be the 2nd thing I am thankful for this November:

I wrote...

My Hubs.

Blake.

Why I'm thankful for my Hubs:

*He loves me.

*He accepts me and my quirks.

*He participates and encourages a lot of my quirks.

*He listens to me and helps me to be a better person.

*He brings a lot of joy, laughter and peace to my life.

*He draws me closer to God.

*He is patient with me.

So, today....I am Thankful on Paper and for the 2nd day of November.....for my Hubs.

"Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples!"

Psalm 105:1

Happy November!

2011-11-01T17:00:00.000-05:00

{Rifle Paper Co}

"In all things, give thanks." ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Happy November, friends! Can you believe it is already here? Wasn't it just over 100 degrees not to long ago when I was laying out by the pool and getting my tan on? Sheesh, time really does fly when you are having too much fun.

November means Thanksgiving and that means Macy's Thanksgiving Parade. Well, that AND Giving Thanks :) So I thought I would spend this month Giving Thanks to the One who has blessed me with so much.

Therefore, of course I have to start off the month with thanking God for finding and saving me. When I think about who I would be or where I would be had God not rescued me, I am beyond humbled...and thankful. I honestly can't remember life without God, having been raised in a Christian home, but I can remember times where I felt lost or when I ran from God, my sin and my shame. It is a lonely feeling and a place without hope. Definitely not somewhere I would ever want to go or be in again. But little did I know then that I was not really lost or alone. God was still with me, watching over me and working through even my brokenness and drawing me closer to Him.

To put into words what God has done in my life and for my life, I'm finding to be very difficult because all that I am and all that I have is from Him. I am accepted, I am forgiven, I am found, I am saved from death and my sin (for my God has conquered both), I have hope (in His promises), and I am forever, unconditionally loved. Oh, and so much more, friends. And one of the greatest truths is, I have done nothing to receive all of this except to believe that He sent His son, Jesus, to die on the Cross as a ransom for MY sin. His love, blessings and mercies are not performance driven. They are new every morning and He extends them to me (and you) in love.

On this November 1, I am thankful for my Lord and Savior.

May this be a blessed November for you, too!

2011-10-31T10:47:00.000-05:00

Happy Halloween!

2011-10-31T09:37:00.000-05:00

"Each year, the Great Pumpkin rises out of the pumpkin patch that he thinks is the most sincere. He's gotta pick this one. He's got to. I don't see how a pumpkin patch can be more sincere than this one. You can look around and there's not a sign of hypocrisy. Nothing but sincerity as far as the eye can see." ~ Linus from "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown"

Our home is ready for the Great Pumpkin and all the little Halloween Trick or Treaters. Here is a little glimpse into our festive home :)

Happy Halloween!

The Hub's Wolf Pumpkin.

Frankenstein warns the Trick or Treaters to BEWARE of the Wicked Witch!

The Wicked Witch wishes all a Happy Halloween!

Our colorful pumpkins. I love the Chevron Pumpkin :)

The Witch's Chalice :) haha

Our wicked entry way.

The Haunted Mantle

Our new polka dot pillow covers thank to the help of mom's sewing skills!

Spiders have literally taken over our home!

Nothing like glittery pumpkins and a little color to brighten even the most haunted of homes!

Our DIY Chalkboard with vintage frame displays the week's sinful menu.

Boil, boil, toil and trouble...

2011-10-28T16:56:00.000-05:00

{Happy Doodle Land}

It is the last weekend before Halloween, and I'm SOOOOO excited! I love LOVE this weekend! So many things to bake, cook, decorate, make, etc. And I just don't think I'll be getting it all done. At least the flavors of pumpkin continue to go into the month of November. Mmm...pumpkin. {Sigh}

{Making Pumpkin Whoopie Pies for the Hubs!}

Annnnd....Here is our weekly menu:

Friday: Crockpot 3 Bean Turkey Chili and Pumpkin Beer and Pumpkin Bread

Saturday: Leftovers

Sunday: Seared Steak with Caramelized Onions and Gorgonzola

Monday: Smokey Roasted Chicken Corn Chowder and Caramel Apples

Tuesday: Leftovers

Wednesday: Spaghetti Squash Lasagna and Roasted Acorn Squash

Thursday: Leftovers

Have a wicked, spooky, haunted, pumpkiny weekend!

Weekly Menu 10/14/11

2011-10-17T15:35:00.000-05:00

{pinterest}

This week was Homecoming Weekend and I really did not feel like doing much in regards to food. Just ask the Hubs. He was (and I quote) "Scrounging for food" on Saturday. Oh well. I can't be on my A-game ALL the time :)

Here is this week's menu...I'm planning for lots of leftovers so I can relax!

Friday: Pasta with Sauce and Bake Zucchini Sticks

Saturday: Leftovers

Sunday: Flank Steak with Chimichurri Sauce and asparagus

Monday: Crock Pot Turkey White Bean Pumpkin Chili

Tuesday: Leftovers

Wednesday: Eggplant Parmigiana and salad

Thursday: Leftovers

Recipe FAIL

2011-10-14T16:44:00.001-05:00

{pinterest}

Ok, so yes. Not everything I cook is like "butta." I admit it. I never said I was Paula Deen, for goodness sakes. Nor would the Hubs want me to be Paula Deen...Mmm brown sugaaaa (inside joke).

Anywho, I had a recipe FAIL. Big time. Let me just clarify that I did not make this recipe. I simply found it and thought it sounded good. But trust me folks, Pumpkin Sweet Potato Bisque Recipe does not taste good. There are way too many flavors going on - carrots, onions, tomatoes, pumpkin, cloves, nutmegs, barf, etc. It even has the texture of barf. The Hubs, God bless his sweet little heart, ate it. But I protested my own food. I ate a bean burrito, and dumped the rest of the soup down the drain. Yup. It was that bad. Not even starving kids in Africa would want to eat this yuckiness.

Gussy Sews $75 Giveaway

2011-10-14T11:51:00.000-05:00

I'm trying to win the Gussy Sews $75 Giveway.

You should try too!

{Gussy Sews}

I want the Lola Vacay Tote :)

I flit, I float, I fleetly flee, I fly

2011-10-11T14:00:00.000-05:00

{pinterest}

I saw the happiest butterfly today. While walking campus, the sun was shining, leaves were softly falling to the ground and the wind was gently blowing. Along came this little monarch butterfly just floating in the breeze. Not flapping her wings trying to get somewhere, but just floating, enjoying the breeze and where the wind took her. It made me smile and think, I should live my life more freely like that butterfly. Just enjoying the many blessings, big and small, that God has given me, and just let Him take me wherever he leads me.

Hello Monday!

2011-10-10T09:34:00.000-05:00

With my first cup of coffee in hand and first gulp of the sweet caffeine {aaah}, I look back at the weekend and think of how incredibly blessed I am. What a great, fall weekend!

{Pioneer Woman}

Saturday started off with homemade cinnamon rolls that were TO. DIE. FOR! I did a little bit more cooking than I had hoped...what I thought was "8 servings" as the recipe said, was actually "8 batches" of cinnamon rolls. I have about 56 cinnamon rolls in my kitchen. I made the Hubs share some with his dad, so FIL, if you don't get cinnamon rolls, the Hubs is hoarding them. They are, and I quote "the best cinnamon rolls [he's] ever had!" Yea, I'm that good...actually the recipe is that good. Pioneer Woman is a master chef when it comes to cinnamon rolls. YUM!

I also spent Saturday catching up on some projects that I've been putting off. I finally sanded and glazed my bench and touched up our DIY chalkboard that was flaking paint. Works like a charm, now, and the Hubs added his one item he's been begging to add since I first started working on the chalkboard - ground red pepper. Do they even sell that at grocery stores? I have yet to find it at Hy-Vee!

By the Hubs - Check out the green fangs!!! Seriously!!!

By the Hubs

By the Hubs - Can you see his green fangs!?

Saturday also involved a visit from a new friend. We named him Fang. And no, we didn't kill him. He is too cute and very helpful. He kills all the bad bugs in the house :) haha. And of course, the Hubs had to bust out his camera and take photos.

On Sunday, I got to volunteer for our Church's Fall Festival. I signed up to Face Paint, and got a little bit more paint on myself than on the kiddos :) I love my curly mustache and Harry Potter scar!

Hope you all had a fabulous weekend, too! Now let's tackle the week!

Weekly Menu: I'm a slacker

2011-10-07T16:06:00.001-05:00

{pinterest}

Sorry for the absence of recipe posts. I didn't think folks enjoyed them, and then friends and family started asking where they were. And I love you all for that. So here we go :) Enjoy!

Weekly Menu 9/7/11: AKA The Hubs is gone and I'm saving money :)

Friday:

Roasted Red Pepper Soup
Grilled Pepper Jack Cheese Sandwich
Low Fat Pumpkin Spiced Chocolate Chip Cookies

Saturday:

Creamy Chicken Stew Crock Pot Recipe
homemade cinnamon rolls - for the Hubs...I might eat one :)
Roasted Butternut Squash with Brown Sugar

Sunday: Leftovers

Monday: Leftovers

Tuesday: Leftovers

Wednesday:

Pumpkin Sweet Potato Bisque Recipe
Grilled Pepper Jack Cheese Sandwich

Thursday: Leftovers

Weekly Menu 9/30/11: AKA How many things can I cook in a Crockpot!?

Friday:

P.F. Chang’s Lettuce Wraps
rice

Saturday: Leftovers

Sunday:

Monday: Slow Cooked Carnitas

Tuesday: Leftovers

Wednesday: Slow Cooker Lasagna

Thursday: Leftovers

Weekly Menu 9/23/11: Hello Fall!

Sunday: Steak Sunday!

Monday: Smokey Roasted Chicken Corn Chowder

Tuesday: Leftovers

Wednesday:

Autumn Pork and Apples
Brussels Sprouts

Thursday: Leftovers

Weekly Menu 9/16/11

Friday: Homemade Tomato, Basil and Mozzarella Pizza

Sunday:

Flank Steak with Chimichurri Sauce

Warm new potato salad with basil-mint pesto

Monday: Crockpot 3 Bean Turkey Chili

Tuesday: Leftovers

Wednesday:

Thursday: Leftovers

Friday: Leftovers

Weekly Menu 9/9/11

Friday: Grilling!

Hamburger
Corn on Cob
Grilled pineapple

Saturday:

Pasta with Prosciutto and Spinach
Grilled asparagus

Sunday: Steak Sunday!

Grilled Flank Steak with Tomatoes, Red Onion and Balsamic
Mediterranean CousCous

Monday:

Feta Stuffed Turkey Meatloaf
Mediterranean CousCous

Tuesday: Leftovers

Wednesday:

Autumn Pork and Apples
Brussels Sprouts

Thursday: Leftovers

Weekly Menu 9/2/11: And here's one more for good measure :)

Sunday: Steak Sunday!

Flank Steak with Spicy Lemon Sauce
Mediterranean CousCous Salad

Monday: Smokey Roasted Chicken Corn Chowder

Tuesday:

Bruschetta Chicken Bake
brussels sprouts

Wednesday:

Lemon & Dill Chicken
Grilled asparagus

Thursday: Lime-Honey Glazed Chicken

Friday: Cooking for Friends :)

The new colors of fall

2011-10-07T13:42:00.000-05:00

Fall isn't just about browns and oranges anymore. Pinks, purples, reds, blues and greens are in this season, too! And I am lovin' the looks of fall at Loft.com!

Say hello to my little friend

2011-10-04T15:43:00.000-05:00

{pinterest}

As soon as I decorated our house for Halloween this past weekend, lo and behold, nature adds its own little touch of decor to our home - spiders. So far 2, but really only 1 now. I accidentally killed the first one. The Hubs took some photos of it before I accidentally killed it, though. So that's nice. And I know what you are thinking. "Why didn't he kill it?" Because he is scared of spiders. And "How did you accidentally kill it? Why didn't you intentionally kill it?" Because I'm a schmuck for spiders. I've always loved Charlotte's Web, and I just can't help myself. Seriously.

{pinterest}

So yesterday, I found the second spider. I named him Boo. He was shy and scurried away once I found him. He did let me examine him a bit, and I spoke baby talk to him. But then he hid on the mantle with the fake spiders. I think he's confused. Oh well. He's my friend, and I'm thankful for all the other little buggies he will kill in my home.

{pinterest}

I wonder if I'll start seeing some witches if I start decorating with them in our home...EEK! I love Halloween :)

I would rather sit on a pumpkin

2011-09-28T16:52:00.000-05:00

{pinterest}

This truly is my life right now. I LIVE for all things autumn. Por ejemplo (for example), I am not a morning person, but autumn causes me to wake up in the wee hours of the morning to go for hour walks in the dark! I love the crisp air on my face and bundling up. The morning chit-chats with God, the symphony of leaves, birds and bugs whistling in the wind, and the twinkling stars preparing to hide from the sun. Can you imagine these walks? They are so worth being tired at 9 a.m.!

And then...there's...pumpkin. I LOVE all things PUMPKIN! I am planning so many recipes to make with pumpkin :) Once the Hubs turns orange, then I know it is time to stop, but for now, we dine on pumpkin!

My newest pumpkin obsession :)

Get in my belly

2011-09-07T14:50:00.000-05:00

PF Chang's Lettuce Wraps ala Me :)

I'm getting pretty good at this cooking thing, if I do say so myself. And I think the Hubs would agree. He was LOVIN' the PF Chang's Lettuce Wraps I made on Monday night. It was the loudest I've ever heard him eat. Thought he was gonna lick the bowl. So scrumtrulescent :)

Saturday: Grilling/Game Day

Seared Ahi Tuna
Rice

Sunday: Camping

Lunch – Prosciutto, Pear and Blue Cheese Sandwiches
Dinner – Jalapeno and Mango Chicken Sausage with bun, chips and beer
Breakfast – Blueberry Sour Cream Coffee Cake

Monday: P.F. Chang’s Lettuce Wraps and rice

Tuesday: Lemon & Dill Chicken and Brussels Sprouts

Wednesday: Chipotle Salmon Burgers and asparagus

Thursday: Lime-Honey Glazed Chicken and salad

Goodbye Summer. Hello Autumn!

2011-08-30T15:11:00.000-05:00

{PINTEREST}

Why are people so excited for Autumn? I confess, I am one of those "people" I speak of, but shouldn't I be sad summer is leaving? I love the feel of the sun on my skin, walking barefoot, wearing less constricting clothing and no layers, staying out late till it gets dark around 8:30 p.m., eating fresh fruit and veggies, and grilling outside.

{PINTEREST}

Yes, I do love summer. And I will be very sad to see it go. But, there is something magical and exciting about Autumn. The tastes, smells and scenery are quite something special altogether - apple, cinnamon, pumpkin and chili, tailgates, football games and the changing leaves. {sigh} Then, there's the holidays - Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Just seeing those words typed out gets me excited and jazzed for the upcoming months of fun to be had. These next 4 months are definitely my favorites out of the year.

{PINTEREST}

But before the sun fades into the West, the Hubs and I will be celebrating the end of summer in style by heading out on our own camping trip. I've camped in friends' backyards and fields (yes, cornfields) before, but I've never gone "real" camping. And by "real" camping, I mean more than a 5 minute walk from a friend's house. I'm pumped. I'm excited. I, I, I have no idea what to bring...

Happy End of Summer!

How will you be celebrating Labor Day?

An emotional wreck

2011-08-22T09:03:00.000-05:00

That is what I am right now.

My little Latino Lover of a Nephew, "Buddy," started Kindergarten right this minute, and my heart is breaking at the thought of his parents waving goodbye, and him being scared and lonely. It is the end of an era.

He's growing up.

Dios Mios. I can't handle this. Oh Lord, Lord, Lord, Lord. I think I'm taking it harder than him.

The color of fall

2011-08-19T11:49:00.000-05:00

Blue is everywhere! Charmeuse, denim, gingham, cotton, felt and lacquer! Blue is taking over fall colors this year, and here are a few of my favs :)

Got my lunch packed up, my boots tied tight...

2011-08-18T15:49:00.000-05:00

{pinterest}

YAY! It's the first day back to school for the youngins, and I'm sooo jealous! I wanna go school supply shopping and pick out some new shoes and backpack! My mom always bought me Reebok high tops. I love high tops. And I love pencils. I miss pencil sharpeners. The old school kind that were nailed to the wall and had a handle. Hmm...I wish I were a kid again.

What do you miss about the first day of school?

And here's a little gem of a song to get you in the mood for Back to School :)

Signs of Fall

2011-08-17T17:02:00.000-05:00

Is it just me, or does it feel like Fall is quickly approaching?

There have been so many glimpses of Fall lately...

{pinterest}

The sun is less harsh, the air is slightly cooler and I swear last night I felt an autumn breeze in the air.

{pinterest}

I even saw a few cobwebs on our front porch and back porch last night, too!

{...}

As I sat on our back porch breathing in the cool air, I was blessed to observe and aerial show by our local barn swallows. Have you ever seen these birds fly? They are aerial acrobats feeding on dragon flies, cicadas and other little bugs they can find as they dive through the air. A wonderful, fall prelude to behold, for sure!

Rainy Day Randomness

2011-08-16T14:14:00.000-05:00


{pinteres}

It's gloomy and rainy here today. I am happy to see the rain, though. We've gone a looong time without rain. My flowers are loving this! I'm kinda loving it too. It's getting me in the mood for fall. I've been day dreaming about pumpkins, apple-scented candles, home-baked goods made with cinnamon, and...twinkling lights :)

The rainy weather brought to mind a favorite song of mine by Nicole Nordeman, "Every Season":

Love this song! Who couldn't love this song, though. Jesus. Check. Autumn. Check. Piano. Check. Sigh.

On a different note, I made this last night:

Stuffed Banana Peppers

Mi madre gave me TONS of banana peppers, so I whipped them up last night and they were soooo good! I used fat free cheddar cheese and blotted the bacon so they were not too fatty. But 80 calories each is not bad for these tasty little treats!

Also, here is my weekly menu :)

Sunday: Rubbed Flank Steak with Horseradish Cream and potato fries

Monday: Thursday: Turkey and black bean stuffed chimichangas and Stuffed Banana Peppers

Tuesday: Maple-Thyme Pork Chops and roasted asparagus

Wednesday: Sesame Orange Beef, rice and brussels sprouts

Thursday: Pasta with Garbanzo Beans and baked zucchini sticks with marinara sauce

Weekly Menu...I fell a bit behind already!

2011-08-11T16:00:00.003-05:00

{pinterest}

Wow, I am so good at doing things a second time...um, not so much. Ok, so I already failed at posting this week's menu, but I didn't completely forget, so here we go:

Monday: Sauteed Tilapia with Mint and tomatoes and rice

Tuesday: Chopped Greek Salad with Chicken

Wednesday: Sesame Encrusted Baked Chicken Tenders and Rice

Thursday: Lemon garlic tuna burgers and asparagus with olive oil, lemon and salt

Friday: Radiatore with fresh tomato sauce and asparagus with olive oil, lemon and salt :)

I was in Branson with the Hubs and the family for the past weekend, so I guess you could say it threw me off a bit...or its just me...no excuses, really. Enjoy!

A little graphic design ala me

2011-08-10T15:29:00.002-05:00

On that note!

2011-08-04T12:09:00.002-05:00

{pinterest}

Last night, my Bestie called to chat and she told me that I had I impressed her with my cooking skillz that neither of us knew I had until after I got married :) A skill born out of necessity! haha! So, I thought I'd start sharing my weekly menus. I make menus ever Friday and then I go grocery shopping that night. I try to plan for meals that will have left-overs for the Hubs to take to lunch and are healthy aka low in calories, low in fat, high in protein. We have a small grocery budget, but we are still able to eat healthy and somewhat gourmet :) Enjoy!

Friday: Home Alone night
I ate a frozen dinner, ice cream sandwich and wine!
Sometimes, its fun to have bachelorette nights every now and then :)

Saturday: Beer-Battered Fish Tacos with Tomato Avocado Salsa

Sunday: Steak Sunday!

Grilled Flank Steak with Avocado Relish

Grilled Corn on the Cob with roasted jalapeno butter

Monday:

Baja-Style Fish Tacos

Southwestern Black Bean Salad

Tuesday:

Chicken and Guacamole Toastadas
Southwestern Black Bean Salad

Wednesday:

Chicken Satay with Peanut Sauce

Rice

Roasted asparagus with olive oil, lemon, salt and pepper

Thursday: I'm a bum tonight :)

Caprese Salad

Trader Joe's Tomato and Roasted Red Pepper Soup

Fresh Pineapple

A life of purpose

2011-08-04T11:45:00.001-05:00

Sarah Jane Studios - Get your free print here!

Purpose (pur-pose) the reason for which something exists or is done, made, used, etc.; an intended or desired result; end; aim; goal; determination; resoluteness; the subject in hand; the point at issue; practical result, effect, or advantage: to act to good purpose.

Purpose. This is my daily prayer to God. I've never been one of those lucky peeps who just knew what they were destined to do with there life. But, I've always felt a need to nurture, love, share and allow others to feel open to share and love, to serve others (be it cooking, entertaining, hosting, making people laugh at my own expense), and be loved in return. I am a nerd and took a personality test the other day, only to find that my personality is that of "The Helper." I'm in the same category as Mother Teresa. Um, ha! That makes me laugh. NO WHERE CLOSE! But, I've taken a couple of personality tests/career tests and it always comes out the same. I'm a nurturer, a helper, and I've been told this in my job evaluations too.

This is difficult for me to swallow when we live in a world where the focus is more on serving our own needs.
I stumbled on this blog, and found this little blurb that I can totally relate to: Popular culture promises that by recognizing and focusing on our own needs, we will find empowerment. But, in reality this creates a culture of comparison, distraction and discontent, none of which lead to empowerment. The act of mothering … caring for, teaching, and nurturing, has just the opposite effect. It emboldens us with confidence, contentment and purpose.

Now, this whole blurb is about motherhood, something I know NOTHING about, but I think you can replace "mothering" with "serving" and get the same result. In my life, I strive to serve God, my husband, my family, my friends, my co-workers and the little kiddos I lead worship to on Sundays. I love cooking for my husband and serving him good, healthy meals, cleaning the house and making it a relaxing, comforting place to come home to after a hard days work, and cuddling with him and making him feel loved. With friends, family, co-workers and the kiddos, I just try to serve with love, patience, kindness, time and understanding. It is nothing grand or anything to brag about or put on my resume to help me climb the ladder in my career, but I am believing more and more that God has called me to love and serve others. The "how" part, I'm not sure of yet, but I'm just going to continue striving and doing what I'm doing because I hope and believe He will reveal my purpose to one day :)

Let them eat cake!

2011-08-02T09:12:00.000-05:00

The Hubs and I FINALLY ate our wedding cake to celebrate our 1 year anniversary! While it was still very gorgeous looking, It was extremely difficult to cut into AND it tasted interesting. The Hubs cut himself a big slice of cake and ate the whole thing. Guess he didn't notice the interesting flavor.

Also, here is the Blueberry Sour Cream Coffee Cake recipe from yesterday's post! Soooo good :)

What a wonderful world

2011-08-01T10:38:00.001-05:00

{pinterest}

"Love is to the heart what the summer is to the farmer's year - it brings to harvest all the loveliest flowers of the soul." ~ author unknown

What a wonderful weekend! Despite the Hubs being out of town for the weekend, I managed to make the most out of my time alone. When I wasn't studying for the GRE, I was enjoying a glass of wine (or two) with a dear friend who I don't get to see as often as I'd like due to her busy residency schedule, I cooked myself up some blueberry pancakes thanks to my momma giving me TONS and TONS of blueberries hand-picked by herself and my nephew, cleaned the kitchen, vacuumed floors, organized and cleaned the laundry room, cleaned the bathrooms and finally hung some photos I've been dying to hang, and this was all done before Sunday!

Once Sunday rolled around, I started the day off leading worship for the pre-schoolers, sprawled out by the pool with some good girlfriends and cooked an AMAZING dinner for me and the Hubs!

Here was our dinner menu for the weekend:

Saturday Night:

Beer-battered fish tacos with tomato-avocado salsa

Bud light lime (of course)

Blueberry Sour Cream Coffee Cake

Sunday Night:

Grilled Flank Steak with Avocado Relish

Grilled Corn on the Cob with roasted jalapeno butter

The corn on the cob was seriously the best corn I've ever eaten thanks to the amazing jalapeno butter! WOWZA!

Wall art hung in kitchen. Art by Katie Daisy

Photo collage hung in kitchen. "LOVE" art by Katie Daisy.

Blueberry Sour Cream Coffee Cake...drool.

Basil out the ears

2011-07-26T11:40:00.000-05:00

{pinterest}

The Hubs and I grew basil this summer, and the hot summer sun (and the Hubs DIY irrigation system) has really helped our basil to grow like a beast. LIKE A BEAST, I tell you.

I love basil. Basil, basil, basil. Yum, yum in my tummy. We have so much of it, we are making tons and tons of recipes with it, such as...

Quick-Roasted Cherry Tomato Sauce with Spaghetti
Tomato Mozzarella and Arugula Towers
Bruschetta with Tomato and Basil
Grilled Chicken Bruschetta
Pesto Sauce
Margherita Pizza ala Me

Margherita Pizza ala Me Recipe:
12 inch wheat dough - I buy mine from a local pizza shop or you could make your own

3 medium tomato(es)
1 cup basil, shredded into ribbons
1 cup mozzarella cheese (buy a ball of mozzarella cheese and cut into 1/2 inch slices)

Directions:

Place a pizza stone or inverted baking sheet on the lowest oven rack; preheat oven to 400F
Roll the pizza and place on a 13-inch circle. Make it thin! Oh yum!
Bake the pizza a bit before topping it until the bottom is crisp for about 5 to 8 minutes.
Top with sliced tomatoes, cheese and shredded basil.
Drizzle 2 tsps of olive oil on top and bake for another 5 to 8 minutes till crust is golden, but don't let mozzarella brown!
Serve immediately.

Make your own dough:
1. Combine 3/4 cups whole-wheat flour, 3/4 cups all-purpose flour, 2-1/4 tsp yeast, 3/4 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp sugar in a food processor; pulse to mix. Combine 1/2 cup hot water and 2 tsps of oil in a measuring cup. With the motor running, gradually pour in enough of the hot liquid until the mixture forms a sticky ball. The dough should be quite soft. If it seems dry, add 1 to 2 tablespoons warm water; if too sticky, add 1 to 2 tablespoons flour. Process until the dough forms a ball, then process for 1 minute to knead.
2. Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface. Coat a sheet of plastic wrap with cooking spray and place it, sprayed-side down, over the dough. Let the dough rest for 10 to 20 minutes before rolling.

Because you gotta have friends!

2011-07-20T16:48:00.000-05:00

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"Lots of people want to ride with you in the limo, but what you want is someone who will take the bus with you when the limo breaks down." ~ Oprah Winfrey

Imagine me screaming the post title at the top of my lungs and you will get a pretty good picture of me in your head right now. Good girlfriends are a real treasure. Be it a sister, a parent, a cousin, a co-worker, bible study girls, what have you. Friendship is one of God's sweetest blessings. To be real and vulnerable with another human being is comforting. It's easy to look at other people's lives {on Facebook} and think "Man, they got their act together," but friendship allows you to see that everyone has their own hot mess they are struggling with in life. To love and to let others love you despite all your imperfections and flaws is powerful. I am truly thankful for all my girlfriends out there, old and new. Thank you for blessing my life in more ways than you'll ever know.

Home Makeover - Hubs and J edition

2011-07-19T11:02:00.001-05:00

The Hubs and I have been living in our home now as a married couple for 1 year. Prior to our marriage, the Hubs lived with 2 male roommates - One of them was a fellow med student classmate of the Hubs and the other was a college friend of the Hubs, both of whom were in our wedding. As one can imagine, the house was a bachelor pad, to say the least. Smelled like boys lived there and looked like boys lived there. The walls were tan and there was little to no decorating in the entire house except for some photography the Hubs displayed throughout the house.

Thanks to our parents who gave us the best wedding gift ever, our house was transformed from a tan, boring bachelor pad to a colorful, inspiring home. The Hubs and I have put a lot of thought into each element of our home, and are trying to find a balance between his love for the ocean and my love for all things artsy, eclectic and vintage. Here is what we have come up with so far. Enjoy!

Entry way

Art by Katie Daisy

Living Room

Kitchen Table

Spray paint solves everything!

"Wine is bottled poetry" Art by TagTeamTompkins

Wall of Fame

Vintage Cross...from Hobby Lobby...haha :)

"C" from Hobby Lobby and Fish from a boutique in Dallas, TX

My favorite photo on the Wall of Fame

More art by Katie Daisy

More art by TagTeamTompkins

My favorite piece of art by Katie Daisy

Something is in the air...

2011-07-18T15:59:00.000-05:00

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I can't remember the last time I enjoyed life this much. There have been more smiles, more laughter, more hugs, {more kisses...ehm}, more joy, and more love. There is just something special about this summer. I think its called "contentment." I am at peace. I have enjoyed cooking meals for others, lounging out at the pool with girlfriends, spooning with the hubs every night, taking walks when its not melting outside, and most recently, leading pre-school worship at my church.

Life is balanced. I am filling up my cup emotionally, socially, physically and spiritually with a healthy heaping of good eating to top it all off. Most recently, I cooked the most delicious dinner for the Hubs on "Steak Sunday" - its the one night a week that we eat red meat; other days of the week we eat fish, chicken, turkey pork, etc. But last night, I had the Hubs cut some fresh basil and mint from our garden, and I made this and this. Good lord, it was delish. I think I found a new hobby! I LOVE cooking for others. Who would have thought! It not only allows me to be creative in the kitchen, but create a good meal for my loved ones be it the Hubs, friends or family.

{I need this apron from Anthropologie}

Life is really good. I think the last time I felt this happy and peaceful was in middle school to be honest. There was no drama in middle school...at least for me. My biggest dilemma was how to get the rat's nest untangled at the nape of my neck! Ugh, drama. I believe it is all made up in our heads. And, I am all about less drama these days. This summer has taught me a lot about myself. I'm not perfect, I make mistakes and I fall down, but I have the choice to learn from all these experiences and grow from them. This summer, I have learned to open my heart wider, love deeper, and extend and accept more forgiveness and mercy.

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I use to think I could survive this life alone, on my own. But then, love came into my life. Not just the love of a husband, mother or father, but the love of friends. I realized I don't want to just survive life. And, I don't want to be alone. Where is the fun in that? God created us for relationships and community. For our friends, family and loved ones to be a "helper suitable" for us.

To sum up this summer :) Love is a home-cooked meal, a smile, a joyful song, a listening ear; It covers all things. Community and Friendship is vital and necessary in our lives. God loves me, forgives me, is always with me and gives me purpose.

And, I am at peace.

It's a smile, it's a kiss, it's a sip of wine

2011-07-15T16:39:00.001-05:00


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Oh how I would love to have this scene in my backyard! I love outdoor movies, and those lounges look sooo comfy! Unfortunately, it is like 100+ degrees here so I would be a sweaty mess if we were to do this outside. Yuck.

However, I am going to see a movie this week. Drum roll please. Harry Potter, Harry, Harry Potter! YAY! Alas, the end of Harry Potter is near, and I will get to revel in all its glory on Saturday evening. Glorious. We are going with our besties, Luke and Lindsey, who graciously shared their wedding gift, of 4 free passes to a movie of their choice, with us! They love HP as much as we do...and that's sayin' somethin. Before we head off to see Potter, we are gonna grill out at our place, and I found a recipe for Butterbeer Cupcakes. If you are a HP fan, you will know what I'm talking about. Should be a delicious way to start the end of an era.

You can also find me lounging by the pool, working in the yard and drinking a cold one on the deck this weekend. My ooooh my, life is grand.

Limitless

2011-07-14T16:21:00.000-05:00

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"Men are not prisoners of fate, but only prisoners of their own minds."

- Franklin D. Roosevelt

Heavy quote there from dear, old FDR, but it brings clarity to a lot of the thoughts I've been having lately. I'm 27 years old, although my Hubs would tell you that I'm 30 years old. He would be wrong. He just likes to age me like that, when in truth, he is only 1 year younger than me, and yes Hubs, you will be 30 one day too. You can't escape it.

The ever-looming 30, summer and my new role as a Pre-School Worship Leader at my church has brought so many thoughts to mind. As I watch all the pre-schoolers singing about Jesus with huge grins on their face, I think about who I was as a child. I was very care-free, joyful and innocent. I laughed a lot, caused some trouble, but I was just a baby. My faith was the same as my childhood. Care-free, joyful and innocent. God came first. Well, I might have put myself first at times :) But he was always in my thoughts. I thanked him for everything - the moon, the stars, the sunshine, the grass, my cats (when they were alive :) ), etc.

As I grew up, my innocence along with my care-free and joyful nature slowly got chipped away. I hurt people and people hurt me. I experienced pain and caused pain. People stole pieces of me and I gave up pieces of myself out of shame from my sin. This caused separation between me and God. I didn't feel good enough for His love anymore, and I slowly lost bits of my joy and love because He IS my joy and love.

I also have been thinking a lot about the Apostle Paul and what he has to say about our pasts and sin.

"No, dear brothers and sisters, I am still not all I should be, but I am focusing all my energies on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us up to heaven." Phillippians 3:13 - 14

Therefore, 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 pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Hebrews 12:1 - 3

In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says,

“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline,
and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,
because the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”

Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees.“Make level paths for your feet,”so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.

Hebrews 12:4-13

Man, if only I knew then what I know now. We are human. We make mistakes, we burn bridges, we break hearts, we have our hearts broken, we lie, we cheat, we sin...Somewhere in life, I let all that "stuff" put limits on my life. "I can't be this or that because I did this," "I am this because of this or because he/she thinks I am this or that," I would tell myself. But we do not have to allow our past sins, failures, mistakes, etc., put limits on us or define who we are. God's love and truth defines me.

And, I am still that cheerful and joyful little girl. I have lived a little bit more than she, but I have also learned a lot more. Life is limitless. The only limits in this life are the ones I set on myself. "Forgetting [and forgiving] the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling [me] up to heaven. I am not lame or disabled by my past, but rather healed.

Thank you Jesus for the sunshine, for the flowers, for my Hubs, for my family and in-loves, for my friends, and for your grace, love and forgiveness.

Happy Thoughts on a Hot Summers Day

2011-07-14T15:18:00.000-05:00

Life is good.

Lovin' the heat

2011-07-11T17:04:00.000-05:00

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I am so soaking up summer this year! Lovin' the weather despite the 104 degree temps! Spending the days reading some good books, sittin' out by the pool, sippin' on lemonade and waterin' my flowers. Aaah :)

Also, check out this song...Its my summer song this year!

{You will have to turn off the music player so you don't get overwhelmed by sounds :) }

By the dawn's early light

2011-07-01T14:07:00.001-05:00

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Wishing you all a safe, happy and healthy Independence Day!

Weekend Projects

2011-06-27T09:55:00.001-05:00

Not the best photo quality, but more quality pics to come :)

After 1 year of marriage under our belt, the Hubs and I have decided to display our wedding photos! HA!

Have you ever gotten in one of those "moods" where you get on a project and you just can't stop? I am rarely in one of those moods, but this weekend was an exception. Saturday morning, I decided it was time to bite the bullet, spend some money and make our house feel like a home. So I headed off to Pier 1 for some bright blue, orange, yellow and pink pillows, shopped at Hobby Lobby for some frames and snooped around Target for a DVD storage unit.

The Hubs and I love color, so we decided to paint our largest frame a bright orange and mix blues and yellows throughout the photo collage. Our walls are "Guacamole" and our kitchen is "Key Lime Pie."

We also integrated some of the Hub's photography throughout our wedding photography.

This is just a little teaser of our house projects. More pics to come!

Linking up to Life Made Lovely :)

2011-06-22T16:11:00.000-05:00

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I wish I could bottle up summer and save it for a cold winter's day.

My summer list

2011-06-22T15:47:00.000-05:00

Happy Summer

2011-06-21T16:25:00.000-05:00

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It's officially summer. Spray on the bug repellent, bust out the old bikini and and bring on the pop-ice!

In a summer haze

2011-06-14T16:25:00.000-05:00

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I was really good at being a kid in the summer time. Not like the young whipper snappers nowadays who just text all day and sit inside looking at their computers. No, no, no, NO! I was an outdoors-all-day, parents-forcing-me-to-come-home-and-eat-supper, kool-aid-stached, sun-kissed cheeks, running-instead-of-walking kind of kid. Oh no she didn't! Um, yes. I just did. And I will say it again, but I don't feel like typing all that again.

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But for realz, I had great summers as a kid. I threw a lot of water balloons, played a lot of tag (and kick the can, for you country folk), ate a lot of popsicles, swam all day...peed in a lot of pools (yep, I did and never ONCE did I get a UTI, mother). My imagination was crazy too. I remember making bow and arrows out of sticks when the Disney classic "Pocahontas" came to theaters and acting like Ariel from "The Little Mermaid" in my pool.

{Country Living}

This weekend, I went home for 3 days to see my family and relive my childhood summers. I chased my niece and nephew A LOT, caught fireflies in a jar, saw fireworks, biked a lot, cooked dinner for my family and sat out on the swing drinking coffee. So maybe I didn't act completely like a kid, but it was nice to take 2 days off from work and go back home where you came from. I still love the smell of the cornfields and the way the sun peeks over the fields at dusk. {SIGH}

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Oh to be a kid again...Only in the summer though...and maybe Christmas...Buuuuut then I'd like to skip back to the present and miss my teen years. Those sucked. Mainly because I had braces, glasses, frizzy hair and wooly worms for eyebrows. Goo.

A glimpse of the Northwest Pacific

2011-06-06T10:59:00.000-05:00

Here are some of the Hubs awesome photographs from our adventures in Seattle, WA, and British Columbia, Canada!

The hubs and I relaxing on the dock in Bainbridge Island, WA.

Dock at night in Orcas Island, WA.

Catching a salmon in Seattle's famous Pike Place Public Market.

Missed our ferry out of Canada so chartered a plane back to the states! aagh!

Beautiful poppy in British Columbia, Canada.

View of Seattle's harbor from a ferry boat ride.

Seattle's skyline at night.

Vancouver is freakin' awesome!

Sorry for the boobs and vajayjay, but had to show the creepy mural that was in our room at the Seattle Hostel.


Whale watching at the Orcas Islands.

Cute little otter that held his mate's hand while floating :)

Hey-Oh!

2011-06-03T15:32:00.000-05:00

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Hey-oh! Bring on the weekend! It's Friday, Friday, gotta get down on Frida-aaay!

Yesterday was Thursday, Thursday
Today i-is Friday, Friday (Partyin')...

...Tomorrow is Saturday
And Sunday comes after ... wards
I don't want this weekend to end

What a life...

2011-06-02T10:21:00.000-05:00

There are so many things I love about being married, but one of my FAVORITE things are the nightly slumber parties we have that include HILARIOUS conversations, funny facial expressions, voice impersonations, and So You Think You Can Dance and Ultimate Fighter reenactments.

Last night was no exception - from watching SYTYCD and UFC to reminiscing about Teddy Grahams (cinnamon flavor to be exact) to talking in a deep southern voice about brown sugar and barbecue sauce. I literally wake up every morning with a sore stomach from the amount of laughing we do before bedtime.

Personally, I think laughing is the best way to fall asleep. Difficult, but fun.

To my Hubs

2011-06-01T10:07:00.000-05:00

Happy 1 year anniversary, Hubs!

And thank you for blessing my life with your love, support, laughter, goofiness and encouragement. This has been the best year of my life so far, and I'm excited to see what God has in store for us :)

Cest la vie

2011-06-01T09:56:00.000-05:00

Well hi there! Sorry for the lack of posts. Life has been crazy for the past few months. Lots of wedding showers, baby showers and my own wedding anniversary celebration! Can't believe it's been one year...tear.

To celebrate our one year, the hubs and I decided to go to Seattle, Vancouver, B.C., Victoria, B.C. and the San Juan Islands. Of course, it wouldn't be a trip without some trip ups :) The trip began with a stop at the passport agency in Seattle for me to renew my passport with my new married name (yea, I'm a procrastinator) so we could visit Canada. Once I received my passport, we were sure it would be smooth sailing from then on out.

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Seattle is an interesting place. I wouldn't say I loved it or hated it, but confused, maybe, is the right word. Don't get me wrong, I loved the coffee, the Public Market, the numerous piers and crazy amounts of sea life, but there was just an interesting side to Seattle I wasn't expecting. For example, the hostel we stayed at for 3 nights had a large painting of a completely naked, full frontal of a woman on the wall directly across from our bed. That made for an odd night time sleep. I felt like she was staring at me. Then there was the gay, homeless man who made a pass at the hubs while also asking us for some change. Interesting. Very interesting. Great sushi though :) And we took a ferry to Bainbridge Island where we laid out on the dock in the sun and the hubs played with live starfish. To know him is to love him :)

{Photo of Seattle courtesy of the Hubs}

Canada was also interesting, but not as weird interesting as Seattle. We took the train to Canada where we visited Stanley Park and saw river otters, seals and bald eagles. One of the river otters we saw decided to climb up on a rock near us. We were soooo excited, so the hubs got up close to take a pic, and that was when the river otter had massive diarrhea. Yeaaaaaa, nature is...beautiful?

In Victoria, we visited Chinatown and ate lots of ice cream. On our way to catch the ferry for the San Juan Islands, we received bad info and were taken to the wrong ferry harbor. Apparently there are 3 ferry harbors. SOOO, we were stuck in Canada. The hubs was bummed because we were suppose to go whale watching the next day, so we made some calls and chartered a private plane to take us back to the U.S. You know, no big deal. Sheesh. The hubs loved it.

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I guess you could say the plane ride was worth it though because we were able to make it to our whale watching tour where we saw transient orca whales (killer whales) teaching their young how to prey on a huge sea lion. It was crazy and the hubs took some AMAZING pics! Will share soon :)

After 1 ferry ride, 2 bus rides, 1 plane ride and 2 car rides, we arrived home. It was bittersweet, as was our 1 year anniversary. Happy to be home, but sad that our 1 week together with no interruptions is over. Happy to have made it one year together and excited for many more to come, but sad that we are no longer newlyweds. Cest la vie.

Please forgive the emotions; Eugene has made her monthly visit :)

It's Good Friday, Good Friday!

2011-04-22T16:56:00.000-05:00

Mary and Jesus in the Cathedral of Salamanca, Spain. Photo taken by the Hubs.

““He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”” ~ 1 Peter 2:24

Just want to give a shout out to my Lord and Savior! Thanks Jesus!

Awkward and Awesome

2011-04-04T11:26:00.001-05:00

Awkward

Getting hit on at a gas station by a man missing his two front teeth.

Awesome

Celebrating the besties with a wedding shower.

Awkward

Seeing two doves making out on top of a car this morning. They couldn't keep off each other, but I guess that's what spring does to the birds.

Awesome

Cooked an awesome meal with the hubs.

Awkward

Getting your eyes dilated at the eye doc and having people at work ask "Why are you looking at me like that?" Geez. Sorry.

Awesome

Ending the day with a margarita beer, a cigar and the hubs.

Hello Spring, are you there?

2011-03-31T10:59:00.000-05:00

Oh my. Spring so far is not so fabulous. Hoping for warmer, spring-like weather soon!

Peace within

2011-03-22T10:31:00.000-05:00

"May today there be peace within. May you trust that you are exactly where you are meant to be. May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith in yourself and others. May you use the gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you. May you be content with yourself just the way you are. Let this knowledge settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. It is there for each and every one of us." ~ St. Theresa's Prayer

Your hands

2011-03-21T11:32:00.001-05:00

image via pinterest

Yet I still belong to you; you hold my right hand. ~ Psalm 73:23

I've been doing a lot of thinking lately about God's plan for my life. Sometimes it's hard to see how God is working in my life. He moves at his own pace and I grow impatient. But, even in the silence, He's working, paving the way, writing my story, which is ultimately His story.

This Sunday, my pastor was talking about Jacob and how he wrestled with God. I can relate to Jacob. I've been in rough situations, and rather than praying to God for help, I run away. But God doesn't let me get away that easily. He loves me too much to let me go. And so in my silence, God gently forces me to deal with my pain, and reveals to me that my real issue is that I need God. C.S. Lewis once said, "[God] is not tame. But He is good."

So I place my life in His hands. And I see Him and even feel Him working in me. He didn't give up on me. I still belong to Him. I am in His hands. And I am so thankful and humbled by the thought that the God who created the heavens and earth, also holds me in His hands.

"Your Hands" by JJ Heller

"...I am trying to understand
How to walk this weary land
Make straight the paths that crookedly lie
Oh Lord, before these feet of mine
Oh Lord, before these feet of mine

When my world is shaking
Heaven stands
When my heart is breaking
I never leave Your hands..."

Happy Uncle Joe Day!

2011-03-17T09:12:00.001-05:00

Uncle Joe Zanders - What a good lookin' guy, huh!

St. Patrick's Day always reminds me of my sweet Uncle Joe, God rest his soul. The sweetest, most charming man on earth. He loved to talk about the "homeland" and beautifully sing Irish songs such as "When Irish eyes are smiling," and the song that still brings tears to my eyes because I can hear his sweet voice "My wild Irish rose."

Oh Uncle Joe, I do miss you, but I know you are up in heaven serenading God and his angels. I only hope they serve some Guinness and corn beef and cabbage up there in heaven. Slainte, my dear Uncle Joe!