Five on Friday: All Good Things

I hope you'll join me and some other very lovely ladies for this week's Five on Friday.

 

 

[one]

This Friday marks the beginning of Spring Break!!!

 

::via::

 

 

[two]

I celebrated my last birthday in my 20s. You can see the recap here. I can't thank everyone enough for the outpouring of love on my special day. (Major props go to my hubby. He always does an amazing job.)

The ice cream cake!!! I look forward to this every year!

Just a few of the sweet gifts I was given...

[three]
We took some family pictures on Sunday. We also had G's one year pictures taken. Shay always does an amazing job. If you are close to the Richmond area, look her up! (more pics coming soon!)

 

 

 

[four]

This past week I also managed to complete my first 5k in ages. I had such a good time finishing with one of my dearest friends. You can find the highlights here.

 

 

[five]

We're coming down to crunch time. G's first birthday is right around the corner. We have family coming in this week to celebrate (I can't wait!). I'm busy making decorations, planning food, checking my list and anxiously awaiting the day. Where did the time go?

 

36 week ultrasound

Admitted...6cm and going strong at 37 1/2 weeks

Our gorgeous miracle

Our precious family...finally home

 





Counting Candles

You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.

Psalm 139:16

29 and holding...at least for the next year...Today was filled with bittersweet memories and wonderful things. We began celebrating last night (only because my husband had to work today). I came home from work to a very clean house, one of my favorite dinners on the table, and my all time favorite ice cream cake! What a wonderful man I've married!

G enjoyed her first ice cream cake experience

After not sleeping well I wasn't sure I wanted to begin a new age. I was just getting a grasp of living life as a 28 year old. I made it to work and was greeted by some "happy birthday" sentiments. A few of my co-workers threw me a wonderful birthday breakfast. Once the school bell rang my students came in with lots of well wishes, cards and a gift or two. By the end of the day my door was covered in precious handwritten birthday wishes.

The music teacher even taught the students a sweet version of Happy Birthday with movement! I wish I could show you but the file doesn't want to cooperate.

Also, a couple of my friends got together and sent me a beautiful mini rose bush.

My adoring husband sent me some beautiful flowers from both he and my daughter.

I've been kind of in a slump lately and it was so nice to be surrounded by so much love today. Not to mention my best friend sent me a lovely new purse.

As the sun sets on this day, I've been doing a lot of reflecting. This past year I've learned and re-learned a lot of important things. I still have things I'm facing that I'd hoped to leave behind me, but alas, I remain a work in progress.

There are a few core truths I've been reminded of over the past year...
-Apologize no matter how much it hurts or what it may cost
-Savor every second with those you love
-Comparison kills joy
-No battle can be won on my own
-Hearts mend
-True friends walk through the storms of life with you
-Change can't occur if I remain stagnant

While there are so many other things that have come to light over this past year, I know there is still much for me to do and learn.

I've managed to accomplish many things this year, but the greatest of my achievements is the birth of my daughter. My life has been so much fuller thanks to that redheaded, little blue-eyed girl. When I think back to Psalm 139:16, I'm in awe of how God knows what my days will hold. He knew when I would become a wife, a mother, a teacher and so on. He knows me better than I know myself and while not every moment of my life has been rosy, it has been purposeful. He knew I'd make mistakes and He knew I would achieve great things and I believe He still has wonderful things prepared for me. I have precious silent prayers in my heart...hope for things unseen.

While it hasn't always been easy to trust Him (which admitting that out loud makes me realize just how ridiculous it is...but I'm human) I know He has my best interests at heart.

I've made some progress on my 30 by 30 list and I hope to accomplish all of these things...granted I won't be too hard on myself if that doesn't happen. Either way, I plan to have a good time trying. I want to thank everyone who has helped to make this day wonderful and I send up a praise of true thanks to the One who saw fit to bring me into this world. God has a purpose for this life and while I don't know where this road will take me, I hope to make the best of the ride.

 

Hitting the Pavement: HoosHeal 5k Recap

 

We woke up bright and early...before the sun...to get ready for the HoosHeal 5k. My close friend, Shannon, and I headed to Charlottesville for the race. The day was perfect...a little colder than expected, but beautiful nonetheless. The sun was out and spirits were high. My hubby brought our daughter to cheer us on.

We picked up our bibs, t-shirts, and goodie bags. We pinned on our bibs and watched as numerous racers came to join us. This was Shannon's first 5k and it was my first race post-baby. I was not nearly trained up enough but I still felt good just be among others excited about such a worthy cause. The funds from the race went towards the Pediatric Hematology/Oncology at UVA Children's Hospital.

As the morning went on, we all made our way to the starting line. We were greeted by the race coordinator. A mother who's daughter received cancer treatment at UVA gave a brief speech. As we all became teary from the sweet sentiments and the little girl's positive remission status, we began gearing up for the miles ahead of us.

The starting line

As the little girl blew the starting whistle, we took off. We kept with our walk/jog plan and kept a pretty steady pace. We tackled a couple unexpected hills and some poorly marked parts of our route with smiles on our faces. Racing is so much better when you have someone else cheering you on.

While I didn't capture any pictures during our race, I was sure to get some before and after shots. Shannon is pumped for another race and thus, I am scouring one of my favorite race sites, Running in the USA, for upcoming races. April is packed so the next one won't be doable until at least May. I refuse to greet the heat of summer with a race so we may wait until the Fall to tackle another one if something does not come up in May.

G was not a fan of the Cav Man (Go VT!)

 

Final finish time...36:40!
Full results can be found here.

One thing I'm reminded of during every race I've done, is the fact that I do not have endurance. Even when I was training daily for an upcoming race, I still didn't have the stamina to maintain a run the whole time. I'm open to suggestions on how to do this. With a baby now and the area in which we live, my primary training happens on a treadmill. While that is far from my favorite way to train (I'd rather be outside), it is what it is. I'd love some stamina insight from those of you who far exceed my ability.

::via::

Despite my placement in the race, I finished...and I didn't finish last! I feel like we made great time for getting back in the saddle and I'm thrilled to check off one of my weight loss goals.

::via::

 

Entering One-derland

I still can't wrap my brain around that fact that in about two weeks my daughter will be turning one! Before coming a mother it is hard to believe that time will move as quickly as it does. When you have difficulty conceiving, time drags. You suffer through the meds, the 2WW, and the countless negative pregnancy tests...until you get that one...that one stick with two lines. Those two beautiful lines change your life forever. You patiently (or not so much) wait for 9 months to meet the tiny human that you have been so humbly chosen to grow and carry.

The first couple of months are a blur as feeding and sleeping schedules consume every aspect of your life. Then, one day, you blink and your baby, the tiny human that you once longed to greet into the world, has accomplished so many milestones and has reached the age of one. One seems like such a tiny number until your child reaches the age. At that point, at least for me, the number seems huge! How could time have escaped me even though I have loved and tried to cherish each fleeting moment?

Thanks to some good friends of ours, we were able to capture some wonderful memories today. My friend Shay, an amazing photographer and owner of  Shay White Photography, came to take some family pictures and to capture a few sweet moments celebrating G's upcoming first birthday. I can't wait to post some pictures from the photo session. Until then, I'll leave you with some candid photos of our precious little girls.

G was really enjoying the story read by Uncle Jake

Baby C was listening to her daddy read

G had an uncontrollable urge to poke and point at C...

and C was not a fan...

so she decided to poke back.

I love these two so much! I can only hope that they will grow up to just as good of friends as their moms are.

Five on Friday

It's finally Spring...both in season and in current temperatures! April showers are sure to bring May flowers and Fridays bring their Five. Join me and others for this week's Five on Friday!

[one]
While this week has not been so great in the way of my exercise and weight loss, it has been great for some semi-baking. I don't normally participate in April Fool type festivities, but I could not resist. I provided my students with a word hunt that didn't actually have any of the listed words in the puzzle. The cuties poured over it for several minutes, muttering under their breaths about the difficulty. After a few minutes I broke the news. All but one proved to be good sports...I also shared some goodies with my co-workers. I tried a new recipe for Chocolate Yummies (the title does not do them justice...they were delish!) I put them in a little zip lock baggy promising inaccurate nutritional information...and then dashed their hopes at the end. Nothing fancy but totally fun :)

[two]
I've been cherishing some God moments this week. One of which is a small group Bible study that I am hoping to begin. I feel God moving and I see things coming together. Due to some needs that I'll need to meet in order for this to happen, we will (in the VERY near future) be transforming our office/catch-all room into a playroom (multi-purpose). I've been toying with some ideas. I want some thing bright but not too complicated or overwhelming. We do have hopes to move in the next couple of years and don't want something that will turn away potential buyers. However, we want it to be kid friendly...here are some of my ideas. I'd love some suggestions!


[three]
How could I not take advantage of this gorgeous weather?! Flip-flops, shorts and open windows. Glorious! G and I have spent the last few evenings outside after dinner. Yes, there are many things I could be doing that would allow my house to be cleaner and more organized but these moments spent with her are so precious and fleeting. I will never be able to get them back...all of this is becoming more bittersweet as we quickly approach her first birthday.

[four]
As I mentioned in a previous post, I've been feeling particularly sentimental these days and decided to make an album/pregnancy journal leading up to G's birth. I loved putting it together! It came in the mail yesterday and I've looked through it a dozen times! I can't get enough of reliving and savoring every moment.

[five]
Earlier this week, I heard my husband calling me from the living room while I was doing dishes. He insisted I take a look at that evening's sunset. The sky was stunning (the picture does not do it justice). We just stood there and took in God's gorgeous creation. How sweet it is to think that God made that sunset just for us in that moment. How He loves to bring joy to the hearts of His children.
 

 

 

 

 

 

Silent Moments

You know those moments...those God moments? The kind that hit you in the silence and yet seem so loud when His presence touches your heart? I love those moments. I cherish those moments. I need those moments. There are times in my life like the present when my relationship with Christ seems a bit more quiet than at other times. While I know He's there, I feel distant.

I know I'm to blame because He is always there. Though I may not hear Him, He is speaking and listening to my heart. While I may feel alone in my thoughts, He is aware of every. single. one. Last night the house was still. The baby was sleeping peacefully across the hall and my husband was gone on a fire call. It was just me in the silence.

While getting ready for bed, I felt prompted to pick up my old Bible. My mom gave me this Bible in 2000...hard to believe it's 14 years old. The cover was slightly dusty, but it felt just like I remembered. Suddenly, all of the anxiety and past emotions that have been rising to the surface this week were stilled. I just sat there...in the silence. A couple of books from the New Testament were falling out from years of use and the pages were filled with underlines, highlighter, notes in the margins and post-it notes. I was reminded of all of the joy and tears that I had poured over those pages. I remembered the moments of peace that the underline passages provided at just the right time.

In those few moments I felt so at peace despite the angst that I've been carrying. I felt God's presence fill the room. In those silent moments I was reminded that even though my heart battles the past and hopes for the future, He has given me the present. I decided to open that Bible and focus on the first thing my eyes ran across. The book fell open to Proverbs 19:21.

 

Many plans occupy the mind of a man, but the Lord's purposes will prevail.

So very timely. I sat and stared at the words on the page. I let them soak into my soul, swirl into my mind, and take root in my heart. While I still cling to things hoped for, I am learning to let go. My life is a continuous example of what God can do with a life. His work is woven throughout my life's story. His protection, His guidance, His goodness...all of those things and more weave the thread that holds this imperfect person together.

I eagerly seek more silent moments. It's often in those moments that He speaks the loudest.

Chicken with Drop Dumplings

The other night I was craving my grandma's soup...loving deemed "Uncle Curtis' Soup". If there is an actual name for it, no one in the family knows. In fact, on my recipe card the recipe is simply labeled "soup". It has forever been my uncle's request at family gatherings and I grew up expecting this soup every Christmas (and maybe once or twice throughout the year if we were lucky.) My grandma has three dishes that compete to be my favorite: meatloaf, flat pancakes, and Uncle Curtis' Soup. The only thing that ever tastes like she makes it when I attempt it in the kitchen is the soup.

She has such distinct handwriting...pulling out this recipe card always brings sweet memories.

So back to the other night. I was really wanting her soup. I knew thought I had everything, right down to the spices. Unfortunately I realized, only after I began cooking, that I did not have smoked sausage. I decided to get a little creative and came up with my spin on Chicken n' Dumplings. I hope you'll enjoy this just as much as we did! You can't beat something made in the big red pot.

Chicken with Drop Dumplings

Ingredients:
2tbsp butter
1 clove minced garlic
1/4c diced onions
2c chicken broth
1c water
1 1/2 tsp Hungarian Paprika
1-2c cooked, diced chicken

Dumplings:
2eggs
dash of salt
3/4c flour


Begin by melting 2 tablespoons of butter in the bottom of your pot.



Add 1 clove of minced garlic and 1/4c diced onion. Allow to cook for a few minutes to draw out the flavor. The onions will become translucent as they cook.

Once the veggies are good to go, add 2 cups of chicken stock and 1 cup of water. Stir in 1 1/2 tsp. Hungarian paprika and a dash of salt and pepper. Allow it to simmer on low heat.

While the broth simmers, grab a medium size bowl and combine the following ingredients to make the dumplings: 2 eggs, a dash of salt, and 3/4c flour. Mix well. The dough will be thick.

In small spoonfuls, drop the dough into the simmering liquid. The dumplings will cook as the broth continues to heat. The dumplings will swell a bit. Continue to add the dumpling dough until you are stratified with the amount of dumplings in the soup.

Finally add 1-2c of diced chicken. I had some leftover rotisserie chicken and that worked very well. Otherwise, cooked chicken breast would do. allow the soup to cook through and continue to season to taste.

This soup was a big hit in our house and I hope the same for yours. Enjoy!