Promise and Possibility

Today I, along with my rambunctious red-head and a borrowed jogging stroller, will venture forth on my second 5k of the Spring season. This will be the first one I've done with a stroller, and thanks to a good friend of mine, I have appropriate baby jogging equipment. Who knows, it may even inspire me to invest...

While all of this is super exciting, I don't want to overshadow the importance of this race. There are thousands of amazing causes that races help support. This particular race helps others give a voice to those who do not have one. I'll be participating with many others today for the sake of saving lives...the lives of God's most precious gifts. The proceeds will go to a local agency that provides support in a variety of ways for women (teens included) who find themselves facing unplanned pregnancy. While these little lives are no surprise to God and His purpose for their precious existence has been set into motion, the mother, finding herself with child may not always rejoice in all that comes with new life. The Pregnancy Center "offers hope and answers to women with unplanned pregnancies."

I'll not use this post to rant, bombard you with facts, or weigh your heart down with nauseating statistics. Instead, I hope you will see the good in all that is. I hope you will take events like this, as I do, as opportunities to shine for Christ.

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I am so excited to share this time with my daughter. She was a promise. Through many trials, tears and prayers, God fulfilled the desire of my heart. He granted me the opportunity to add to this world in a way that I had only dreamed of being able to do.

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Sure kids make life messy...but it is the most wonderful, beautiful mess I've ever known!

I also want to draw attention to an urgent matter laid upon my heart. Several months ago a friend of mine brought the Dennis family's situation to my attention. I have prayed and cried for this couple since first reading their story. Last September they delivered their first daughter who joined Jesus 10 short hours after birth due to a terminal condition called anencephaly. She was diagnosed early on, and without all the medical lingo, it basically means that her brain was not/would not develop. When they were faced with this news, they were given the option to end their pregnancy. Their faith carried them and they chose to follow through with the pregnancy. She writes a beautiful explanation of why they chose to do so. My life has been changed through their testimony and the life of their daughter Sophie.

Today she posted some wonderful news. They are once again expecting! However, as I read on, the joy quickly becomes weaved with sadness. At 13 weeks they have discovered that this child has a rare illness known as acrania. This illness will have the same terminal result, but is different in that the baby's skull is not developing as opposed to the brain. The fact that this second child has a similar rare terminal illness is almost unheard of. They have decided to continue with this pregnancy as well, all the while praying for a miraculous healing. God is good. All. The. Time. While I can't begin to guess what God's plan is for this family or how things will turn out, I do know that God has grown an amazing testimony through this couple. I also know that He has used Sophie's life and all that is her story to change the world for so many. There is no doubt that she has made an amazing contribution to the Kingdom...in fact I'd venture to say that she has served the Lord in greater ways in her short 10 hours of life than many Christians do in 100 years.

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While I do very little justice in sharing just how loudly their faith, hope and joy resound, I do ask that you keep this beautiful family in your prayers. This September will mark 1 year since Sophie went to dance at the feet of Jesus and the emotions are still very raw...and now to add this to it...It's times like this that we as adults MUST revert to our child-like faith in order to not grow weary or bitter. His plan is greater than anything we could imagine or accomplish on our own.

As I draw this to a close, I put all of this out there to say that this race will be completed with all of my heart. G and I will be completing this race in memory of Sophie, in honor of her sibling and in honor of their parents who, along with God, have chosen to make their lives possible. Despite the length of life, these angels, my daughter and every other life included, are a promise. They are a possibility.

Promises and Possibilities

I look forward to sharing the day's events with you soon!!!

Five on Friday: More Odds and Ends

Fridays not only mean the blessing of another weekend, but they also mean escaping into the world of wonderful things captured and shared by myself and others for Five on Friday.

[one]
Temperatures have been well above normal for this time of year...I'm not a fan of heat and these summer like temps have me wanting to run through a sprinkler with reckless abandon...but instead, I'll spare my neighbors (in a small town rumors spread) and indulge in one of my favorite things...ice cream! I happened upon this delicious combination of two of my favorite flavors, chocolate and peanut butter. I strongly encourage you to treat your sweet tooth to Breyer's Blasts Reese's Peanut Butter Cups*. Yum!

[two]
On Tuesday I was gifted a wonderful surprise. My mom had sent me flowers! I was later informed that they were supposed to be delivered on Friday for Mother's Day and then again on Monday since the flower shopped was swamped on Saturday. Needless to say, these gorgeous flowers arrived a couple days late but no less appreciated. Star Gazer Lilies have always been my favorite flowers. They are currently filling my living room with their intoxicating fragrance.

[three]
We are in the midst of transitioning our office into a playroom. This has been quite an undertaking. Between moving multiple items, along with furniture, ridding our home of items we've not used or seen in a while and painting both the walls and ceiling, I have been worn out. I've had no trouble falling asleep this week. We're almost done and I'm looking forward to doing some decorating. I have the curtains to sew and I'm working on finding items to hang upon the walls. I'm also on the hunt for some kid friendly toy organizing ideas. This is one idea I'm considering thanks to DIY&Crafts. More to come on that soon...

[four]
Strawberries! Whipped cream and cheesecake, oh my! Fried cheesecake! I was supposed to make this dessert for Cinco de Mayo but schedule conflicts arose. This delicious dessert takes a little time to prepare...but it's so worth it!! (I did make my cheesecake from scratch...The whipped creamy boxed version won't work for this.)

Time saving tips: make and bread the cheesecake ahead of time and store in the freezer. Pull it out and fry when you're ready. To cut down on even more time, purchase pre-made cheesecake bites from your local grocer's freezer section.

Here are some of the palette pleasing nuggets of bliss. Now imagine them layered with fresh strawberries and whipped cream (since I forgot to snap a picture)...yum!

[five]
Tomorrow I'll be heading out early with G and my friend Terri for The Baby Run 5k! I'm really excited to be hitting the pavement for such a wonderful agency. This will be G's first 5k...run baby run!

*I was not compensated in any way to give my recommendation for this product.

You'll Need a Spoon

Some of my fondest memories growing up centered around the gatherings in which one of my favorite soups was made. It has always been known as "Uncle Curtis' Soup", however upon receiving the recipe in my Grandma's familiar penmanship, it was simply labeled "Soup".

The weather has once again cooled down and with a steady rain, I was drawn to making some comfort food. I had everything I'd need for this recipe and knew it just had to be made. Now, do be aware that this recipe makes A LOT! However, it does freeze well. I hope you'll enjoy this family favorite...

 

Soup

 

Ingredients:

1 onion, diced

1 tbsp. oil

1lb smoked sausage (I usually use turkey or chicken), sliced

2 tbsp. Hungarian Paprika (there is a difference)

8 1/2c water

4 bay leaves

12 cloves

3 medium potatoes

8oz sour cream (I use low fat)

 

For the dumplings:

3/4c flour

dash of salt

2 eggs

 

Directions:

In a large soup pot, heat the oil and sauté the onion. Add the sausage and paprika. Mix well. Add the water, bay leaves, cloves and potatoes. (Here is a time saver...wash the potatoes, wrap in a paper towel and microwave for 8-10 minutes or until they are slightly tender. Cube and then add to the soup.)

 

Bring the pot to a boil.

 

As the soup is heating, prepare the dumplings. Take a small bowl and combine the flour, salt and eggs. Mix until a thick dough forms. Once the soup is boiling, spoon small amounts of the dough into the pan. Allow the dumplings to cook for 5-7 minutes. Add the sour cream and allow the soup to thoroughly heat through.

 

Remove from the heat and remove the bay leaves. Serve with a crusty bread and salad...enjoy!

Print this recipe



A Mother's Love

There are just some things that you won't understand until you're older. I remember my mom telling me this through the elementary school years of bullies, divorce and fair weather friendships. This rang true as a teenager as I muddled through broken hearts, others' poor choices and shattered dreams. Even as I became an adult there were things that I did not understand.  One of those things was her sincere unconditional love. It didn't matter that I had faults, that I didn't become a doctor or that I didn't remain close to home. There has never been a moment in my life that I was not certain that I was loved.

Now not everyone can say this and my heart breaks for them. To know wholeheartedly that I would be loved and accepted no matter what gave me the confidence to move forward with my goals and dreams. I never truly understood or appreciated this until I became a mother. From the moment those two lines showed their colors on my pregnancy test I began to love my child with a fierceness that I have never known.

As I look back on the year that has passed since my first Mother's Day, I am that much more in love with my daughter.  I want her to know that I will love her no matter what. I value her. I support her. I am her biggest fan.

Mother's Day 2013

I also thank God for a mother who continues to be my best friend and a strong supporter of my dreams.

This Mother's Day was spent with my husband and daughter. I was treated to lunch at my favorite restaurant and a new cellphone, which I love. The sweetest moments however came in the snuggles before bed and the firm grasp of my husband as he held my hand throughout the day. I cherish those little moments.

There is nothing like being a mom. It is truly the hardest but most rewarding job in the world. It is an amazing feeling to wake up everyday and do what I know in my heart I was created to do.

Five on Friday:Dinos, Dining and Darlings

While the school year is winding down, we still have a lot to push through in the three remaining weeks we have left. While the weeks have been flying by, the days seem so long. Needless to say, I am grateful for Friday. I'd love it if you'd join me and others for this week's Five on Friday.

 

 

[one]

This week is National Teacher Appreciation Week. I am so blessed to work with the staff, administration and families that I do. Not only do we have an amazing staff, but we also have a phenomenal PTO. This week we were showered with all sorts of gratitude. The PTO brought in an Olive Garden lunch with desserts. The school board provided Pizza Hut for lunch one day, and this does not include the other delights that were delivered to us by various parents and partners from our school community.

 

The GOTR team made us posters for our doors

The PTO sent treat bags for all of the teachers

 

[two]

Our little red head has gained quite the independent streak as of late. She does not want Mommy to help her eat. She wants to do it on her own. While she's been eating finger foods for quite some time, she has only toyed with her utensils. Well...toy no more. She officially feeds herself with a fork. Where did my little baby go?!

 

[three]

At the beginning of April, my friend Shannon and I made it through the Hoos Heal 5k. You can catch the recap here. We had a blast! Races are a lot of fun even if I hate training for them. I'm still not sure how a person who hates to run/jog convinces herself to participate in races that center around the same activity. There's really no logic. So naturally I would be looking for another race. We've scoped out a couple that may pose possibility while we're in Georgia in June. We're just not sure if time will allow it. For now, I've convinced another friend of mine to participate in The Baby Run 5k. We're registered and ready to go. Proceeds from this race will benefit an agency that I've helped to sponsor in the past and hold in high esteem, the Blue Ridge Pregnancy Center. If you're local, I hope you'll join us on May 17th!

[four]
This week we've been doing some extension activities in class. The focus? Dinosaurs! I've always been fascinated by these creatures and I love to share this interest with my students. During one of our discussions on fossils, trace fossils to be exact, I had the students create their own "trace fossils" out of salt dough. It's amazing how three simple ingredients and a few plastic dinosaurs could excite and educate at the same time.

 

To make the salt dough, you'll need three simple ingredients: 2c flour, 1c salt, and 1c water. Mix them together well so that the mixture forms a well worked dough. From there you can decide how you use it. To make our trace fossils, each student was provided with a ball of dough. They flattened it and "walked" their dinosaur toys through it, leaving impressions. Dry overnight, flip over the next day, and dry one more night...and ta-da!

 

 

[five]

Finally, I want to send a huge shout out to my mom friends. I have several friends expecting and some who will be celebrating their first Mother's Day. It has been such a blessing to see these dreams come to fruition and to watch them grow. May God continue to bless and keep you all.



 

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Cinco de Mayo 2014 Food and Flair

As promised, here are the tidbits from our Cinco de Mayo "celebration". (Side note: I had many more plans but found out late Sunday evening that my hubby would have to work and would not be home until Wednesday...I opted out of some of the decorations and I put our engagement dessert in the freezer for a later date. I couldn't eat it alone...it just would not be right. I'll be sure to share as soon as possible.)

I'll begin with the simple, modest décor.

It began with a delightful bag of mini peppers in beautiful, festive colors. I put them in the base of one of my punch bowls...and it worked quite nicely. I discovered this adorable (free) Fiesta printable at The 36th Avenue. There are several fun printables that you could utilize at next year's Cinco de Mayo bash.

 The red candle holders added a little extra flair.

I ran across another fun printable by The Idea Room. I used these to make napkin rings for my cutlery. The plates and colorful cutlery meshed well with my red place mats.



Now for my favorite part...the food!!!

I chose to make one tried and true recipe while experimenting with another. I'll begin with one of my new favorite creations, Mexican Confetti Rice. Of course you can find oodles of recipes for rice under similar names consisting of various ingredients. I chose to go with some of my favorite flavors, mixed it in a pot, and TADA! To view and print this recipe, click here or on the picture below!

Mexican Confetti Rice

Ingredients: 2c brown (or white rice) 1 3/4c low sodium chicken broth 1 can diced tomatoes with green chilies 1/2c whole kernel corn 1/2c black beans, rinsed 1tsp cumin 1 clove garlic, minced 1tbsp oil Directions: Cook the rice according to the package directions using the chicken broth instead of water. In a skillet, heat your oil and sauté the garlic. Cook for 1 minute. Add the corn and beans. As they begin to heat through, mix in the tomatoes and chilies. Stir in the cumin. Allow the vegetables to cook through. Mix the vegetables in with the rice. Serve with a dollop or two of sour cream. Makes 8 servings.

It's not like the Mexican Confetti Rice isn't hardy enough to stand on it's own, but this girl likes a little more protein. I paired this rice with one of our favorites, Tequila Lime Chicken. It's super simple, easy on the waistline and oh, so good! You can find this delicious dish here or by clicking the picture below.

Tequila Lime Chicken

Ingredients: 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts 1/2c tequila 1/2c lime juice 1tbsp honey 1tbsp minced parsley Directions: In a zip lock gallon size bag, combine the tequila, lime, honey and parsley. Seal the bag and squeeze the bag to mix the ingredients. Add your chicken. Allow to marinate at least 4 hours, although overnight is better. Preheat your grill to 400. Grill the chicken about 10 minutes on each side or until the juices run clear and there is no pink left in the chicken. Allow to rest 5 minutes before serving. As much fun as it was to put this meal together, the highlight was watching my daughter become quite the pro with her fork. She may learn good table manners after all.

Cinco de My-oh-my

While many of you may be going out to celebrate with a margarita or two, we'll be eating in. Even so, we have a lot to celebrate!

7 years ago today, my amazing husband (then boyfriend asked the question that would change our lives. On bended knee at the base of the Clock Tower, the love of my life asked me to marry him...and of course I said "yes!"

The place of our proposal

All smiles!

Happily engaged!

Just a quick side note...just hours a part on that same day, one of my dearest friends and her boyfriend also got engaged. When we talked on the phone that night we could not believe we had the same type of news to share! She and I could not have found better men and to make things even better, the two of them clicked during our dating years and we've all been friends ever since!

One of our annual fall trips to a local orchard



It's hard to believe that it has been 7 years since that day. The Lord has blessed our lives immensely and for that we remain grateful.

I've put together a festive menu and some fun décor for tonight's dinner that I look forward to sharing with you soon. On the list is the same dessert that we had the night of our engagement (only it will be homemade, so let's hope I do it justice).

How will you celebrate the 5th of May?