Here at our house we are incredibly SAD to see summer go. We will miss the long hours of daylight, my babies being home everyday, swimming everyday, eating our meals outside and just the joy that summertime brings. With each school year that begins it is a sharp painful reminder that my kids are another year older. Every summer seems a little shorter and my kids seem to get bigger, faster with each passing year. The hustle and bustle of daytime activities and chores keep my mind busy but at night when my kids are tucked in, and lunches for the next day are made, I find myself wondering, questioning if I am doing enough?
I hope and pray that everyday I am sowing seeds in my kids garden of life. Seeds to equip them with confidence to stand up in what they believe in, seeds that trigger their little souls to help others...especially the ones that can't repay you. Seeds of empathy for the trials that others are facing. Seeds of faith to know that even when they can't see ahead that God is already there. Seeds of hunger to yearn for more of a life like Jesus and in Jesus.
The older my kids get the more and more time they will have outside of my nest. The more time they will be away from this mamma's watchful eye. I know that the seeds that are planted inside of their garden now are seeds that will remain with them always. I know that every decision I make, every move I make is being seen by little eyes and heard by little ears. It is in my actions and in my words that the seeds are sown in my kids.
" May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to You my rock and my Lord " Psalms 19:14 and may my actions be the type of actions that honor God. My hope and prayer is that I can be an example to my children.
Babbling Brooke
Wednesday, August 19, 2015
Tuesday, July 21, 2015
Summer Salads
Cantaloupe Proscuitto Salad
Ingredients:
1 cantaloupe, diced
1/2 lb Proscuitto, cook in skillet until crispy
1/4 cup feta cheese, crumbled
3-4 mint leaves, diced
Mix together cantaloupe, Proscuitto, feta and then garnish with the mint. Delish and easy!
SWEET & SPICY SALAD
Ingredients:
3-4 peaches, diced
3-4 strawberries, diced
1/3 red onion, diced
1 jalepeno, seeds removed & diced
1/3 cup of feta cheese, crumbled
3 leaves of mint, chopped
Combine all ingredients and then garnish with mint.
Saturday, June 20, 2015
Daddy Dearest
In the very first days they discovered the safety he provided. From the very beginning they found a sense of calm when he cradled them in his arms. As they grew they would smile when they saw him, they would turn their heads to look for him when they heard his voice. As the years have passed they have cried out to him when they were hurt or yelled for him when they saw a bug that needed to be killed. He is their dad and he has always provided safety.
He works hard for his family. On days when he is under the weather, on days when their little hands are wrapped around his legs begging "please don't leave", on days when it is gorgeous out and it sure would be nice to skip work; even then he works. When he comes home from the office his work isn't done. He mows the lawn, builds pretend forts and throws the kids 'as high as the sky.' His back is tired, he would love nothing more than to sit but the smile they wear when he plays with them means far more than a tired back. He is their dad and his job is never done.
He loves the Lord and more than anything else he wants to show His kids this love. He wants his children to find that same love for the Lord. He goes to church, he prays in front of his kids, and he tells them bible stories. He is involved in ministries at church, he practices what he preaches, and he gives of himself and his possession's to those who have a need. He is their dad and he shows them Jesus everyday through his very own actions.
Dad's you are special! We don't tell you enough just how important you are. Thank you for the safety, sacrifices and love that you show us! You have such an important job. Your sons will grow to be just like you, so live life well. Your daughters will marry someone much like you, so live life well. Remember the little eyes in your house. You are their hero and those little eyes are watching not just what you say but how you live life.
Happy Father's Day to all the Wonderful dads out there!! This weekend let's take time to tell our dad's that we love them and how much they mean to us. Let's also take time to pray for them. Let's pray for them to be strong spiritual leaders!! Thanks be to God for the blessing of DAD'S!!!
He works hard for his family. On days when he is under the weather, on days when their little hands are wrapped around his legs begging "please don't leave", on days when it is gorgeous out and it sure would be nice to skip work; even then he works. When he comes home from the office his work isn't done. He mows the lawn, builds pretend forts and throws the kids 'as high as the sky.' His back is tired, he would love nothing more than to sit but the smile they wear when he plays with them means far more than a tired back. He is their dad and his job is never done.
He loves the Lord and more than anything else he wants to show His kids this love. He wants his children to find that same love for the Lord. He goes to church, he prays in front of his kids, and he tells them bible stories. He is involved in ministries at church, he practices what he preaches, and he gives of himself and his possession's to those who have a need. He is their dad and he shows them Jesus everyday through his very own actions.
Dad's you are special! We don't tell you enough just how important you are. Thank you for the safety, sacrifices and love that you show us! You have such an important job. Your sons will grow to be just like you, so live life well. Your daughters will marry someone much like you, so live life well. Remember the little eyes in your house. You are their hero and those little eyes are watching not just what you say but how you live life.
Happy Father's Day to all the Wonderful dads out there!! This weekend let's take time to tell our dad's that we love them and how much they mean to us. Let's also take time to pray for them. Let's pray for them to be strong spiritual leaders!! Thanks be to God for the blessing of DAD'S!!!
Sunday, May 31, 2015
My God is So Big!!
Every Sunday our church has a time where they call all children 2 years through 5th grade up on stage to sing a song before the church and then they are escorted out to "children's church" where they get to have a kid-friendly lesson during the adults sermon. Today was no different. Our worship leader told the kids to come on stage and like every other sunday some kids ran onto the stage, some walked at a turtle speed and a few were still reaching for their moms and dads as their parents pushed them onto the stage.
The worship leader tells the kids what song they will be singing and a second later it begins. Some kids belting out the words as if they need people in the parking lot to hear, some kids not singing but exaggerating every hand and arm motion that goes with the words while casually punching the kids beside them, and then the kids that are still upset to be up there; the kids that stare off into space and pretend they don't even know a song is being sung. Parents are looking on at their kids and are either beaming with pride or are shielding their eyes hoping that the song ends soon.
Today, May 31, 2015, was different. Today, everyone in the sanctuary watched the children sing, heard their words and did not want it to end. The children sang aloud
"My God is So Big! So Strong & So Mighty! There's Nothing My God Cannot Do!"
the children flexing their arms to show their muscles as they sang "so strong & so mighty" and giggling as they waved their fingers "there's nothing my God cannot do"
"The Mountains are His! The Valleys are His! The Trees are His Handiwork too!"
Today was different because as the carefree children sang their song the adults in our congregation weren't feeling so carefree. One of the precious little kids in the very group that sings on that stage has just been diagnosed with a brain tumor. A perfect, innocent little two year old girl now has a brain tumor. As the children sang the adults hung onto their every word. As they sang
"My God is So Big!"
the adults were reminded He is bigger than a tumor. As they sang
"So Strong & So Mighty!"
the adults were reminded He is stronger than any tumor. As they sang
"There's Nothing My God Cannot Do!"
the adults were reminded that there is NOTHING that God cannot do.
A song that has been sung in our congregation a million times before suddenly had new meaning. Everyone needed that song, that reminder. Little Ivey has some important appointments ahead of her and her family. There is a lot of fear and anxiety that goes with her diagnosis but today we were all reminded of the Strong, Mighty God we serve. We were reminded that there is Nothing that our God cannot do.
Tonight I ask that you pray for Ivey and her parents. I ask that you pray for healing and for a calming peace to blanket her family as they wait upcoming appointments.
The worship leader tells the kids what song they will be singing and a second later it begins. Some kids belting out the words as if they need people in the parking lot to hear, some kids not singing but exaggerating every hand and arm motion that goes with the words while casually punching the kids beside them, and then the kids that are still upset to be up there; the kids that stare off into space and pretend they don't even know a song is being sung. Parents are looking on at their kids and are either beaming with pride or are shielding their eyes hoping that the song ends soon.
Today, May 31, 2015, was different. Today, everyone in the sanctuary watched the children sing, heard their words and did not want it to end. The children sang aloud
"My God is So Big! So Strong & So Mighty! There's Nothing My God Cannot Do!"
the children flexing their arms to show their muscles as they sang "so strong & so mighty" and giggling as they waved their fingers "there's nothing my God cannot do"
"The Mountains are His! The Valleys are His! The Trees are His Handiwork too!"
Today was different because as the carefree children sang their song the adults in our congregation weren't feeling so carefree. One of the precious little kids in the very group that sings on that stage has just been diagnosed with a brain tumor. A perfect, innocent little two year old girl now has a brain tumor. As the children sang the adults hung onto their every word. As they sang
"My God is So Big!"
the adults were reminded He is bigger than a tumor. As they sang
"So Strong & So Mighty!"
the adults were reminded He is stronger than any tumor. As they sang
"There's Nothing My God Cannot Do!"
the adults were reminded that there is NOTHING that God cannot do.
A song that has been sung in our congregation a million times before suddenly had new meaning. Everyone needed that song, that reminder. Little Ivey has some important appointments ahead of her and her family. There is a lot of fear and anxiety that goes with her diagnosis but today we were all reminded of the Strong, Mighty God we serve. We were reminded that there is Nothing that our God cannot do.
Tonight I ask that you pray for Ivey and her parents. I ask that you pray for healing and for a calming peace to blanket her family as they wait upcoming appointments.
Thursday, May 14, 2015
The Legacy of June
She is the kind of woman that never has a hair out of place, the kind of woman that always knows just what to say, the kind of woman that exudes class, the kind of woman that could enjoy crumpets and tea with Queen Elizabeth and later that day be digging in the dirt planting herbs and vegetables in her garden.
"She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future." Proverbs 31:25
To see her you might think that surely she has never faced any hardships. Surely that is why she can look so fabulous and always have a smile on her face. To know her is to know that it could not be further from the truth. Many a hardships she has faced...single motherhood, breast cancer, the closing of her beloved University where she taught for many years. The thing that sets her apart in the midst of such trials is that her hope comes from the Lord. She has witnessed God's faithfulness over and over in her life. Through trials she is able to smile because she knows that resting her trials at the feet of the Lord is always the best place to lay them.
"When she speaks, her words are wise, and she gives instructions with kindness." Proverbs 31:26
She is slow to speak and when she does it is in a manner that honors the Lord and makes those around her feel blessed by hearing her words. In 2009 she was in New York with my grandmother when they received word that my dad had a stroke. The prognosis at the time was grim. June sat at my grandmothers side opened her bible and began reading aloud from Psalms. My grandmother still speaks of the blessing that moment was to her and the way that June was able to calm her with the reading of God's word.
"She extends a helping hand to the poor and opens her arms to the needy." Proverbs 31:20
Countless times she has gone to the jungles of Panama to offer her services on medical mission trips. If you have been privileged to go with her you have witnessed her hustle and bustle giving of herself in the service of glorifying the kingdom. At the end of the day when everyone circles up to pray you look around the circle everyone sweaty from the scorching jungle heat, everyone except June. There she stands in the circle in a perfectly starched white oxford shirt, a bandana tied around her neck and a smile on her face. All the Panamanians know and love her for her gentle hands, warm smile and giving spirit.
She has impacted everyone that has been blessed to know her. Whether you have known her from Lambuth, Skyline, Master Gardener's, or just from residing in Jackson; I have no doubt that your life has been blessed. She is a believer of the word of God and she lives out the word of God. Hearing that she would be moving to Missouri to start a new chapter with her daughter and family most were heart broken for selfish reasons but happy for this new phase for her.
While we all miss June, madly, we have all been impacted and inspired to be a better version of ourselves. Thank you June for living a life that serves the Lord and others. Thank you June for the legacy that has been laid out for all of us that know you. June, you truly are more precious than rubies to all that know you!!
Wednesday, May 13, 2015
Like A Sheep
Have you ever seen a sheep in real life? The sheep that I see in paintings are always so clean and white; so perfect. Recently, our family took a trip to the zoo and when we came up to the sheep I was a little surprised to see how dirty and hairy they were. The sheep that I saw had blemishes and were in desperate need of a makeover to look like the perfect one's that are portrayed in so many paintings.
Recently, I heard a study on sheep. The study peaked my interest so I took to the internet to further my research on sheep. I read that sheep see each others faces, they study each others faces and they remember other sheep for years just by their faces. They see past the blemishes and imperfect hair that they sometimes have and just see the other sheep's faces. They know that the hair can be cut and the blemishes refined so they don't focus on any of that and instead focus on the face of the sheep around them. They study the faces and they know the other sheep by the way their eyes slant, the width of their nose and the shape of their mouths. I also found that sheep travel in herds and they know each sheep's voice in their herd. They each have a unique voice and when one sheep from the herd has wandered the others are able to find the sheep and recognize that he is from their herd by the sound of his voice.
I couldn't help but think of us as Christian's when I read about the sheep. So many times we paint these pictures of what the Christian should look like; when in reality most Christian's that I know, especially me, are full of blemishes. It is so easy to look at people who call themselves Christian's and see their needs for improvement. The way that sheep see each other's faces should be the way that we look at other Christian's hearts. We should know each other by our hearts and not focus so much on each other's blemishes. We should be like the sheep and focus on each others hearts knowing that in Christ, the blemishes and imperfections can be refined and transformed.
I think we could learn a lot from sheep. Less focusing and judging of each other's imperfections and more loving and admiring of each other's hearts. I just want to be a sheep!
Recently, I heard a study on sheep. The study peaked my interest so I took to the internet to further my research on sheep. I read that sheep see each others faces, they study each others faces and they remember other sheep for years just by their faces. They see past the blemishes and imperfect hair that they sometimes have and just see the other sheep's faces. They know that the hair can be cut and the blemishes refined so they don't focus on any of that and instead focus on the face of the sheep around them. They study the faces and they know the other sheep by the way their eyes slant, the width of their nose and the shape of their mouths. I also found that sheep travel in herds and they know each sheep's voice in their herd. They each have a unique voice and when one sheep from the herd has wandered the others are able to find the sheep and recognize that he is from their herd by the sound of his voice.
I couldn't help but think of us as Christian's when I read about the sheep. So many times we paint these pictures of what the Christian should look like; when in reality most Christian's that I know, especially me, are full of blemishes. It is so easy to look at people who call themselves Christian's and see their needs for improvement. The way that sheep see each other's faces should be the way that we look at other Christian's hearts. We should know each other by our hearts and not focus so much on each other's blemishes. We should be like the sheep and focus on each others hearts knowing that in Christ, the blemishes and imperfections can be refined and transformed.
I think we could learn a lot from sheep. Less focusing and judging of each other's imperfections and more loving and admiring of each other's hearts. I just want to be a sheep!
Monday, April 27, 2015
The Single Mom Club
As a young girl she dreamed of many things. She would go outside, get a big bouquet of weeds and march down her pretend aisle. As she marched she sang "dun, dun du-dun" it was hard work being the bride, florist and singer but her pretend weddings were so fun. Even more fun than her pretend weddings was the daydreaming she would do of her real wedding day. She would picture the most beautiful wedding dress, the tallest of cakes, she saw the harp and all of her friends and family gathered together laughing and dancing. Everyone gathered together to watch her marry her prince charming.
Today has been a rough one. Packing lunches, getting breakfast on the table, washing little faces and calming tantrums. She makes it to work with not a minute to spare. She sits at her desk and realizes once again she left her lunch at home and has a whopping $7 in her checking account until her next pay day. She can't help but think how different life is from many of her friends.
She is in the club that she never thought she would be in...
The Single Mom Club.
A club that is anything but a club. It is a place that is often lonely and isolated. It is very hard to relate to her married friends. She goes home from an exhausting day at work and there is no one to help with kids homework, or supper or baths. No one to help support her in discipline. She is standing over the kitchen sink and zones out on her yester-years. She sees her childhood self dreaming of her wedding and her perfect life. She sees just how different life is; how much harder life is. Sometimes it would be so nice to just talk to an adult or have someone volunteer to take care of bath and bedtime.
The way she planned out her life is completely different than the reality that she is living. There are so many burdens but tonight as she stands in the doorway of her daughters room she is overwhelmed with her blessings. She watches as her daughter sleeps, her little mouth wide open her chest softly rising and falling. The blessings that these children have brought her far exceed her burdens. Life is tough but tonight she is full to the brim with joy.
To mom's like me, the one's who are blessed to be married, may we all recognize the single mothers in our life. May we love them hard and support them endlessly. Remember them and help them. Take them for coffee dates or take their kids for play dates. Call them, text them and include them. Remember that their club can be lonely and tough. As their friend look for ways to lighten their load. And always, always pray for your single mom friends!
Today has been a rough one. Packing lunches, getting breakfast on the table, washing little faces and calming tantrums. She makes it to work with not a minute to spare. She sits at her desk and realizes once again she left her lunch at home and has a whopping $7 in her checking account until her next pay day. She can't help but think how different life is from many of her friends.
She is in the club that she never thought she would be in...
The Single Mom Club.
A club that is anything but a club. It is a place that is often lonely and isolated. It is very hard to relate to her married friends. She goes home from an exhausting day at work and there is no one to help with kids homework, or supper or baths. No one to help support her in discipline. She is standing over the kitchen sink and zones out on her yester-years. She sees her childhood self dreaming of her wedding and her perfect life. She sees just how different life is; how much harder life is. Sometimes it would be so nice to just talk to an adult or have someone volunteer to take care of bath and bedtime.
The way she planned out her life is completely different than the reality that she is living. There are so many burdens but tonight as she stands in the doorway of her daughters room she is overwhelmed with her blessings. She watches as her daughter sleeps, her little mouth wide open her chest softly rising and falling. The blessings that these children have brought her far exceed her burdens. Life is tough but tonight she is full to the brim with joy.
To mom's like me, the one's who are blessed to be married, may we all recognize the single mothers in our life. May we love them hard and support them endlessly. Remember them and help them. Take them for coffee dates or take their kids for play dates. Call them, text them and include them. Remember that their club can be lonely and tough. As their friend look for ways to lighten their load. And always, always pray for your single mom friends!
Tuesday, April 21, 2015
Undeserved
Have you ever done something really stupid, really horrible? Something that totally didn't deserve forgiveness; but when you least deserved it and least expected it an olive branch was extended and someone forgave you of your hurtful actions or words. I certainly have.
Eight years ago, I was working in Memphis and it had been a really rough day. You know the kind of day where you find yourself on job search websites thinking surely there is something better out there. It was a day when payroll was being reduced (again) and the expectations of the job were being increased (again). I found myself, that day, under the microscope of my boss. Pressure was being put on him so he, in turn, was putting the hammer down on me.
I was angry, tired, bitter and feeling very unappreciated. I was very happy that day when my boss told me he was leaving early. As soon as his feet hit the parking lot I went to my office sat down at my computer and began typing an email. It was a nasty email full of rants about the job but mostly criticism about my boss. My co-worker was off that day and I needed to fill him in on just how horrible our boss was being and how frustrating the day had been. After several nasty paragraphs I felt better and I hit send. I grabbed my things and left for the day.
My husband and I had just sat down to dinner when my phone started ringing. It was my boss, ugh! I say "hello" he says "we need to talk about this email you sent me." My heart starts racing, my jaw has hit the floor and sweat is beading on my forehead. I ask "what email" he says "the one about how much you dislike your job and me" I run to the computer pull up my email and check the SENT file. OH MY GOSH!!! I had been thinking about how mad I was at him that I must have typed his name in the address line instead of my coworker. I was panicked, terrified and sick!! I jump in the car and head to work terrified of what is about to happen.
Upon arrival into my boss's office I am greeted with a smile. I just decide to be as brutally honest as possible. I tell him that the email was intended for someone else, I tell him that it had been a horrible day and that there was no excuse for the nasty email. I tell him I am sorry. His response and reaction were calm. He grinned big and said that he was glad he got the email. He said it made him realize he had some things to work on and that he and I needed to work on communication better. He told me that he forgave me.
Eight years later and still I am stunned. I could have easily lost my job or been reprimanded in some way but instead I was offered forgiveness and grace. I was humiliated and embarrassed but I walked away knowing what it felt like to be forgiven of something that I didn't deserve forgiveness for. The experience has caused me to have a heart to forgive often and to love much. It has also caused me to choose my words a little more wisely and always, always make sure I am sending my email to the right person, ha! Seriously though, we are all undeserved yet we are forgiven. Today and everyday, remember to forgive those that hurt you even the times when it is really really hard.
Eight years ago, I was working in Memphis and it had been a really rough day. You know the kind of day where you find yourself on job search websites thinking surely there is something better out there. It was a day when payroll was being reduced (again) and the expectations of the job were being increased (again). I found myself, that day, under the microscope of my boss. Pressure was being put on him so he, in turn, was putting the hammer down on me.
I was angry, tired, bitter and feeling very unappreciated. I was very happy that day when my boss told me he was leaving early. As soon as his feet hit the parking lot I went to my office sat down at my computer and began typing an email. It was a nasty email full of rants about the job but mostly criticism about my boss. My co-worker was off that day and I needed to fill him in on just how horrible our boss was being and how frustrating the day had been. After several nasty paragraphs I felt better and I hit send. I grabbed my things and left for the day.
My husband and I had just sat down to dinner when my phone started ringing. It was my boss, ugh! I say "hello" he says "we need to talk about this email you sent me." My heart starts racing, my jaw has hit the floor and sweat is beading on my forehead. I ask "what email" he says "the one about how much you dislike your job and me" I run to the computer pull up my email and check the SENT file. OH MY GOSH!!! I had been thinking about how mad I was at him that I must have typed his name in the address line instead of my coworker. I was panicked, terrified and sick!! I jump in the car and head to work terrified of what is about to happen.
Upon arrival into my boss's office I am greeted with a smile. I just decide to be as brutally honest as possible. I tell him that the email was intended for someone else, I tell him that it had been a horrible day and that there was no excuse for the nasty email. I tell him I am sorry. His response and reaction were calm. He grinned big and said that he was glad he got the email. He said it made him realize he had some things to work on and that he and I needed to work on communication better. He told me that he forgave me.
Eight years later and still I am stunned. I could have easily lost my job or been reprimanded in some way but instead I was offered forgiveness and grace. I was humiliated and embarrassed but I walked away knowing what it felt like to be forgiven of something that I didn't deserve forgiveness for. The experience has caused me to have a heart to forgive often and to love much. It has also caused me to choose my words a little more wisely and always, always make sure I am sending my email to the right person, ha! Seriously though, we are all undeserved yet we are forgiven. Today and everyday, remember to forgive those that hurt you even the times when it is really really hard.
Tuesday, April 14, 2015
When Will Enough Be Enough?
While I was still pregnant with my second child I was already devising a plan to get to my goal weight once the baby was born. As many people told me, losing the weight the second time is a little more difficult. Not sure if it is because of a second pregnancy or because I was a little older but what people told me was true. It took me around 9 months the second time and I was strict with my diet and exercise. I was stuck 3 pounds above my goal weight for about two months. I remember I would think if I can just hit my goal number I will be so happy.
The week that I finally reached my goal weight I was excited! I even took a picture and sent it to my husband. I think he was excited to not have to hear me complaining about it anymore. Much to his and my disappointment, I found myself, not even a day after reaching my goal, wondering if I would be happier if I could lose another 3-5 pounds. A question comes to my mind
"when will enough ever be enough?"
I look at my three year old daughter, watch her as she twirls around in her swimsuit. She proudly proclaims "look at me! I am on the dancing show!" She is referring to Dancing With The Stars. She says "mommy put your swimsuit on and dance with me you can be on the dancing show too." Now I don't know about you but the last time I looked my body is far from looking as tight and amazing as one of the dancers. In my young girls words there is so much confidence, so much sincerity.
She hasn't hit the awkward stage of middle school where you hate your body and the way you look. She sees all people the same and she doesn't even care about a number on a scale. She teaches me lessons everyday. Today the lesson is that joy comes from the love around me and the security in that. So much to my own surprise I go put on my swimsuit and we dance. If I am honest I said a prayer or two that the UPS man wouldn't come knock on the door! ha!
Today may we all choose to love ourselves and our bodies. If it is hard to do for ourselves than may we do it for our children. Don't let children think that happiness must come from a number on a scale or a certain size jean. Today let enough be enough!
The week that I finally reached my goal weight I was excited! I even took a picture and sent it to my husband. I think he was excited to not have to hear me complaining about it anymore. Much to his and my disappointment, I found myself, not even a day after reaching my goal, wondering if I would be happier if I could lose another 3-5 pounds. A question comes to my mind
"when will enough ever be enough?"
I look at my three year old daughter, watch her as she twirls around in her swimsuit. She proudly proclaims "look at me! I am on the dancing show!" She is referring to Dancing With The Stars. She says "mommy put your swimsuit on and dance with me you can be on the dancing show too." Now I don't know about you but the last time I looked my body is far from looking as tight and amazing as one of the dancers. In my young girls words there is so much confidence, so much sincerity.
She hasn't hit the awkward stage of middle school where you hate your body and the way you look. She sees all people the same and she doesn't even care about a number on a scale. She teaches me lessons everyday. Today the lesson is that joy comes from the love around me and the security in that. So much to my own surprise I go put on my swimsuit and we dance. If I am honest I said a prayer or two that the UPS man wouldn't come knock on the door! ha!
Today may we all choose to love ourselves and our bodies. If it is hard to do for ourselves than may we do it for our children. Don't let children think that happiness must come from a number on a scale or a certain size jean. Today let enough be enough!
Tuesday, March 31, 2015
Soul Saving, Life Giving
It is Easter week, a time where we are remembering and focusing on Christ's death and resurrection. For those that sacrificed something for lent you may be planning your first bite of chocolate (or whatever you gave up) in many days. Palm Sunday was a heavy day of sorrow as I reflected on the crucifixion and sacrifices made. A day of sorrow as I saw my sins nailing his hands into the cross. A day of sorrow as I saw myself as Peter, promising to never disown my Lord and not once, not twice but three times denying Him all before the rooster crowed.
As mid week approaches I am bombarded with the hustle and bustle of Easter parties for school, Easter egg hunts at church and our neighborhood. I am busy remembering what I am to buy for school, what to buy for Easter morning and making sure my kids Easter clothes fit properly. The heaviness of Sunday seems a little lighter and it is only Tuesday. First world problems are over shadowing soul saving, life giving sacrifices.
This morning I put my baby down for his morning nap and just before I go to make a shopping list for Target I am stopped in my tracks. The Lord puts it on my heart to open my bible and read the crucifixion. Suddenly all is heavy again. While I know Sunday is coming, the resurrection in this story is coming, today I am reminded to put away the to do's of this world and remember the soul saving, life giving sacrifices that were given to me and to you.
Don't let the busyness of your day or week consume you. Let the soul saving, life giving sacrifices consume you. Be overwhelmed in the part you played in nailing Him there. Be overwhelmed in the part you played in denying Him. Be overwhelmed that the Resurrection is coming!
As mid week approaches I am bombarded with the hustle and bustle of Easter parties for school, Easter egg hunts at church and our neighborhood. I am busy remembering what I am to buy for school, what to buy for Easter morning and making sure my kids Easter clothes fit properly. The heaviness of Sunday seems a little lighter and it is only Tuesday. First world problems are over shadowing soul saving, life giving sacrifices.
This morning I put my baby down for his morning nap and just before I go to make a shopping list for Target I am stopped in my tracks. The Lord puts it on my heart to open my bible and read the crucifixion. Suddenly all is heavy again. While I know Sunday is coming, the resurrection in this story is coming, today I am reminded to put away the to do's of this world and remember the soul saving, life giving sacrifices that were given to me and to you.
Don't let the busyness of your day or week consume you. Let the soul saving, life giving sacrifices consume you. Be overwhelmed in the part you played in nailing Him there. Be overwhelmed in the part you played in denying Him. Be overwhelmed that the Resurrection is coming!
Sunday, March 8, 2015
He Does Not Withdraw His Hand
In 2003 I had a benign tumor removed from my left breast. In December I began to experience a throbbing pain in my left breast in the area where the tumor was removed. I could not detect a lump or knot but the pain wasn't getting any better. When the pain started waking me in the night I grew more concerned. I called my doctor and scheduled an appointment to be seen last week. The doctor could not see me for a few days which gave me time to become extremely anxious and read way too many scary internet articles about breast pain.
I found myself texting friends and asking for prayers, my mom text her friends and my husband and I hit our knees. I hate crying in front of people but when I was driving to the grocery and my daughter said "mommy I like your hair like that" I felt the tears stream down my face. I was wondering what will she say if I lose my hair? In the grand scheme I know that my hair is an extremely trivial thing but it just shows how anxious I was.
On the day of my appointment my husband and kids circled around and prayed for a good outcome. That morning I received messages of prayer and affirmation from so many of my family and friends. When the nurse called my name I was escorted to the very exam room where it was confirmed I was pregnant with Wells. At that time I had butterflies of excitement thinking of the baby inside me, dreaming of how excited our friends and family were going to be when we told them the good news. On this day I had butterflies of a different kind, the anxiety of what could be was overwhelming.
After the doctor examining me and an ultrasound, it was determined that I have a partially torn pectoral muscle. The reason that my pain was getting worse was because I was working out pushing weighted sleds, pushups, pull-ups and weights all making my tear worse.
I got to let out a huge breath, a huge sigh of relief. I prayed a prayer of thanksgiving. I got to call my husband and tell him the good news, I got to text my family and friends. While I was celebrating other women on that very day weren't getting the same news. They were being told they had cancer. Wife's, moms, 31 year olds, women just like me were receiving life changing news.
To the women that got bad news, to the person that is reading this that just got bad news of any kind I want to share with you the words that never left me during my whole scare...
IF HE CALLS US TO THE FIRE, HE WILL NOT WITHDRAW HIS HAND
Those words are in a song that we sing at church and those words played in my head over and over. I not only heard those words I believed those words. Bad things are going to happen. It is ok to be scared and anxious. People lose jobs, people have their hearts broken, people get cancer but if you believe in the same God as me, let me remind you, He does not leave you, He does not forsake you. Friends and family may scatter but the God that we have the privilege of serving stays near and He never withdraws His hand.
I found myself texting friends and asking for prayers, my mom text her friends and my husband and I hit our knees. I hate crying in front of people but when I was driving to the grocery and my daughter said "mommy I like your hair like that" I felt the tears stream down my face. I was wondering what will she say if I lose my hair? In the grand scheme I know that my hair is an extremely trivial thing but it just shows how anxious I was.
On the day of my appointment my husband and kids circled around and prayed for a good outcome. That morning I received messages of prayer and affirmation from so many of my family and friends. When the nurse called my name I was escorted to the very exam room where it was confirmed I was pregnant with Wells. At that time I had butterflies of excitement thinking of the baby inside me, dreaming of how excited our friends and family were going to be when we told them the good news. On this day I had butterflies of a different kind, the anxiety of what could be was overwhelming.
After the doctor examining me and an ultrasound, it was determined that I have a partially torn pectoral muscle. The reason that my pain was getting worse was because I was working out pushing weighted sleds, pushups, pull-ups and weights all making my tear worse.
I got to let out a huge breath, a huge sigh of relief. I prayed a prayer of thanksgiving. I got to call my husband and tell him the good news, I got to text my family and friends. While I was celebrating other women on that very day weren't getting the same news. They were being told they had cancer. Wife's, moms, 31 year olds, women just like me were receiving life changing news.
To the women that got bad news, to the person that is reading this that just got bad news of any kind I want to share with you the words that never left me during my whole scare...
IF HE CALLS US TO THE FIRE, HE WILL NOT WITHDRAW HIS HAND
Those words are in a song that we sing at church and those words played in my head over and over. I not only heard those words I believed those words. Bad things are going to happen. It is ok to be scared and anxious. People lose jobs, people have their hearts broken, people get cancer but if you believe in the same God as me, let me remind you, He does not leave you, He does not forsake you. Friends and family may scatter but the God that we have the privilege of serving stays near and He never withdraws His hand.
Tuesday, February 24, 2015
Beauty at the Sea
We first saw her 4 years ago, we were immediately captivated by her beauty. She stood tall just a short walk from the waters tide. The first time we saw her we were staying next door in a modest two bedroom townhouse, she towered over us and her modern details stood out in comparison to our 30+ year old townhome. She had a lot to boast about, the exterior covered in windows, the way her roof curved to make the oceans, sometimes, furious winds still seem gentle, two huge balconies, one that had a rectangular pool another with a fire pit and lots of seating.
We have been fortunate to visit the beach a lot in the last 4 years and every time we drive down to look at the house we grew to love. When we aren't at the beach we have dreamed about her too. Brian, my husband, found her on the internet and we have looked at her photos and again talked about how much we loved her.
Last week we went on an "escape the snow" getaway to the beach. We took the kids and enjoyed time away as a family. The weather was warm enough that we were able to ride bikes the majority of our time there. One afternoon I was trailing behind my husband and without him saying a word I knew where we were going. We pulled into her driveway and immediately we both started grinning. As we walked the beach in front of her we couldn't help but notice that prettier, more modern, more amazing homes were being erected around her. She had been such a standout and suddenly she was fading while others were being noticed.
The clear glass balcony was suddenly not so clear and a little more dingy, her white exterior had been hit with sandy winds a few too many times and they too appeared dingy. While still a gorgeous home and a dream to be right on the beach I suddenly felt let down. I started to say this to my husband when he spoke first "man the house has kind of gone down hill, huh?" he stole my words. He felt the same way.
I then looked out to the ocean and was immediately reminded that the beauty of man fades, but things created by God, like the ocean, they remain majestic and beautiful forever. I want to be less impressed with gorgeous beach houses and more impressed with the beach and the one who made it.
Tuesday, February 17, 2015
Let Them Be Little
The nights your baby just won't sleep, the time your toddler decides to throw an Oscar worthy tantrum in the middle of target, Easter Sunday you put that brand new bubble on your baby boy and he immediately has a blow out ruining the bubble. Moments like these leave you dreaming of them just a little bit older. Nights where they sleep better, trips to target where they are mature enough to not throw tantrums, Sundays where they are potty trained and make it to church in the outfit you had planned.
She is headed out for her first date, He is now 30 minutes late for curfew and isn't answering his cell phone, she has decided that being seen in public with her parents is as bad as having ebola. Moments like these leave you reminiscing of the days when they were with you all the time. These moments leave you longing for the time when she said she wanted to marry daddy, longing for the time when his only truck was a Tonka truck that he rolled up and down the sidewalk, wishing for times when she asked to hold your hand as you walked down the street.
While babies and toddlers are hard, it only gets harder. Appreciate the tenderness of these tiny souls and don't wish for another day. For when another day comes you will surely miss these young times.
Wednesday, February 11, 2015
Single On Valentine's
For some, Valentine's Day can't go away quick enough. Going to work is hard when it feels like all of your coworkers are being gifted with flowers and chocolates. You open up Instagram or Facebook and immediately regret it. Once again you are bombarded with pictures of couples in love and romantic gestures that have been done to your friends. For the millionth time today you are reminded that you are single.
You are just about to cave into a dark place of self pity and binge on a bag of Doritos, but then you look at your phone and go through your contact list. Wow! You are suddenly reminded of the army of friends that you have. While being single on Valentines is hard, knowing that you have great friends softens the blow. You put the bag of chips back in your pantry and you decide to do something special for yourself! Buy yourself a massage, or chocolates or a new outfit. Celebrate yourself and do something for yourself that you wouldn't normally do.
Friends, just because you have a valentine doesn't mean that everyone else does. If you have a friend that is single this Valentine's day I encourage you to get them a card, shoot them a text or bring them a coffee. Everyone wants to be loved and those that are single need to be reminded that they are special and loved too.
You are just about to cave into a dark place of self pity and binge on a bag of Doritos, but then you look at your phone and go through your contact list. Wow! You are suddenly reminded of the army of friends that you have. While being single on Valentines is hard, knowing that you have great friends softens the blow. You put the bag of chips back in your pantry and you decide to do something special for yourself! Buy yourself a massage, or chocolates or a new outfit. Celebrate yourself and do something for yourself that you wouldn't normally do.
Friends, just because you have a valentine doesn't mean that everyone else does. If you have a friend that is single this Valentine's day I encourage you to get them a card, shoot them a text or bring them a coffee. Everyone wants to be loved and those that are single need to be reminded that they are special and loved too.
Tuesday, February 10, 2015
BBQ Nachos with Zucchini Chips
I was trying to do something different with zucchini other than pasta so I got the idea for nachos. I had seen on pinterest a recipe for salt & vinegar zucchini chips. When I saw that a light bulb went off and gave me an idea to make a play on BBQ nachos using zucchini chips. These were a homerun at our house and we will have these again and again. The best part is you can use any toppings you like so you can make them many different ways.
First, to slice the chips, I used a mandolin. You could use a spiralizer and do the largest spiral setting or a knife and slice the zucchini thin but the mandolin seemed the simplest way for me. Now, I must warn you that mandolins can be dangerous so please use with extreme caution. I did this while my kids were napping so that I could pay full attention to the task at hand :)
Once you slice your zucchini chips layer them on paper towels so that the water that the zucchinis retain can be absorbed. Place a paper towel on the top as well, let them sit for 10 minutes and then pat them dry with the top paper towel.
Next spray a baking pan with nonstick cooking spray and then salt and pepper the entire pan. Next, lay your zucchini chips on the pan. Now, salt and pepper the tops of your zucchini chips. Bake at 425 degrees for 20-25 minutes. You may have to cook your chips in batches depending on how many you have.
Start slicing and dicing any of your favorite toppings. I went and got 1/2 a pound of pulled pork BBQ from our favorite BBQ place. If you are cooking your own meat this would be the time to do that as well. You could easily do chicken or ground beef. Also these would be delish with just lots of veggies.
Once your chips are done cooking put them on the plates and you are ready to start assembling your nachos.
Ingredients
2-3 zucchinis
5 cherry tomatoes, quartered
1/4 cup shredded carrots
1 bell pepper, diced
1/4 cup black olives, drained and diced
1/2 cup shredded cheese
dollop of sour cream
dollop of salsa
1/2 lb of chicken, pulled pork or ground beef
These nachos were delicious and the best part is we did not have to feel guilty for indulging!! Enjoy!
Thursday, January 29, 2015
Pad Thai with Peanut Butter dressing...Two Ways
About a month ago we had a raw pad thai dish with a peanut butter dressing; it was delicious and I have eaten it every week since I discovered it. I have also tweaked the recipe and added in some things that made it taste better, in my opinion. I found the original recipe on pinterest. This week I wanted to eat the pad thai hot instead of raw. Below I am going to share both recipes along with the curried shrimp that I made to serve over the pad thai. DELISH!!
The first step is to spiralize two zucchini's on the smallest spiral setting. I purchased my spiralizer at Williams Sonoma and I have used it at least 5 times a week since I got it.
Next I prepped my other veggies. Once this step is complete if you are making the raw pad thai you combine these veggies with your zucchini and add the dressing. So EASY!!
2 zucchini spiralized
1 red bell pepper diced
1/4 cup edamame (I buy the frozen kind that are already shelled)
1/4 cup chopped purple cabbage
1/4 cup shredded carrots
3 green onions diced
For the cooked version you will add all veggies except for the chopped green onion into a skillet with the zucchini and olive oil.
I used my electric skillet because of how much bigger it is. The veggies only need to sautee for 5-7 minutes just until veggies are tender.
Once the veggies have cooked through add 1 tbsp of chili garlic sauce. This step is optional but phenomenal in my opinion! Next put all your veggies in a large serving bowl, add in the chopped green onion and pour the peanut butter dressing over the top...
Now for the Peanut butter dressing
2 tbsp tamari sauce
2 tbsp water
1 garlic clove minced
1 tsp of fresh shaved ginger
2.5 tsp of pure maple syrup
1/2 tbsp of sesame oil
1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
This is the peanut butter dressing you will use for the raw or cooked pad thai and it is amazing!
.........................................................
For the curried shrimp I bought 1 lb of fresh shrimp, that already had the peels removed. Once my veggies were done in the electric skillet I put them in a bowl and added the shrimp to the skillet and added in about 1/2 a cup of the Madras curry sauce. I found it in the organic section at Kroger. It is delish and so easy.
I then topped my pad thai with the shrimp and my meal was complete!
Wednesday, January 28, 2015
The Thief
In that moment I breathe a sigh of relief and thank God that she is 3 and she is able to use her imagination and pretend. I also feel a pain in my stomach and heart as I think of all the comparison that is to come in her life in the not so far away future. Comparison...it is the thief that steals our joy. Comparison is what stole her moments of twirling and caused her to pause and realize that she was missing something, albeit a red headband but it was something and it took away her fun, if only for a moment, and made her feel as though she wasn't measuring up.
I use my 3 year old as an example of how comparison stole her joy but how many times have you and I let comparison cause us to forget our blessings and wish we had, looked like, were doing something that someone else had or was. It is spending a solid 10 minutes airing up a pool raft for my child to have it popped in 3 seconds. My lungs are still aching from airing it up and the fun of the pool raft is gone immediately. The deflating feeling that comparison causes you to feel is pure misery.
I want my daughter to be original. I want my daughter to be confident and joyful in her shoes. Wishing you were in someone else's shoes is a sure way to live a miserable life. Comparison causes us to hit the pause button, to stop living our lives and using our blessings and instead we are in the same spot sulking wishing for more when amazing things are right in front of us. I know there will be days when comparison steals her joy or my joy or your joy but may we all wake up from our self doubt and count our blessings and be thankful and grateful and live life to the fullest. May we ditch the red headband, find a crazy toboggan and celebrate life, our life!
Thursday, January 22, 2015
Crazy Life
Have you had those days when you question if anyone else household is going as wack as yours? It is time for Meritt to go to school and her jacket is no where to be found. I remember that I washed it yesterday and then I remember that I never put it in the dryer, this is a chronic problem for me. I tell Meritt to go upstairs and grab another jacket she comes downstairs wearing a jacket that is a size 18 month the wristbands are at her elbows. I tell her that is not going to work and her and her dad both question me wanting to know what is wrong with it. ha! I run upstairs grab her a jacket and dry her tears (she is still wanting to wear the 18m jacket). In all the commotion puppy who is in the midst of potty training poops in the dining room floor. I run to go get tissue paper and when I come back I see Wells crawling straight for the poop. His crawl is fast, but today it is like he is a jaguar, it is like he thinks I am racing him to see who can grab the poop first. I get to Wells and drag him by the back of his shirt and pull him back so that I can get the poop up before he can get to it.
This is a snippet of a very normal Thursday in the Pearson household. Crazy, comical, and yes sometimes, gross. As I was on my hands and knees this morning (picking up poop and trying not to breathe in the smell) the thought crossed my mind "is anyone else's home this crazy"? While I know the scenarios may not be the exact same in every house, I do know that unexpected, hilarious and sometimes undesirable things have a way of popping up in every home. No matter how much we plan and organize life has a way of humbling us and reminding us that we are not in control.
Social media tells us that people's homes are perfect. It tells us that kids don't cry, dinners don't burn and spouses don't argue. We all post our best pictures. The pictures of our kids dressed in smocked clothes, our dinner on pretty dishes, and our date night dressed in our best outfits. I actually don't think there is anything wrong with posting these things and if you follow me on instagram you know that I post a lot. I do think we have to look at pictures knowing it is just a small snippet from the persons life. We want to share our best, I don't think that means we are trying to hide our worst we just don't care to take pictures of the worst for everyone to see.
When you find yourself on the floor cleaning up poop or on the side of the road changing a flat tire you may ask yourself, is anyone else's life this crazy? I can assure you the answer is yes. Life is full of the unplanned and it is from the unplanned boulders that arise that we are forced to grow and adjust.
This is a snippet of a very normal Thursday in the Pearson household. Crazy, comical, and yes sometimes, gross. As I was on my hands and knees this morning (picking up poop and trying not to breathe in the smell) the thought crossed my mind "is anyone else's home this crazy"? While I know the scenarios may not be the exact same in every house, I do know that unexpected, hilarious and sometimes undesirable things have a way of popping up in every home. No matter how much we plan and organize life has a way of humbling us and reminding us that we are not in control.
Social media tells us that people's homes are perfect. It tells us that kids don't cry, dinners don't burn and spouses don't argue. We all post our best pictures. The pictures of our kids dressed in smocked clothes, our dinner on pretty dishes, and our date night dressed in our best outfits. I actually don't think there is anything wrong with posting these things and if you follow me on instagram you know that I post a lot. I do think we have to look at pictures knowing it is just a small snippet from the persons life. We want to share our best, I don't think that means we are trying to hide our worst we just don't care to take pictures of the worst for everyone to see.
When you find yourself on the floor cleaning up poop or on the side of the road changing a flat tire you may ask yourself, is anyone else's life this crazy? I can assure you the answer is yes. Life is full of the unplanned and it is from the unplanned boulders that arise that we are forced to grow and adjust.
Tuesday, January 20, 2015
Slipping Through Our Fingers
Brian runs upstairs turns the water off and it still takes a good 10-15 minutes for all the water to drain down out of our ceiling. Ends up Meritt used almost an entire roll of toilet paper when she went to the restroom causing the toilet to back up and shower our kitchen. We often refer to ourselves as the Griswold's, once the water was turned off and Brian came downstairs we grabbed towels began cleaning the kitchen and laughing that our chili was ruined, our kitchen ceiling was now discolored and that we were having a rockin new years eve.
This past Sunday, one of my girlfriends sent me a text that it was 4 years ago Sunday that I was pregnant with Meritt and we were having her gender reveal party. She then said "where has the time gone?" I replied "it is slipping through our fingers". My friend and I have had many conversations over the last few years about how quickly our kids are growing and how we sometimes wish we could hit the pause button.
If only life were like the water gushing through our kitchen ceiling. If only we could run to the water valve and turn it off. If only we could stop time and relish in the moments for just a little longer. My kids lives are like water that has been poured in the palms of my hands it is slipping through my fingers no matter how tightly I squeeze.
Life moves fast, the days are long and the years, gosh, the years they are so short. The time we can't get back, the memories will last, so I press on taking an obscene amount of pictures and trying to carve into my brain the moments that I will so desperately miss. I still find myself squeezing my fingers tight and hoping that if I squeeze tight enough I can pause time for just a moment.
Monday, January 12, 2015
Too Much Love
People question you. People tell you that you are over investing and you could end up getting hurt. People tell you to love from a distance because if you give too much love your heart could get broken. People tell you to stop bringing these orphans in and just have kids of your own, they tell you things will be less complicated that way. People tell you not to buy toys or clothes for them because you don't know how long you will have them and that will just be money wasted.
People tell you lots of stuff but you keep going. You keep loving and you keep fulfilling the task that God has called you to do. You know that tears are going to shed, you know your heart could very likely be broken, you see the sweet stuffed animal and you buy it because you hope that maybe that could remind him of you. You give him love, against peoples warnings, because you know that is exactly what he needs. He needs to feel love, he needs to feel safe and he needs to feel secure. You have fallen completely in love with this baby boy and everyone that sees him knows that he has fallen in love with you, too.
Some of our dear friends have been fostering a baby boy since this summer. They got him just after he was born and they have loved and cared for him ever since. They have given of themselves in every way imaginable. They got up with him during the sleepless newborn nights, changed all of his diapers, wiped his runny nose and kissed all over his sweet baby face; all the while knowing that he might not stay with them forever. They love him and want the very best for Him.
Tomorrow is court and they could very possibly telling him goodbye tomorrow. It will be the hardest thing they have had to do. They have risked all of their own emotions to make certain that this little one was loved and cared for. All I can think is how much they have been Jesus to this boy. Standing on the sidelines are all of us, their friends & family. Tomorrow on the sidelines we will be on our knees praying for God to be glorified, God to protect this boy, God to use this boy to do mighty things, for this boy to know God and not only know God but to serve God. We will be praying for our friends, for God to provide them peace, for God to heal their broken hearts, for God to provide them just what they need on the hard days.
I am asking you to join me on the sidelines praying. I am also asking you to hear God's calling for your life and do it even when the call is messy. Read stories in the bible, almost everyone God called was put in a messy place to further the kingdom. May we all love like Christ and risk all of our own comforts and emotions to further God's Kingdom.
People tell you lots of stuff but you keep going. You keep loving and you keep fulfilling the task that God has called you to do. You know that tears are going to shed, you know your heart could very likely be broken, you see the sweet stuffed animal and you buy it because you hope that maybe that could remind him of you. You give him love, against peoples warnings, because you know that is exactly what he needs. He needs to feel love, he needs to feel safe and he needs to feel secure. You have fallen completely in love with this baby boy and everyone that sees him knows that he has fallen in love with you, too.
Some of our dear friends have been fostering a baby boy since this summer. They got him just after he was born and they have loved and cared for him ever since. They have given of themselves in every way imaginable. They got up with him during the sleepless newborn nights, changed all of his diapers, wiped his runny nose and kissed all over his sweet baby face; all the while knowing that he might not stay with them forever. They love him and want the very best for Him.
Tomorrow is court and they could very possibly telling him goodbye tomorrow. It will be the hardest thing they have had to do. They have risked all of their own emotions to make certain that this little one was loved and cared for. All I can think is how much they have been Jesus to this boy. Standing on the sidelines are all of us, their friends & family. Tomorrow on the sidelines we will be on our knees praying for God to be glorified, God to protect this boy, God to use this boy to do mighty things, for this boy to know God and not only know God but to serve God. We will be praying for our friends, for God to provide them peace, for God to heal their broken hearts, for God to provide them just what they need on the hard days.
I am asking you to join me on the sidelines praying. I am also asking you to hear God's calling for your life and do it even when the call is messy. Read stories in the bible, almost everyone God called was put in a messy place to further the kingdom. May we all love like Christ and risk all of our own comforts and emotions to further God's Kingdom.
Wednesday, January 7, 2015
Zucchini Lasagna
Several asked me to share my recipe for zucchini lasagna so I thought this was the easiest place to share it. I found a recipe on pinterest and another recipe in a cookbook here at home called, Skinny Dinners, it is a Better Homes and Gardens cookbook. I took what I liked out of each recipe and made up my own from the two. I will also add, in the picture above I am using a veggie spiralizer but you could easily use a mandolin or slice your zucchini in super thin slices with a sharp knife. This spiralizer was at the top of my Christmas list this year. It came from Williams Sonoma and you can purchase one here .
It is $50 and worth every penny. You can spiralize veggies to look like angel hair noodles, you can do them curled like in the picture above or you can use it as a mandolin. I have used it to make a couple of different cold cucumber salads, pad Thai and a couple of Italian dishes substituting vegetables for my noodles.
I made this lasagna meatless and in place of meat I sautéed spinach and portobello mushrooms. You could easily do ground beef or ground sausage in place of the spinach and mushrooms or you could even have it as an addition. I first preheated my oven to 375 degrees. Next I spiralized my zucchini using the setting that best resembled lasagna noodles. Next I chopped my portobello mushrooms into cubes. In a hot skillet I put the zucchini in and sautéed it for 4-5 minutes.
After the zucchini was sautéed I poured the zucchini into a strainer and let the zucchini drain. Zucchini retains some water so I wanted to get all the water out.
While the zucchini continued to drain, using the same skillet I threw in the package of frozen spinach and the chopped mushrooms. I sautéed these until they were heated all the way through about 7 minutes.
While my spinach and mushrooms were sautéing, in a separate bowl I put 15 oz part skim ricotta cheese and 1 egg and stirred these until well combined.
Somewhere around this step this little one decided he needed to help me. He is too cute and I know I will miss him being under my feet in a few short years.
In another separate bowl I mixed my pasta sauce and 1 can of tomato sauce (I also added a generous pinch of crushed red pepper for spice).
Now I was ready to start assembling my lasagna. I started with a layer of sauce, next zucchini, next the cheese mixture and then the spinach & mushrooms. I repeated this until I was out of ingredients.
Just before putting my lasagna in the oven I topped it with 4 slices of fresh mozzarella cheese. I cooked the lasagna at 375 degrees for 25-30 minutes and then broiled it for an additional 5 minutes to make things bubbly.
This meal was a hit at our house and we will definitely have it again!!
Here are the ingredients you will need to make this:
2-3 medium zucchinis
1 jar of your favorite pasta sauce
1 8 oz can of tomato sauce
1 15oz container of skim ricotta cheese
1 egg
1 pkg frozen spinach
2 portabella mushrooms
2tbsp of olive oil for your skillet
4 slices of fresh mozzarella (optional)
Tuesday, January 6, 2015
Wedding Cake
We had a wedding to attend this past weekend. I decided to bring my 3 year old daughter because she has been asked to be a flower girl in a wedding this summer. On the way to the wedding I told my daughter that we were going to wedding and that she would need to be quiet during the wedding. I also told her that after the wedding there would be a party and there would be cake. The mention of cake made her face light up and a huge smile formed on her face.
We enter the church and are met with dimmed lights, violinists playing beautiful music, fresh flowers, and men waiting in tuxedos to escort us to our seat. We are seated and Meritt is completely entertained with the violinists and the people being seated all around us...5 minutes later she is asking when is the wedding going to start. I do my best to distract her for a few more minutes and then the wedding begins. Grandparents are seated, parents are seated and then the bridesmaids and groomsmen come down the aisle and take their places on the stage. With each person escorted down, Meritts eyes are glued on them. Next, the bridal processional begins, the mother of the bride stands, the rest of the church stands and the bride and her father come down the aisle. Meritt asks "mommy is that a princess?" I say yes because for the day the bride is a princess. Next, Meritt says "now do we get cake?" I smile and tell her that we have to watch the wedding first.
A three year olds innocent question, "now do we get cake?" reminds me of my very own wedding. I got engaged and immediately began the wedding planning. My parents blessed me with the wedding of my dreams and at the time I thought it had to be that way now I look at how much they spent and it makes me sick to my stomach. During my engagement, I spent time searching shopping finding the perfect dress, the perfect reception hall, the perfect cake, the perfect flowers. The search for planning the perfect wedding consumed me for 11 months.
I spent my entire engagement zoned in on my wedding ceremony and yes we did a little counseling but if I am honest we were clueless as to what marriage was. When planning my wedding I didn't dream of days that my husband would come home to me not having had a shower and smelling like spit up, I didn't dream that our grandparents would die and we would need each others shoulders to cry on, I didn't dream that my dad would get sick, I didn't dream that there would be times when he was in dental school that we couldn't afford to go out to eat (at a chain restaurant), I didn't dream that I would run over our mailbox, or that he would lose his keys (a billion times). I didn't dream these things instead I dreamed of things like wedding cake.
What 9.5 years of marriage has taught me is that the real cake can't be eaten. The real cake is having his shoulder to cry on, the real cake is looking into his eyes and making up after a silly fight, the real cake is seeing his grin when the ultrasound tech says "its a boy", the real cake is seeing how soft and gentle he is with our little girl, the real cake is remembering that on July 9th we committed to God to be one and to love each other on the sunny days and the stormy days. My greatest hope is that we are able to lead by example and give our kids a "taste" of real wedding cake.
We enter the church and are met with dimmed lights, violinists playing beautiful music, fresh flowers, and men waiting in tuxedos to escort us to our seat. We are seated and Meritt is completely entertained with the violinists and the people being seated all around us...5 minutes later she is asking when is the wedding going to start. I do my best to distract her for a few more minutes and then the wedding begins. Grandparents are seated, parents are seated and then the bridesmaids and groomsmen come down the aisle and take their places on the stage. With each person escorted down, Meritts eyes are glued on them. Next, the bridal processional begins, the mother of the bride stands, the rest of the church stands and the bride and her father come down the aisle. Meritt asks "mommy is that a princess?" I say yes because for the day the bride is a princess. Next, Meritt says "now do we get cake?" I smile and tell her that we have to watch the wedding first.
A three year olds innocent question, "now do we get cake?" reminds me of my very own wedding. I got engaged and immediately began the wedding planning. My parents blessed me with the wedding of my dreams and at the time I thought it had to be that way now I look at how much they spent and it makes me sick to my stomach. During my engagement, I spent time searching shopping finding the perfect dress, the perfect reception hall, the perfect cake, the perfect flowers. The search for planning the perfect wedding consumed me for 11 months.
I spent my entire engagement zoned in on my wedding ceremony and yes we did a little counseling but if I am honest we were clueless as to what marriage was. When planning my wedding I didn't dream of days that my husband would come home to me not having had a shower and smelling like spit up, I didn't dream that our grandparents would die and we would need each others shoulders to cry on, I didn't dream that my dad would get sick, I didn't dream that there would be times when he was in dental school that we couldn't afford to go out to eat (at a chain restaurant), I didn't dream that I would run over our mailbox, or that he would lose his keys (a billion times). I didn't dream these things instead I dreamed of things like wedding cake.
What 9.5 years of marriage has taught me is that the real cake can't be eaten. The real cake is having his shoulder to cry on, the real cake is looking into his eyes and making up after a silly fight, the real cake is seeing his grin when the ultrasound tech says "its a boy", the real cake is seeing how soft and gentle he is with our little girl, the real cake is remembering that on July 9th we committed to God to be one and to love each other on the sunny days and the stormy days. My greatest hope is that we are able to lead by example and give our kids a "taste" of real wedding cake.
Monday, January 5, 2015
FRESH START
My list for the new year is long. I have many things that I want to accomplish in 2015. Here are some of the many...
-judge less, be more accepting- this is something I struggle with maybe because I am a female or maybe not but either way I want to accept people right where they are. My husband is great at this and he is a great source of motivation.
-listen more, speak less-if you know me then you know that my struggle is real
-memorize weekly verses with Meritt- we started this in August and it is wonderful to memorize weekly verses as a family and to have those words written on all of our hearts
- healthier eating- for the most part our house eats healthy but we do indulge and we are trying to do that less and enjoy the fresh, colorful pallet of food that comes straight from the earth
- cherish everyday- with two little ones it often feels that life is in fast forward. I want to drink it all in and try and remember these days
- less cell phone-I look at it too much! I want to put it away and just enjoy moments
-record or write down Meritt's prayers- at 3 years old the prayers that she says are way too precious and I know I will be so sad one day for not having them recorded.
-regular date nights- since having a second child we haven't done this nearly enough
-read more books- I love to read and since having kids i have maybe read 1 or 2 books
-zip my lips- if I have nothing nice to say, don't say anything at all
-travel more- this is on our family's list every year
-pray more with Brian- we used to pray just the two of us all the time but we have let the distractions of life interfere and we need to get back to that place
-let the people I love know- I don't want to assume that people know how much I love and appreciate them I want to make sure to tell them often
-have a bigger garden- we have a garden every summer and this year I want to expand it and get Meritt involved in it
-appreciate the mundane- ordinary days are the ones that I will look back and miss
-affirm Brian-I think wonderful things about my husband and I do try and share those with him but I want to do better and let him know how thankful I am to have him
I have more, my list is long. There are days when I will succeed at many and maybe even all of these. There are days that I am going to fail miserably all.day.long. I am thankful for grace and that my belief in Jesus means that everyday is a chance for a fresh start. Anyone else have new goals for 2015?
-judge less, be more accepting- this is something I struggle with maybe because I am a female or maybe not but either way I want to accept people right where they are. My husband is great at this and he is a great source of motivation.
-listen more, speak less-if you know me then you know that my struggle is real
-memorize weekly verses with Meritt- we started this in August and it is wonderful to memorize weekly verses as a family and to have those words written on all of our hearts
- healthier eating- for the most part our house eats healthy but we do indulge and we are trying to do that less and enjoy the fresh, colorful pallet of food that comes straight from the earth
- cherish everyday- with two little ones it often feels that life is in fast forward. I want to drink it all in and try and remember these days
- less cell phone-I look at it too much! I want to put it away and just enjoy moments
-record or write down Meritt's prayers- at 3 years old the prayers that she says are way too precious and I know I will be so sad one day for not having them recorded.
-regular date nights- since having a second child we haven't done this nearly enough
-read more books- I love to read and since having kids i have maybe read 1 or 2 books
-zip my lips- if I have nothing nice to say, don't say anything at all
-travel more- this is on our family's list every year
-pray more with Brian- we used to pray just the two of us all the time but we have let the distractions of life interfere and we need to get back to that place
-let the people I love know- I don't want to assume that people know how much I love and appreciate them I want to make sure to tell them often
-have a bigger garden- we have a garden every summer and this year I want to expand it and get Meritt involved in it
-appreciate the mundane- ordinary days are the ones that I will look back and miss
-affirm Brian-I think wonderful things about my husband and I do try and share those with him but I want to do better and let him know how thankful I am to have him
I have more, my list is long. There are days when I will succeed at many and maybe even all of these. There are days that I am going to fail miserably all.day.long. I am thankful for grace and that my belief in Jesus means that everyday is a chance for a fresh start. Anyone else have new goals for 2015?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)