Eat Your Heart Out Nana

 :)

Tall socks and on a run.

katie says

She told our friend Kristen her soap smells 'incredible'.

Daddy and Owen were showing their muscles and Katie responded with baby Ansley has muscles up and down her legs and arms.  Small hills they were she said.   She must be strong!
--Or to an adult those muscles were cute baby rolls!

Then she was doing the chore of sweeping and she told me she really didn't want to do these things, but the Holy Spirit was helping her do them.

:)

on Breathing...

Justin sent me this blog post.  It was really good.  Take a moment and read it. Really, you should. 

I am thankful for a husband that points me towards good thinking.  

I am sure you will agree it is 5 needed reminders on breathing in a breathless world.

This one was really good...

2. don’t confuse the urgent with the important

Urgent is bossy. Important is patient. Checking your email will not make it better. In fact, on the day when I’m grasping to be productive, checking my email makes it worse. A lot worse. Email feels urgent, but it is rarely important. Urgent things come in from outside and hop up and down on the ground of our souls, shaking us up until we engage with them. Important things rise up from the convictions of our spirit and line the path of our lives with intention, purpose, focus, and heart. I need to know the difference. My family begs me to know the difference.

and this one...

5. lift up your eyes

One useless day does not have to mean writer’s block for months on end or failure to meet a goal forever. It does not mean you are on the wrong track or chose the wrong profession or are hopelessly lazy. One useless day is simply that: one day. We usually see what we look for, so if you look for the gift in that day, if you dare to set aside your own compulsions, you might see this hilarious uselessness as a felt reminder of your own smallness. And oh, the blessed relief of my smallness! And so be small, and lift up your eyes to see where your help comes from.

Emily blogs from NC so that makes it an even better post to read. :)

On Making Spaghetti

Katie and Owen requested Spaghetti this past weekend for dinner.  Noodles are a sure favorite at our house.  Justin went to the store and bought some angel hair noodles and a jar of sauce. Katie had asked for this meal a few days ago and I forgot to plan it.  So I made dinner within 20 minutes (which was nice) and we sat down to eat.  We got half way through our bowls and then were surprised.  Neither of the kids liked the meal.  They ate a portion of it and then said they were finished.  Why? I asked.  They both agreed that this noodle and sauce was not good compared to my 'awesome'-Katie's word-homemade sauce.  It caught me off guard.  For the first time my kids out loud said they preferred something homemade and they could tell the difference in store bought/can/jarred sauce.  I was thankful.  This is something that I really want for my kids.  Not that they are food snobs and I definitely don't want them to be...  -And if you have us over for dinner we will eat WHATEVER, THANKFULLY!  But I am grateful that they like real food.  Foods that have been seasoned correctly.  Foods that take a bit of time to make.  Foods that are full of nutritious stuff.  And I am glad to be able to make it for them.  The meal table hasn't always been a easy place.  Sure there are some meals my kids would prefer to NOT eat.  But someday I would love to have my kids home from college and have them ask for my bread or whatever their tummies want.  I love when my family comes in and says it smells good in here because of something cooking.  I want them to have good memories around food.  I want our family to fellowship around the dinner table.  

I want them to see and taste that the Lord is good!

It was a great reminder that good food doesn't have to take a lot of time (though it can), but it does take intentionality and planning.  And I am finding it is worth it!

-Please don't hear me saying that I make the following recipe all from scratch.  I never have used my own homegrown tomatoes, made noodles or grown the other ingredients...By homemade I am referring to putting together the bulk of the meal.  I am sure others are really making it completely homemade-way to go, I need to learn from you!

-Does anyone have a good jarred spaghetti sauce?  I'd love to have one on hand for the times when things like this do happen. 

Here is our best noodles and sauce recipe!

Lady and the Tramp Spaghetti and Meatballs

-this is always delicious and it freezes well.  Oh and it is a great meal to share!

Sauce:

1 cup Onion

1 T Olive Oil

1 T Butter-optional

1 Can 28 oz Stewed tomatoes (have more flavor) -but I have used diced before and 

   they worked fine

2 Cans (6 oz each) tomato paste

1 T Honey

1 t salt

1 t basil

1/2  t oregano

1/4 t marjoram

1/4 t paprika

dash pepper

Meatballs:

2 eggs

2 garlic cloves minced

1 T parsley

1 lb ground beef

1/2 cup seasoned bread crumbs

1 cup grated parmesan-optional

Sauce-

1. Sauté onion in oil and butter until tender and sweet

2. Stir in tomatoes-cut them up if you want a smaller dice, paste, honey, and seasoning 

3. Bring to a boil and reduce heat to low.  

*If just using sauce without meatballs, simmer for at least 30 minutes.

*And if you like more seasonings, season away!

Meatballs-

1. Beat eggs, garlic and parsley

2. Add beef and mix well

3. Sprinkle in cheese and bread crumbs-mix in gently

4. Shape into 1 inch balls-add these to sauce

Cover and simmer about 45 minutes.

Server over pasta or rice

I normally double this if we have company or if I want to freeze some.  Also good as meatball subs!

Thursday and Friday before it's official!

Katie and I took Brandi out for lunch and to run errands on Thursday. We LOVED spending time with the Bride to be!

Last minute shopping at Walmart.

Then off to the nail salon to get our toes and fingers painted!

The flower girl had both a pedicure and a manicure!  They even painted flowers at the end.  :)

-Hi, Nancy and girls!

I heart this photo!

Getting ready for the rehearsal which was a Baker University.  The chapel there was small, quaint and beautiful.  The dinner that followed, fantastic!

Owen and Katie have repeatedly said that Aunt Brandi cannot marry Silas because he is to silly...I think they were mistaken on who is the silliest...:)

I don't think we are excited....do you?

He told us many times he was Owen the ring bearer, but carries a sign. :)

A delicious spread of food!

There is that silliness again!

Love the thumbs up!

The Matron of Honor Jessica, who is Brandi's cousin (Justin and Jenny's too:)!  She was WONDERFUL with the kids.  We loved all your sweet care of our two monkeys!

Owen got a Mater!  Katie got her sparkly pink TOMS.  They were thrilled!

The senior Mrs. Dulan and her baby boy!

A sweet moment.  B received a necklace from her 'dad.  It was pretty special.  SO very thankful for this special memory for her. 

The moms!

The boys!

The photo is even better!

The wide open spaces and a Kansas sunset.  

Lawrence

Another stop on our 'Kansas' tour was Nana and Papa's house!!

We Loved our time with you all.  We did some fun stuff and then got ready for The Wedding of the Year!

 Uncle Drew, you are always a wonderful pal for the kids.  They. LOVE. YOU!  Thanks for playing!

Oh and Happy Birthday again.  :)  

 We did some playing in the back yard-running around, throwing a football, chasing Monroe the puppy.  

Can you tell Kansas is dry?  Normally, this yard is lush and green...but this year it is wayyyyyy to dry and hot!  

 Love our long braids girl!

 I think he's got skill!  Loooooky at that soccer kick. (and the tongue :)

 We went out to the Merc for breakfast as a fun treat.  Justin, Owen and I loved it...Katie, umm, working on her attitude-but did come around. :)  They still have some of the best scones!

 Oh and these Legos...a FULL tote to play with..Thanks Uncle Dorian and Daddy for building us all sorts of things!  And to me it is fascinating that this collection of Legos was Justin's as a kid (with some from Drew and Dorian as well.)  I wonder what toys of Owen's and Katie's I will keep?

 Go Rams, Go Rams, Go Rams.  A future basketball player??  

We are rooting for you #22!

D-Thankful that you could make it back and play with us!!

Friday Night

Stadium lights.  Friday night football. ADPI dances parties. Swimming in the pond. Driving with the windows down with the music blaring loudly...

Just one memory to share with our kids this raining Friday night.

:)

Wordless Wednesday (well almost)

Thanks Lindsey for these FUN glasses!  What a trip!  They both probably drank a gallon of juice and water because these are soooooo cool.

Owen's Dream

This morning, I asked Owen if he had any dreams and this is what he told me...

Dog Dog, Bean, Clifford and Calf all went to the park.  Clifford was pushing everyone else in the stroller.  It took 30th minutes.  They did the slide and Dog Dog sat in Clifford's lap and Bean sat in Calf's lap on the swing and then somebody did under dogs to everyone.  And they also went down the fireman's poll and did some playing.  Then they went on an airplane to the park.  Then they flied back to our house.  And that was it.

:)  His dream is always the same each morning that I ask...love this guy!

This is Owen typing out his thoughts on life...  :)

21nbvczzwsetul;'

''l;khgfcccxzaq21`ffbvvgyyiklkll;./,,mmnbvvccxdxxzzaq2wq12qazxcvbnm..................

rXZz

Encouragement

Friday, was a hard day (hence the post that day).....

But as the Lord prompted me I prayed for Justin all day long.  I prayed that he would somehow be encouraged.  I have prayed this a lot, trusting that He will answer this yes, when it is best for Justin...

And the Lord is always faithful, not always answering how I feel He should, but always answering how He KNOWS best.  I trust that, I really do.

And on Friday, the Lord was kind. When I chatted with Justin after work asking how his day was, he response- "I am encouraged!".

God was gracious and faithful to answer my prayer!  Me, who was struggling with things at home and knew Justin had been struggling with work the past week-gave my husband encouragement!  I am so grateful!

And it wasn't in the way I had imagined...not at all imagined!  But He listened to my plea for my husband.  Thankful.

Ultimately it showed me that I need to be in prayer even more for my Love.

Colossians 1:9-12

And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.11 May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.

Eudora KS

 We had a blast at Mimi and Gpa's house in Eudora!  We headed to the city pool (which has a slide, spray grounds and small lazy river-sweet stuff!), did a Pilates classes with the girls-I was a wee bit sore after that one, helped out on rebuilding the deck, rode the 4-wheeler, played in the sprinkler, dipped our toes and threw rocks in the pond, went to the aquarium-SeaLife and did lots of playing and reading!!  It was a fun to be at Mimi and Gpa's house!  Thank so much-we love you guys!

 Even Mimi and Gpa had fun in the sprinkler!  Thanks for doing the 'Olympics' with us!!