Happy Summer to You!

There are only seven days of school until summer vacation.  Only seven days of school until pool days, beach days, family hikes, crafting days, movie days and camping in the yard.  Only seven days until I am able to relax and enjoy new adventures with my children all day, every day.  

 

Summer is full of opportunities for us to grow as the flowers do.  The days are brighter longer, leaving more time for the exploration and enjoyment of God’s gifts that surround us.  The air is warmer, leaving more opportunity to visit family and friends, growing those relationships in person.  The fruits and vegetables are in full ripeness, allowing our health to grow as we fill our bodies with the food as God intended it to be consumed.  Each season has its beauty and glory and for everything there is a season, but for now I am ready to enjoy the summer days ahead.

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven…  (Ecclesiastes 3:1)

Greek Quinoa Salad

This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. - (Psalm 118:24)

Greek Quinoa Salad

Ingredients:

1 Can Garbanzo Beans (Drained and Rinsed)

1 Can Black Olives

1 Pint Cherry Tomatoes

6oz of Feta Cheese (crumbled)
3 Handfuls of Baby Spinach (pictured to the right)

3 C Cooked and Cooled Quinoa
Greek Dressing

Directions:

Slice olives and tomatoes lengthwise and place in large bowl.  Add drained and rinsed garbanzo beans, feta cheese, spinach and quinoa.  Coat all ingredients with desired amount of Greek dressing.

Gluten Free Pasta Salad

This week I had a lovely visit from my friend Krista and her two fun loving little boys.  Krista and I have been friends for over 20 years and each and every time we visit it is as if no time has passed.  Being one of the biggest influences on the beginning of my walk with Christ, Krista will forever hold a special place in my heart.  Her thoughtful nature and warm smile are true testaments to the grace of God and His Love working in her life.  I am very thankful to the Lord for the gift of Krista in my life.

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.  (Proverbs 17:17)

Now, to start the picnic season off right.....

Gluten Free Pasta Salad

Ingredients:

Gluten Free Spiral Veggie Pasta (8oz)

½ Red Pepper

½ Green Pepper

1 C. Cauliflower

½ Red Onion

1 Cup Shredded Carrots 

1 ½ C. Cheddar Cheese (Shredded)

¾ C. Diced Pepperoni

Gluten Free Italian Dressing

Directions:

Cook pasta per package directions.  Dice peppers, cauliflower, onion and pepperoni.  Add all ingredients and coat with dressing.  All measurements are approximate because the wonderful thing about pasta salad is that you can adjust it so easily to your taste or mood.

Beautiful Flowers from a beautiful friend.  Thank you Krista!

 

Sweet and Sassy

Recently Abby and Emily attended a “Sweet and Sassy” birthday party.  As the girls enter the shop, they are greeted by party attendants that direct them to a room filled with glittery gowns, scarves, shirts and other clothing.  They are then told they can choose anything, ANYTHING, they would like to wear from the rooms and to change into that outfit.  After the girls complete their outfit selection, each girl is given a mini manicure, an up do and full makeup complete with a glitter star and heart stamp on their cheek.  The girls are made to look and feel glamorous.  Following the mini makeover, they are shuffled lovingly to the stage to enjoy a dance party with blaring music of their liking.  They sing, they dance and they laugh together for several songs as the party attendants teach them some dance moves.  Freelance dancing is also enjoyed.  The last part of the party is a fashion show complete with an announcer sharing the girl’s favorite movie, color, celebrity and career goals.  The entire shops sings happy birthday to the birthday girl, photos are snapped and then cake is enjoyed.

During the dance party portion, I heard a song play that truthfully brought moisture to my eyes.  No official tears, but close.  The song itself is not moving, but rather in the context of the girls dancing and singing in their glammed up gear.  The song is Who Says by Selena Gomez (I know I am a Mom because I know who she is) and the line before and the chorus go like this:

I'm no beauty queen, I'm just beautiful me
You got every right to a beautiful life, come on

Who says, who says you're not perfect
Who says you're not worth it
Who says you're the only one that's hurting
Trust me that's the price of beauty
Who says you're not pretty
Who says you're not beautiful, who says?

Now imagine a group of 8-10 year old girls blasting this on the top of their lungs.  Don’t tell me that wouldn’t move you just a little bit.  

God has made us all beautiful with our own talents and gift.  We are all beautiful by His grace and with the joy He has given us. God makes no ugly things.  Even the hairy spider that crawls on my basement floor is not ugly and the fact that he kills the mosquitoes in the summer is VERY beautiful to me.  I am still working on the beauty of a mosquito, but I am sure it is there to someone, somewhere.  So who would dare tell my girls that they are not worth it, pretty or beautiful?  Who could even tell any girl that?  There is nothing more beautiful than a girl who feels loved like the princess she is and was created to be.  There is nothing more wonderful then the confidence of a young girl who knows she is loved for who she is, no matter what trials and tribulations come here way.  There is nothing more amazing then the contentment of any child that feels the security of the love meant for them. 

It doesn’t matter who says you’re not worth it, pretty, or beautiful.  Tell them to take it up with God, see how far they get on that one.

Having the glory of God, its radiance like a most rare jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. (Revelation 21:11)

Roasted Tomatillo Salsa Verde

Ingredients:

• 4 Tomatillos
• ½ Green Pepper
• 2 Jalapeno Peppers
• 3 Cloves of Garlic
• 1 Small Onion
• 2 Tb Fresh Lime Juice
• Cilantro
• Salt

Directions:

1. Remove husk from tomatillos, rinse and cut in half.  Place halved tomatillos, peppers and garlic on a cook sheet and broil for about 5-7 minutes until slightly charred.
2. Remove from cookie sheet and place all ingredients into a food processor and puree through. 
3. Add salt to taste.
4. Place in refrigerator to cool.
5. Once cool, enjoy with tortilla chips or your favorite taco recipe.

This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. - Psalm 118:24

Bob and Laura - BFF

Graduate on Friday May 16th 1998

Get Married on Saturday May 17th 1998

Yesterday, Bob and I celebrated 14 wonderful years of marriage.  I am being completely honest in my use of the word wonderful.   Of course we disagree and enjoy a night away from each other from time to time, but he truly is my best friend and I cannot imagine my life without him.  I have had some amazing role models in my life for relationships, my Grandparents (married 65 years and counting), my Aunt Maria and Uncle Jay and Bob’s Parents.  However, the most important thing that holds Bob and I together is our love of Christ.  The purest and best fruit from the harvest is the sweetest and the most costly.  Nothing sweeter then the love of Christ, but the cost has already been paid.

  Fourteen memories, just because:

1. The first time I saw Bob he was complaining to a teacher about his grade and I thought, “What a geek!”  But then a voice in my head said, that is the kind of guy you should marry someday.  I laughed that thought away and went back to chatting with my friends.
2. After Bob and I started “going out” (this was high school after all) he brought a rose to my locker and said “This bud is for you.”  I laughed so hard and was not sure this unsmooth guy was for me.
3. On one of our first dinner dates, we went to Applebee’s and I ordered iced tea.  Bob commented, “I don’t really like iced tea.  It is just tea, but iced.”  Yup, he was winning me over one honest and unpolished comment at a time.
4. The Christmas of my freshman year of college, Bob proposed to me and I said yes.  We promised our parents that we would wait until we graduated from college to wed.  Bob graduated from Penn State College of Engineering on May 16^th, 1998 and we were married on May 17^th, 1998.  Why wait any longer?
5. I never saw such pride, joy and fear on one man’s face as the day that Alex was brought into this world when were the ripe ages of 22 and 24.  I knew he would be a wonderful father and he still is to all three of our amazing children.
6. Bob has graciously opened the doors of his home to many of my family members, never asking for anything in return.  Sure I invite them to live with us, but he could say “no”, right? 
7. Some of my favorite memories are just chilling on the beach with the family in content silence. 
8. Without Bob, I may have never learned the fine art of playing SPUD or quoits.
9. When we were in high school, we got in trouble for kissing in the hallway.  Luckily my Dad was the principal of the middle school and the high school principal was a friend of the family so we were just sent on our way.
10. Before we turned 21, we traveled with Bob’s family to Atlantic City and while walking through a casino to the boardwalk, I thought it would be cute to play one quarter in a slot machine.  I was carded on the spot and Bob ran away.  His family didn’t and I knew that any family that would stand up for Bob’s girlfriend for Bob was a family worth being a part of.
11. When we were in college, we stopped at a Kmart and were looking at the exercise equipment.  Bob got on a “Gazelle” type machine and thought it was funny that both of the legs swung the same way.  He swung and laughed as I pleaded for him to stop.  Then, WHAM!  He fell flat on his face, I cried and walked away.  Now we were even for the casino incident.
12. When in high school we were in the play Bye Bye Birdie together.  His friends decided it would be cute for the girl playing opposite to him (he was Hugo Peabody) to give him a real kiss on the lips.  He was so shocked and embarrassed.   His naivety was charming.
13. After Abby was born, Bob announced he wanted to start going to church and started reading the bible.  My heart soared.  We read to each other many nights and then discuss what we read.  I love the growth in the Lord we share.
14. When I was sick this past year and had to go for many tests, he never batted an eye at the cost or taking time off to help with the kids.  He is a rock and a security for our family.
    

    

    Homecoming 1994

    

    Atlantic City 2012

Easy (and Delicious) Jambalaya

All morning Emily kept asking if she could show something to her friends at school and I assumed she meant a toy or picture.  I later found that she had a whole show planned for her preschool class.

As I entered the preschool building, Emily’s teacher laughed, telling me that Emily was certainly the "singing queen" today.

 

I smiled and asked, "ABBA?"   

The teacher asked if Emily watches Mamma Mia because she was teaching the entire class how to sing Dancing Queen today.  I explained that her favorite Pandora channel is ABBA, and Dancing Queen is her favorite song along with many other 70’s and 80’s hits such as Girls Just Want to Have Fun and Tell Me Lies (which she confidently belts out as "Tell me EYES, tell me sweet little EYES." )

I can only imagine Emily teaching the other four year old children to sing the popular ABBA song.  I hope her eagerness to teach and share with them, created an eagerness to learn and play along as well.  Emily has such energy with everything she does and I love to watch her dance and sing with the intensity of a professional performer. While a good Lincoln Brewster or Mercy Me song would have been better suited for the Christian preschool class, the joy she shared was God given none the less and her eagerness to share His joy in song and movement will always make me smile.

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!  Serve the Lord with gladness!  Come into his presence with singing! (Psalm 100:1-2)

Easy (and Delicious) Jambalaya

Ingredients:
1 Green Pepper
1 Onion
5 Cloves of Garlic
2 28oz Cans of Diced Tomatoes
Salt and Pepper to Taste
Chili Pepper Sauce
Cajun Seasoning Blend
Adobo
1Tb Chopped Fresh Cilantro
1 Tb Chopped Fresh Parsley
1lb of Chopped Smoked Sausage
1lb of Peeled and Deveined Shrimp*
Cooked Rice

Directions:

1. Dice green pepper, onion, garlic and add to pot with tomatoes. 
2. Add seasonings (salt, pepper, chili pepper sauce, Cajun seasoning and adobo to taste)
3. Add cilantro, parsley and sausage and mix all ingredients together.
4. Simmer all ingredients until veggies are tender and flavors married, adjusting seasonings as needed.  (approx 45min – 1hr)
5. Add the shrimp and cook until pink through.
6. Serve over rice and enjoy!

Crock Pot Variation:

This recipe can easily be prepared in the crock pot as well.  Add veggies, seasonings and sausage to crock pot and cook on low for 6-8hrs or high 4-5 hrs.  Add shrimp at the last hour and cook until pink through.

*If you are not a shrimp fan, you can also substitute chicken, cooking prior to adding.