David + Kristl

My brother married a wonderful girl earlier this month, we are happy to welcome Kristl into the family. Their wedding was absolutely beautiful! Hannah did a superb job as the flower girl, until her ball of flowers fell apart about three rows from the front. So sad! But then she got some M & M's and all was forgotten. She spent the whole night dancing away with some cousins. You can see some more wedding pics at the photographer's website here.

Hannah practicing for her big role

With the bride before the ceremony

sweet bride and groom

And this is what Hannah did all evening...

And this is how she looked at the end of the night

Expanding My Horizons

We are participating in a CSA program with our friends Holly and Aaron. So every other week we pick up a big box of fruits and veggies from Underwood Farms. Some of the items we get are things I've never tried before, but since they are now in my house I must figure out a way to cook them. The list of new things so far includes pickling cucumbers, bok choy, kohlrabi, wax beans and french radish.

As I try out these new veggies and recipes, I'm going to share them on here in hopes of broadening the horizons of others as well. Of course, some of you (if anyone reads this) may have eaten/cooked all these things before. Maybe you'll get a new way of preparing them. So here goes, recipe #1

Roasted Wax Beans

(Adapted from the Taste of Home Cookbook)

3/4 pound fresh wax beans (or green beans)

1 small onion, thinly sliced and separated into rings

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar

2 teaspoons olive oil

Place beans in a saucepan & cover with water; bring to a boil. Cook, uncovered, for 8-10 minutes or until crisp-tender. Drain.

Place beans in a greased medium sized baking dish. Top with onion and garlic. Drizzle with vinegar and oil; toss to coat.

Bake, uncovered at 425 deg. F for 10 minutes. Stir; bake 5 minutes longer. 4 servings

Chris and I both liked this one, and of course Hannah wouldn't touch it.

Recipe #2

Kohlrabi with Honey Butter

(Also from the Taste of Home Cookbook)

1 pound kohlrabi (4-5 small), peeled and cut into 1/4" strips

1 medium carrot, cut into 1/8" strips

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1 tablespoon butter, melted

2 teaspoons honey

1/8 teaspoon pepper

In large skillet, bring 1" of water, kohlrabi and carrot to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 6-10 minutes or until crisp-tender.

In a small bowl, combine the lemon juice, butter, honey and pepper; mix well. Drain vegetables and transfer to a serving bowl. Add honey butter and toss to coat. 4 servings

This one was ok. The kohlrabi tasted kind of like cauliflower and I am not a huge fan of cauliflower. The original recipe calls for 1 tablespoon of minced chives and 1/4 teaspoon of grated lemon peel, and I didn't have either. The recipe above is the version I made. The kohlrabi was very difficult to cut into strips. If anyone knows a trick for preparing it, let me know. Although, I probably won't cook it again unless we get it in another box.

A day in the Life of a Mom

Today, Hannah:

Stepped on my toes twice (with her shoes on)

Told me I'm big

Drew on my leg with a pen

Poked me in the eye

Tossed rice all over the kitchen floor

Said, "Mommy, I so love you."

Gave me hugs

Yes, I guess it's worth it.

Getting Through

I want to share something that Chris sent to the worship team, and shared with our congregation a few weeks ago. I hope it's refreshing and encouraging, it's a reminder for me to slow down and not be consumed by my circumstances. Hope you're blessed by it.

I just wanted to write and encourage each one of you in your ministry and your personal walk with Christ. Michelle and I were talking last night about this time of year…May through July that is…and how it seems like such a busy time for everyone. With school ending, finals, graduations and graduation party’s, vacations, friends and family visiting us, or us visiting them, Mothers/Fathers Day, Memorial Day, 4th of July, weddings, etc. it’s sometimes hard to not get overwhelmed. Last night Michelle said something that really made a lot of sense to me, she said: “It seems like people just try to GET THROUGH this time of year!” I can’t tell you how many time’s I’ve asked people how they’re doing and, after a sigh, they say: “good…….but busy,” or “good…….but tired.”

So why am writing this? It’s not to remind you of everything you need to do in the next 3 months, it’s to remind you to enjoy the next three months. Everything I mentioned above is/can be a good thing (except maybe finals). Every one of those things is an opportunity to be a light and a witness. So I encourage you to enjoy every day that God has given us and don’t try to GET THOUGH these next few months, but Delight in the Lord and in what He is doing and is going to do in these next few months. Don’t get overwhelmed by what’s ahead, but enjoy each day.

Matt 6:34 (NKJV)

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

I also want to encourage you to look at your activities and events that are coming up and ask what busyness can be cut out. Ask yourself what things are necessary and what things are not and cut out what is not. Use this extra time to spend with the Lord, in the word, in prayer, with family, maybe even napping :).

Isaiah 40:31

But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.

The World Through Hannah's Eyes

Hannah has learned how to use my camera, here are the results. She even learned how to turn on some of the effects.

Friends

If you want to see some adorable pics of Hannah and her b.f.f. Ali, click here for my friend Amy's website. They are too cute!

Accomplishment

Last week I ran a 5k. To some of you, that probably doesn't seem like that big of a deal. So here's a little background, I am not a runner. I've never liked running, in fact it used to give me bad shin splints. And as new mother I learned very quickly that there's not a lot of exercising options with a baby in tow. I would much rather swim or take a dance or pilates class, all which cost money and require baby-free time. So I resorted to running, knowing that I needed exercise, but always loathing it. Then the Corporate Games came around again. So I got new shoes (no more shin splints!) and decided to run the 5k. The other inspiration for doing the run is my up and coming 30th birthday. I felt like I needed to get in one more accomplishment before that milestone.

I had no other goal than running the entire thing, I knew I wouldn't place for a medal, and ended up finishing 12th in my division. But I did it, I ran the whole thing with a time of 33:10 minutes.

Team LMA

Almost Done!