Food, food and more food.

Well friends - the rodeo has finally taken it's toll...I would like to blame my sickness on allergies but I don't think that will work anymore. It's lasted too long. Runny nose, slight cough, headache, incredibly fatigued (what a funny word) - super annoying.

Anyways, the point I am here to make is that I miss my life routine. Too much hustle and bustle - I am ready to cook at home and go to the gym and play with my dogs. Needless to say the past few weeks have been amazing- I'm ready for consistency and a life that's a little more low key - yes, I said low key.

I cooked twice last week - that's a start. But not enough. Salads for lunch are getting old and so is eating out every meal. I really need to start watching what I eat too - not for the weight loss factor - but something keeps making my stomach not happy and I have no idea what it is. I've only gotten sick once after cooking for myself so I think that's the safest way to go. Maybe that's the problem - I'm so used to cooking my own food that going out to eat just isn't a good idea. But it all tastes SO GOOD!

So last week I made something new. I had a recipe for it but didn't even use it (lost it haha) so who knows what it was SUPPOSED to taste like. Turned out well, if I do say so myself. Oh yea, and I'm not sure what it was called but you can make something up I'm sure.

Ingredients:

Originally I used -
- 1 cup uncooked couscous
- 5 links of chicken sausage - I used some fancy kind I found at HEB that had spinach and feta mixed in
- 1 can crushed tomatoes
- Chopped yellow onion - however much you want - I used about 3/4ths of one
- Minced garlic - go crazy! I used 3 cloves and probably would have used more if I wasn't trying to totally mess it up
- Fresh basil - chopped - I used about 5 leaves, that stuff is strong
- Feta cheese
- Extra virgin olive oil - of course

Things I would add -
- Fresh spinach leaves
- Roma tomatoes - diced
- More basil
- More garlic

Heat up some EVOOil in a medium skillet/sauce pan. Remove the chicken sausage from the casing and put it in the skillet with the onions and garlic - I let the someone else do this becuase I didn't have my handy gloves for meat handling purposes and because it was gross. Cook the sausage and ground it up to where it's crumbly (I know - I'm so technical with all my cooking jargon). Once it's about done, add fresh spinach. When the spinach is about wilted, add the can of crushed tomatoes, italian seasonings/basil, garlic, diced tomatoes, and whatever else you want. Let everything simmer together

In another sauce pan, prepare the couscous according the the package instructions - I used whole wheat. One cup, uncooked, was more than enough after it was cooked.

Add the couscous to the meat and tomatoes. When you're ready to eat, top it off with some crumbled feta. YUMMO!

Later in the week I made jumbo turkey meatballs stuffed with fresh mozzarella and whole wheat pasta and homemade tomato sauce. I will post the recipe later.

Food potentials for the week -

1 - marinated, baked chicken and brocolli
2 - slow cooker, spicy shredded chicken for tacos topped with black bean salsa
3 - spicy black bean and corn stuffed peppers

I could browse blogs full of recipes all day long. Some people are nuts and I really wonder where they find the time for all this fancy food. Some people are more practical and have some really great ideas. The problem? I can't just blog surf all day. Even though I wish I could!

Oh - and at some point this week I want to make, correction - I WILL make oreo cupcakes.

I need a bigger kitchen. One day.

Happy cooking!

Thursday, thursday....

It's thursday. That's all I have to say about that. The weather has been crummy for a few days. Rain and cold and hot and humid, it's a vicious cycle.

Another rodeo date tonight! We saw tenth avenue north on Valentine's day. It was a great Valentine's day :) I cried at the concert! Because of this song - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XrET4KhgV58 and a few others. They were awesome. Tonight is Josh Abbott. Love them! It should be a good time. Luckily, our seats are pretty great too.

A very close family friend's brother passed away. The funeral is today. Please keep him and his dad and their families in your prayers.

I can't imagine losing someone close to me. I am so incredibly thankful that God knows what the heck he is doing. Those close to me can't go anywhere just yet. I need too many of them on a daily/weekly - sometimes hourly - basis. I'm not ready to lose anyone. So thank you Lord for your graciousness and protection and for LIFE in You.

Romans 14:8 For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s.

YAY For the weekend!

I have a feeling I'm going to be saying that a lot more going forward! I am so excited to be starting on a new journey.
In other news, the SA Rodeo has begun and I am so excited. I think it's awesome we can go to a citywide event and share a prayer before each rodeo session. We live in a great country, despite all the "bad" that seems to be going on. Remember there are so many people opressed in other parts of the world. We are a blessed nation. We serve an awesome God.

A few words for the weekend....

Where ever you are and whatever you're going through, know that God is with you. He has your best interest at heart.

Take your time so you don't take things for granted. Spend time with others. Catch up on things you've been putting off. Don't sweat the small stuff (I know I should take my own advice)!

Know that everything happens for a reason and harboring bitterness because things don't go as you planned isn't going to make you feel any better. It won't make God "change His mind". There is a reason for everything and you just have to keep the faith and be diligent in prayer. He wants to hear from you. In the same way my dad wants to hear from me :)

Have an awesome weekend!!! Know that you are blessed in so many ways :)

Love is a many splendored thing

Not going to try to explain where I heard what you’re about to read but I can tell you it involves a friend (K) of a friend of a friend of a friend, and some random airplane lady…along with my added comments in parentheses – I always have some sort of “two cent” comment to throw in the mix!

“We need to teach our daughters and granddaughters (and nieces, and cousins, and girlfriends, and younger sisters) to distinguish between a man (this should say little boy)  who flatters her and a man who compliments her, a man (millionaire) who spends money on her and a man who invests in her, a man (real estate agent) who views her as property and a man who views her properly, a man (pervert)  who lusts after her and a man who loves her, a man (dummy) who believes he is God’s gift to women and a man (of God) who remembers that a woman was God’s gift to man”

I know you aren’t all women reading this, but we (women)….single women….need to be a little more aware of the type of men (young boys) in our lives. There is no need, whatsoever, to invest YOUR time and YOUR heart in someone that isn’t going to treat you the way you deserve – as a gift from God to your man.

Shoot – I’ve done it. Over and over and over. It’s not to say that those guys haven’t grown up since or haven’t learned how to treat a woman or treated me horribly necessarily but at the time the investment had a negative return. Broken hearted, pieces scattered, more time spent cleaning it all up, weeks and months of a jaded self-image, I could go on but the point is – is it worth it? The best excuse I’ve heard and have given is, “Well, I’ve put in this much effort so I shouldn’t give up just yet. It will get better.”

This all goes back to the whole “be still” thing I keep referring to. I’m not still enough. I’m too worried about putting out a fire that I cannot control. I don’t listen to the one voice I should. Instead I listen to family and friends who might be overly biased. I don’t doubt that the Lord uses certain people as guardian angels but be wise in who you ask advice from – your 13 year old best friend might not be the best one to turn to. We make our lives…let me rephrase…I make my life a lot harder than it needs to be sometimes.

For everyone (especially me!): Wisen up. Read the biblical definition of LOVE before you ever say, “I LOVE YOU” to a guy or gal. Make sure that everything the definition calls for exists between you and whoever you are with. Let me refresh your memory with a summary of 1 Corinthians 13:

Love is…

1.       Patient –so if someone has a hot temper with you – say “see ya!”

2.       Kind – think “golden rule”

3.       Does not envy - think partnership, you should be on the same team

4.       Does not brag – same as above

5.       Is not proud – same as above

6.       Does not dishonor others – you’re God’s gift to man, you should cherish each other

7.       Is not self-seeking – same as above

8.       Is not easily angered – see #1

9.       Keeps no record of wrongs – things should be dealt with and laid to rest, no grudges

10.   Does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth – accountability

11.   ALWAYS:

a.       Protects – each other

b.      Trusts – between one another

c.       Hopes – for the best

d.      Perseveres – through hard times, because it isn’t always easy

12.   Never fails – so before you say “I LOVE YOU” make sure it’s going to last

Have you ever read it that way…line by line…for what it truly is and says?

Hope this wasn’t too “soap box” ish.

“Love is a many splendored thing” – Frank Sinatra J

Awesome. Hit the Nail on the Head

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4OK9DmLpCY&sns=em

I love this. Everything he says rings true. I asked God to speak to me last night.

I asked for understanding.

For an answer to the question "why"?

I think this is it.

His timing is perfect. His will, undeniable.

I googled key words and looked under "prints and posters" on Pinterest.

God is everywhere. So I took a chance. Maybe he would speak to me there.

I don't think I've ever been still enough to hear Him. I met someone a few days ago and recently they told me of several times they heard the voice of God.

At first I was in awe of this person. Then felt sorry for myself. Then upset with myself for never being still, diligent in prayer and petition, and seeking the answers.

So my first move, as I laid in bed unable to fall asleep after hearing about the Men of Light conference from this new friend, was google and Pinterest. Not even the bible!

I stand convicted. I tossed and turned all night.

But then Facebook seemed to open my eyes this morning. My lovely friend A, who I get to see next weekend, posted the above you tube video.

It contained the answer I was looking for.

God works in mysterious ways. Even through Facebook!