Art Museum

Before leaving Kansas City we took a trip to the Nelson-Atkins Art Museum.  Admission is free to this beautiful multi-story, two-building museum.  We enjoyed several hours of viewing art from all different cultures and time periods.  There were interactive options for families in many of the galleries.  But one of our favorite parts of the museum is the awesome sculpture garden outside.

Abe rolling down a hill in the sculpture garden

One of four giant shuttle-cocks at the museum

Abe, Titus, and "The Thinker"

Creating their own art in the sculpture garden.

Titus and I 

This was our favorite piece in the garden

Just hanging out

Just lovely day for the end of December

Busy Little Elf

Last night I wrapped our Christmas presents.
Now, I have to pack them up and take them with us.
Oh, well.  They were nice to look at for a night!

Treats for Teachers

This year my husbands teachers all brought in a sweet home made treat of some sort to give to the rest of the staff.  I mean everyone did this.  We had home made yeast rolls (AMAZING), jam, banana bread, and on and on.  So, of course, my husband said, what can you make for me to take in?  To which I said, "Really?"  I am so not the bandwagon type, and this felt an awful lot like a band wagon everyone was jumping on.  Everything in me wanted to resist.  Then I realized, this is one of the things we love about this school.  Everyone is like family and sharing their love at Christmas with one another.  So I decided, I'd keep it simple and not try to compete with the yummy home baked goods that were filling my kitchen.  Instead, I did my two favorite Christmas treats: Candy Coated Pretzels (not pictured) and Peppermint Kiss Pretzel Wreaths (shown below). 

All the ingredients you need.  Simple.  

Ready to go in the oven.  250 degrees until soft.

Peppermint Pretzel Wreaths cooling.

This is about as crafty as I get.  Treat bags. Ribbon.  Done. 

Snow Day!

The stock tank was frozen solid!

Madi's snow fort; using the sled as a shield.

Abe's snow fort.  He said that sign would make the snowballs slow down .

Check out the massive snow ball Madi is throwing!

Love snow ball fight and snow forts.

Sugar & Spice Hand Scrub

This fall my friend Becca & I tried our hands at a hand made gift.  A sweet and simple sugar scrub.  It turned out lovely and I am hooked at trying different recipes.  But here is what we did this time.

Sugar & Spice Hand Scrub

Our Ingredients

1 Cup Brown Sugar

1 Cup White Sugar

3/4 - 1 cup Olive Oil

2tsp of each spice 

(Cinnamon / Cloves / Ginger / Nutmeg)

Mix all ingredients in a large mixing bowl. 

The amount of oil will vary depending on your preference of consistency with you hand scrub.  

 .

Our Finished Product

Our Favorite Place to Be

Estes Park has always been, and will always be, a very special place to me and my family.  Every Labor Day weekend, since I was two years old, we have enjoyed this fantastic weekend retreat.  And in 2009, Titus & I were married there.  So every year when we return, we have new memories to make and a new reason to celebrate.  

God's Goodness and Generosity Amazes Me

There are times when I feel awash with God's goodness.  He is always good.  He is always faithful.  Even when I don't stop and see it.  His character never changes. And then there are nights like last night that just blow you away when you realize just how faithful and good He really is.

The church I have been attending here in Kearney since moving here in July hosts an annual celebration dinner each Thanksgiving.  They serve a traditional Thanksgiving meal, hold a worship service, and have a baptism celebration.  Last night went above and beyond anything I could have dreamed God would do.

Over 800 people ate dinner and then found their way into the auditorium for the worship and baptism service.  What a precious time that was.  About 35 people came forward and shared their story of how God had changed their life.  An entire family (father, mother, and child) were all baptized together.  On more than one occasion a father was able to baptize his own child.  Tears regularly fell from my eyes as I heard story after story of life change, and witnessed life after life boldly proclaim their faith and identify with Christ!  What a beautiful scene.

But the thing that really amazed me came at the end of the night.  For months our church has been praying about providing a well for the people of Koat, Sudan.  This village has 4500 people who right now walk a half mile to the Nile River to get their drinking water.  The Nile River is not clean and many people continue to get sick from no clean drinking water.  Through a course of events, we learned about this village through a man who spent time with our church family over the past year.  He is now home in the Sudan with his wife and daughter. 

With Aid Sudan it costs $17,500 to drill a well for clean drinking water.  The village of Koat needs two wells.  We were praying we could provide them with enough money for one well.  The campaign will last for four weeks.  Just last night alone, the church gave $39,000 for the wells!  PRAISE BE TO GOD!  Amazing.  Enough for both wells, and to send someone over to Koat and document the process for those of us back here in the States.  What an amazing night.

As we were driving home, my husband called to tell his kids the good news about the money raised.  He said "God really came through!"  It was then that it hit me, GOD ALWAYS COMES THROUGH!  This should be no surprise to us.  It was His will and desire to bless Koat through our church.  God is always faithful.  I'm proud to be in a church where His people were also faithful and obedient and joined God in the work He is doing in Koat.

Thankful for a year full of adventures

My husband is one of the most spontaneous and adventurous people I know.  He is always up for trying something new and going somewhere new.  We have a new goal to reach with the kids.  We want to hit all the high points of each of the 50 states.  This summer we hit four.  Three are listed below.  Very pumped about working on getting this goal reached.  Each time is a new great adventure!

Iowa High Point

Nebraska High Point

Kansas High Point

More than enough

At work I have the privilege of answering phones when our receptionist is not available.  Many of the phone calls are transfers back to someone else in the office.  More and more lately the phone calls are of a nature that truly humbles me.  There are so many hurting and struggling people in our community.

Our church hosts a food pantry.  It is just about a daily occurrence that someone will walk through our front doors needing food for their children.  And many more phone calls come from someone needing help paying their bill so the electricity isn't turned off or they can get gas in their car to go to work.  I am thankful that I'm not the one who has to determine how we help each individual that comes through our doors.  But I am also thankful that our church does everything within it's power to aid those in need, while still being concerned with where they are at spiritually, and working with them to help long-term.  Our goal is not to enable them, but to show them the love of Christ and walk along side them through whatever struggles in which they find themselves.  However they ended up there, our place is not to judge, but to show them the love of Christ.

It is also humbling to me that despite our tightened budget, we are blessed beyond measure.  Our bills are paid.  There is food in the pantry (when I make time to grocery shop, that is).  We enjoy the support and company of each other and our family and friends.  Our home is a place of refuge.  And every day we are blessed to be paid to work in full-time ministry.

I praise God for His faithfulness and His provision.  He has NEVER failed us and He will ALWAYS take care of us.  For that fact alone, I am beyond blessed and thankful.

A breakfast to be thankful for

Yesterday while the Broncos played - and beat - the Raiders, I kept myself busy with cheering, knitting, and preparing breakfast for the week.  A little bag of wholesome goodness simmering on my pot!

Titus & I had forgotten all about the steel cut oats that were sitting in our cupboard.  But with an effort to continue to make whole food choices, I pulled out the bag and cooked them up yesterday.  Here's what I did:


I used a 3-1 ratio of water to oats:
2 cups Steel Cut oats
6 cups water 


Bring the water to a boil.  Add the steel cut oats and simmer.  My oats took about 35 mins simmering to absorb the water and soften.  I then let them sit until cooled and transferred them to a container to store in the refrigerator.

This morning, I spooned out two bowls full of oatmeal, added some soy milk and reheated in the microwave.  I then added a drizzle of agave nectar and it was just the perfect amount of sweetness.



The best part is that with the steel cut oats being processed less than rolled oats or instant oats, they take longer for our systems to process and the call for insulin is less.  That keeps our blood sugar level longer and the morning munchies stay at bay.  So excited to try mixing in fresh blue berries this week also!  

Thankful for No Bake Granola Bars

I've been on a quest to make more wholesome snacks for our family.  I read labels on everything I buy, and am amazed how much sugar is in everything.  I don't want to avoid sugar altogether, but I do want to make smarter choices when it comes to how much and what types of sweeteners we use.  While we are on a tight budget (both being in full-time ministry and all) it is tempting to go for the cheaper, processed foods.  But I am really making efforts to still make better choices for our family.

I am thankful that I live in a town with lots of options for healthier choices and a husband who supports these choices.

I have started making my own No Bake Granola bars.  It is a basic recipe I have varied based upon what I have available in my home at the time.  This is the variation I have used the most as it is a basic bar we can grab on our way out the door.

WHAT YOU NEED:
1 cup Almond Butter
1/2 cup Agave Nectar
3 cups Oatmeal
1/2 cup chopped nuts
muffin tin - sprayed with canola oil

WHAT I DID:
On the stove - in a pot - over medium heat:
Heat almond butter and Agave Nectar until smooth.  Remove from heat and mix in the oatmeal and nuts.  Using a 1/4 cup measuring cup, spoon into the muffin tin and use the bottom side of the measuring cup to press into the muffin tin mold.  Place the muffin tin in the fridge to allow the bars to cool completely.  Once cool, remove from the tin and store in an air tight container.  I packaged mine into plastic baggies and put them in the fridge.  Now, each morning, I grab one on my way out the door and I have a wholesome breakfast I can eat on my way into work.

VARIATIONS:
When you add the oatmeal you can also add a handful of raisins, chocolate chips, sunflower seeds, or dried fruit.  While I think regular peanut butter is too sweet after eating natural almond butter, I did have some on left over from another treat I made to take to a football party and made a batch using that as well.  If you choose to use corn syrup, honey, or maple syrup, you may want to increase to 1 cup.  The agave nectar is sweeter, so you need less. This is a great base recipe that you can make your own each time with what you have on hand.

Thankful for knitting

I learned how to knit one night this past winter.  It was at a Crafty Night event when we were still in Bridgeport.  My awesome friend Susan taught a whole group of us.  While I haven't taken off with it and knit a closet full of items, I am glad that I know how to knit and that I have something to stretch me creatively when the mood strikes.

Mostly, though, I am thankful for the time I spent with my Knit Witz girl friends last spring as we met to knit, talk, enjoy snacks, and mostly laugh with one another.  I miss you all, my dear friends!

pool side project

washcloth for my sister

beanie hat for my new nephew

A Month to be Thankful

I think November is one of my favorite months.  There is a bit of a chill in the air, and tonight we will get our first snow fall of the season.  But more than all of that, I think Thanksgiving is an under-rated holiday.  Just this morning I was in Wal-Mart returning something before work.  I heard Christmas music over the loud speakers.  We went from Halloween to Christmas overnight.  You may find some "fall" decor still stuck between the clearance costumes and the newly opened boxes of Christmas mugs and place mats.

I've been thinking about, and studying more, on the idea of being thankful.  The Bible calls us to pray with thanksgiving.  I have even read lately that it is impossible to focus on worry and be thankful at the same time.  It is physiologically impossible for our brain to do that.  So I have been making a concerted effort to be thankful in all things and with thanksgiving, present my requests to God.

This month, I want to share things for which I am thankful.  Through word, and picture, to remind myself of all that I have been given and all the ways the Lord has taken care of me this past year.

Let me start off with two pictures showing great fun we had one weekend at a hotel.  I love that Madi and Abe are adventurous, and I am thankful for opportunities to allow them to enjoy being a kid.

Madi & Abe leaping from bed to bed during a weekend adventure!

Tired and happy after a massive pillow fight!

Pizza Soup: A Family Winner

I found a recipe for Pizza Soup and thought I'd give it a try.  I didn't follow it exactly as I didn't have the recipe at home with me, but it was wonderful.  The leftovers were quickly eaten the next day for lunch with no complaints.  We all decided this will become a staple in our Friday night dinner rotation.  Here's what I did:

- 1 can spaghetti sauce (it is what I had on hand)
- 2 cans water (i will do three next time)
- italian sausage sliced and quartered
- pkg. of pepperoni quartered
- 1/4 onion diced
- seasoned with oregano, basil, and Italian seaonings

Cooked on low all day while I was at work.  Then when we were about 20-30 mins away from eating supper I put in 1/2 box of whole wheat elbow macaroni and turned the soup up to high.  Once the noodles were soft I turned it off, and served it up.  We topped it with mozzarella cheese.

In the future, I think I will add green peppers and garnish with black olives as well as the cheese.

My latest obsession

I get on these kicks, you know, where I get obsessed about something and all the research I can on a topic until I get bored and move on to the next one.

For a while it was poached eggs on toast, every day, until I felt I perfected the technique.  But just a few months later, I'd forgotten all the tips and tricks I learned.  

Then it was researching dog food to see what would be best for our new dog.  I think she has decided that dragging dead rabbits to the yard is her preferred meal, and who am I to argue?

Now it is creating simple (and simply delicious) meals out of what is already in my freezer and cupboard.  My husband & I are not difficult creatures to please when it comes to food.  We pretty much just enjoy food anytime.  But we are on yet another quest to eat healthier as we are convinced that we have to remain healthy for the sake of ourselves and our families.  And to that end I have again been scouring every magazine, book, and blog I can to find something healthy and simple that I can fit into our lives.  And if it can be done in a crock pot - all the better!

I found these granola bars at the Smitten Kitchen blog site the other day when looking for a recipe for a breakfast cookie that I could make with almond butter, oatmeal, nuts, etc.  I'm trying to find something basic that I can tweak with what is available and this fit the bill.  They were a bit crumbly, but I didn't measure the almond butter and think I just need some more next time.  However, they were the most scrumptious I've had in a LONG time, and my hubby even asked for some of mine once he had a taste.  I will be keeping these in rotation for sure!

Coming up on 2 years

I cannot believe we are about a week away from celebrating our 2nd Anniversary. While this will be a busy week leading up to our annual Labor Day Weekend in Estes Park, and the celebration of our second anniversary, I am very excited about what all this will mean for us this weekend.

Estes Park has long been a sanctuary, a retreat for my family. And now I am able to share that experience with my husband and the kiddos. What a rare and wonderful treat to pass along the tradition to my own family. I never thought I would be able to do that. And since Titus and I weren't alone in getting married, Madi & Abe were there with us, as a family on that wedding day, it is a joy to have them celebrate that side of the weekend as well.

As for our actual anniversary, I have no elaborate plans. We will spend our budget on the trip. But I do have a special gift in the plans, if I find the time to make it happen. My husband is to great to not honor in some special way.

As for now - I will return to work (lunch time is over) and continue plotting and blogging later.

Settling In

July brought us many more changes. With a bittersweet heart we moved our lives from a two-home family to a one home family. Titus got a new job in Kearney and we moved all of our belongings from Bridgeport and our Arapahoe apartment into a home in the country west of town about eight miles.

Mostly we are settled in. After five weeks of unemployment and driving my husband and family nuts, I am now working at a great church. It is very similar to where I worked before. In many ways I feel like I have come back home...minus the mountains.

Last night I walked down our driveway and looked up at the night sky. Stretched before me was a dark expanse of sky littered with stars. I just stood there, rotating around in every direction marveling at the beauty just above my head. We never saw stars like that living in town. And they are there every night for us just outside our front door.

And there is beauty all around our place. Just look at some of the pictures taken by Madi & I at the amazing beauty just outside our door.

Nyquil Dreams

Whenever I think of or see Nyquil, I think of my friend, Ryan. He commented on more than one occasion about his delightful use of Nyquil to help him get a much needed night of sleep. This week, I fully understand why he feels this way.

After two weeks on the road visiting family and then a crazy week back in the office getting caught up from being gone for two weeks, well, my body complained. The head cold moved to my chest. I nearly lost my voice on more than one occasion. Everyone I talked to asked me what was wrong because I sounded like the frog in my throat had taken up residence with no sign of leaving.

But then, in a desperate search through my not-so-neatly-organized medicine basket, I found them. Four little green gel pills. On the back, neatly stamped in black letters were the words that delighted my heart, "Nyquil Gel Caps". I popped two of those in my mouth, drank a big glass of water, and went to bed. After 9 delightful hours of sleep, I awoke feeling so much more rested than I had for over 2 weeks and my head / chest cold seemed better. So the next night I took the last two little pills. And again, another great night of sleep. But even better, I feel like I'm on the rebound to my normal life and energy level.

It's amazing what something so simple can do. Taking Nyquil allowed my body to do it's job. I just might have to stock up on these great little Green Gel Caps.

It's the start of a new year. I have never been a fan of New Year's resolutions. My life philosophy has always been to not put off until later what I can start today. So year round I work at doing the things in my life I need to do in order to get where I want to go or accomplish what I want to get done. But, there is an energy that comes with a new year, and the feeling of a clean slate. My hubby is feeling renewed energy toward making positive changes, so we are riding that wave right now.

I had two weeks off of work due to some surgery that my boss had before Christmas. It was a long two weeks on the road with my hubby. We visited both sides of the family and spend 6 wonderful days with the kiddos. Well, they were mostly wonderful. We battled a few illnesses and by the end of the two weeks, we were all ready to return to our normal, albeit crazy, schedule.

During our time off we discussed how life had gotten away from us in December and how we gave up on our eating plan we had been doing for the better part of a year. We realized that despite not having a church home in Bridgeport, we need to find spiritual connections with others, each other, and our own personal walk with the Lord. We reconfirmed how vital it is to look after our spiritual, physical, and emotional selves on a regular basis.

I'm not foolish enough to think that changes are going to happen over night or that we can make a blanket statement that something will happen every day. Our lives right now could never allow for that. But we are going to work on capturing those moments when we can do something to improve our physical, spiritual, or emotional selves. Like last night discovering we didn't have any activities and went to work out. Or this morning, when I had ten minutes before work and I read over the Verse of the Week (Psalm 1:1&2) from My Bridge Radio here in the Panhandle. Something to meditate on thorughout the day. Looking for those little spans of time to do something positive and not beat myself up when it doesn't happen all day, every day.

Today the sun is shining. The space heater at my feet is working. And that's a good place to be right now.