Saturday, September 22, 2012

Sweet Party Mix




1 large box of crispix
1 can mixed nuts
Mix in a brown grocery bag.
Mix 2 sticks butter (no margarine)
2 cups brown sugar
1/2 cup Karo syrup


Boil this for 1 1/2 minutes &; then pour over mixture in bag.
Place bag in microwave & microwave on high for 1 minute.
Take bag out &; shake well.
Put back in microwave &; cook for 4 minutes.
Pour on cookie sheets or sprayed wax paper to cool.

Here is another of my mother's recipes that I loved growing up as a kid, I  made it this morning to take along to our fall theological conference as my snack to share. Now the problem is keeping my hands out of it until then.

Friday, September 21, 2012

Play dough Recipe

I had the world's hardest time finding a great play dough recipe for an upcoming Family Faith Journey project and searched all over the internet to find one, and eventually ended up calling my mom for her recipe for play dough (I seriously remember helping her make this when I was a kid) so thought I would post it just in case any one else is looking for an easy easy easy play dough recipe. (& so next time I need it I can find it)

2.5 cups flour
0.5 cup salt
3 tablespoons corn oil
1 tablespoon powdered alum

  • Mix ingredients and pour 1 2/3 to 2 cups of boiling water of it.
  • Stir till ingredients stick together.
  • Kneed till soft and consistent.
  • Divide into as many sections as you want and color as you please (you can use food coloring or paste coloring)
  • Store in a plastic bag
It was ridiculously easy to make and I tripled the recipe and it still worked out great!!!


I seriously enjoyed making playdoh, I don't know that last time I got to play with it, I find it a bit theraputic.

Anything from your childhood that you still enjoy playing with from time to time?



Thursday, September 20, 2012

REJOICE

Thanks be to God, it happened. Last night at our catechism meeting after telling all the parents that I would need them to sign up to help lead two groups due to a lack of volunteers - two people (of whom I had called several times) stepped up and volunteered. WHOOP WHOOP!!! Seriously probably doesn't sound like that big of a deal and sounds totally lame that I am this over the top exctied about it, but I really am! I couldn't have been more excited when they volunteered. Both of them had a condition that they had a couple nights they couldn't be there, I said no problem I will start working to find subs.

Seriously when volunteers stepped up I did a bit of a happy dance and wanted to hug them. I really am excited about catechism and love working with middle schoolers I just do not love trying to beg and twist arms to help out with middle school and high school ministry.

Thanks be to God for the Holy Spirit leading and guiding a couple of amazing men (the two that stepped up were on the top of my list of people who would be rockstars with helping to lead small groups) to be a part of the catechism ministry.

Any great joys in your world lately?

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Foodie Pen Pal Surprise

I got a great package a couple days ago in the mail from the person that I mailed my Foodie Pen Pal package to, what a wonderful surprise. I figure snce this isn't technically my box from the person mailing me yummy goodness I can reveal this earlier than the end of the month. I will have a full reveal of the box I recieve at the end of the month. Brande at the Adventures of the Nubby Tongue mailed me a little something. She mailed me PB2 the chocolate flavor. At first I was a little confused and (in all honesty) very skeptical of this stuff. I LOVE peanut butter and wasn't certain what I would think about this powdery peanut butter type stuff. Brande attached a note and said to sprinkle it over my cereal, add it to pancake mix, and that the sky is the limit. For my first taste I decided to be very nonadventurous and to just try it like the directions say, use 2 tablespoons of the powder and add water. I had it on my toast this morning and it was WONDERFUL! Not to mention is has about a fourth of the calories of regular peanut butter. I am excited to try it in many other ways! THANKS BRANDE!!!!

Toast with the chocolate pb2 on it. YUMMY
I definitely recommend you at least give it a try



Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Fall/Winter to-do list

As I got in my car this morning to head to work and the car told me it was 29 degrees I decided it was time to start creating my fall/winter (they are combined because they are slightly overlapping type - some things are obviously fall and some obviously winter but they are all going on one to-do list). Here is the start of my (probably ever growing) to-do list (in no particular order):
  • get a wedding dress
  • visit an apple orchard - and eat copious amounts of fresh apples
  • go sledding - without it being for work (yes, I do have the world's coolest job)
  • learn three new crochet patterns - ones that actually challenge me
  • maintain my training schedule
  • have a photoshoot in a pile of leaves
  • visit a pumpkin patch
  • carve pumpkins
  • roast pumpkin seeds
  • clean out closets and dresser - donate all the clothes that no longer fit or I just don't need/wear
  • organize my "loft" space - I have this strange open space at the top of my stairs before you head into either bedroom upstairs and it needs some serious t.l.c.
  • finish my Disney 2011 December trip photobook
  • finish my 2011 photobook
  • finish my 366 in 2012 photobook (super excited about this book)
  • start and finish my 2012 photobook
  • make a pie from scratch
  • go skiing
  • give someone totally unexpectedly a Christmas gift
  • paint the upstairs bedroom
  • have a photoshoot in the snow
  • try making 5 new soups
  • go snowshoeing
  • write at least two letters a month
  • go ice skating
  • drive around to see the Christmas lights


What is on your fall/winter to-do list?
What am I missing from my fall/winter to-do list?
Do you have any fun winter projects?
How do you keep up your training in the months of ice and snow?

Monday, September 17, 2012

Wedding Craziness

I am super excited to be getting married this coming summer. I can't wait to be married and continue the adventure with my fiance. He is fabulous. As you can imagine since getting engaged we have been on the journey to planning a wedding: setting a date (finding one that works with the church and finding a reception site that worked with the date), finding a reception site (harder than I imagined), asking our attendants, and sharing the news with friends and family. Other than those types of things I have begun to do some hoping and dreaming about how we want to decorate and all of those types of things, but it is OVERWHELMING!
The wedding industry is crazy. The other day I was looking online at a few to-do lists of when what needs to be done in terms of months out from the wedding and some of it was ridiculous. Some time lines were yearS in advance. Seriously YEARS! Who plans a wedding for years? I was committed to being engaged for less than a year, too much longer seems crazy. I don't need all the excess stuff, this does not need to be a multimillion dollar event. I can't fathom spending that much money on a wedding. There are lots and lots of things I was looking at and thinking about how over the top it was. My friend Lynneskies sent me a couple bridal magazines, they have been fun to look through and get some ideas and laugh at the over-the-topness of some of it.
There is a piece of me that was seriously disappointed (granted some of this comes from working in a church) but in most of the stuff that I have read or seen it appears that there is little to no emphasis on the actual wedding but rather on the reception and party after. Why does the ceremony get little to know focus and almost seems to come across as a means to an end?!
I am excited for the ceremony, to gather with God, family, and friends and to be showered in prayers and love as we make promises before God. I am excited as well about the reception and celebrating life together. It will be marvelous.
I haven't been doing a ton in terms of wedding stuff. Although I did just finish making our save the dates. I used this idea from pintrest, ours are brown and green. They were fun and not too challenging to make. At some point I know I need to go start looking at wedding dresses for myself, I am overwhelmed even thinking about it. It is crazy to think of all the options and to try to decide where to even begin. It'll happen soon hopefully.
That is my wedding rant of the moment. While this is the first I am certain this will not be the last, thanks for reading, feel free to include your point of view on weddings.

Friday, September 14, 2012

thoughts on life while running

Today as I was out for my run I was thinking about a lot of things but one of them is a quote that has been carrying me for quite some time now and I don't know who said it I found it on pintrest and it has been lovely for me it is "No matter how slow you go, you are still lapping everyone on the couch." I love it! When I was out running earlier this morning I kept thinking about this quote over and over again. I am not certain why it sticks in my head but it does and I love it. Even when I am not running quickly I know that it is true that I am not racing anyone other than myself and I am always lapping everyone sitting on the couch.

Other thoughts while running today:
  • I have become a snob and no longer can stand running in cotton t-shirts
  • I have an amazing volunteer pool but it is a shallow and narrow pool - I need to intentionally work on increasing the size of my volunteer/adult leader pool
  • I hate going to the dmv
  • I love apple season and can't wait for honeycrisp season
  • I want to eat all things pumpkin right now
  • I need to catch up on some shutterfly books
  • I am excited fall is coming/here sort of
  • I have the world's best puppy
  • I miss living by my family and friends from all over the country

Thursday, September 13, 2012

Challenges

Recently I have been trying to be more aware of what I eat and what I don't eat, I have been trying to consume more water and less sugary beverages, I have been trying to eat more veggies and fruit and eat less overly processed things and carbs. I am working on it. It is a slow slow slow process for me. I am overcoming years of eating whatever I want and not having it effect me. There were the years that I played women's basketball at the college level and it was almost like I couldn't consume enough during those years, we would practice a couple times a day and I never had to watch what I ate. I am learning that as I am no longer the athelete I once was, I need to adjust certain things and learn how to continue to train my body so that I am happy with it again. I have to watch my portion size as well, I no longer need to be consuming way more than my body needs.

Working at a church this can be quite the challenge. For example many Wednesdays we serve a meal before church (generally it is a hot dish of some sort or a pasta dish or something along that line) the food is marvelous, however there is no limit on portion size or a balance of fruit and veggies and I should not even begin to talk about the amazing desserts. At youth group last night they had huge rootbeer floats or purple cows (substitute the rootbeer in a rootbeer float for grape soda and you have a purple cow) and they looked delightful. Last night on my way home I held my head high as I left knowing I had brought my own dinner and successfully didn't consume a rootbeer float (despite the fact that I love ice cream, and do eat it in moderation, I knew that I wouldn't be able to limit myself to a small portion). I was happy and content.

As I arrived home I called my fiance (he lives down the block) and he was just coming home from the grocery store and so I walked down to his place to help him unload and put away his groceries. As I was unloading there was a certain piece of me that was jealosu as I know his metabolism is way faster than mine and can get away with eating differently than I can.

what I pulled out of one bag of his groceries
As I pulled these out of one bag of his groceries there was a certain piece of me that was jealous that I knew that I wouldn't be sitting down with a large pile of oreos and consuming them all with an oversized glass of milk. There was a piece of me that was a little jealous that I would get to eat these things. And then I thought about it for a while and realized that for me these cookies, donuts, muffins, are not what my body needs or requires any more. I make no promises that I won't ean an oreo at some point but I know I won't eat a pile of them. Slowly but surely these types of food no longer have the temptation that they use to. They don't have the same appeal they once did.

As I walked home last night. I once again held my head high knowing that slowly but surely I am winning the battle (or at least won yesterday) over what I eat. I make choices and stick to them. I do still eat ice cream and oreos and chocolate on occasion just in moderation and with a serving size at a time rather than four or five. Slowly but surely I am reclaiming my body and feeling healthier as I do it.

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Asics

Ascis Gel Frantic 5 - Women's Lime Green
I love my running shoes. End story. I love these shoes. They came out about three years ago (I am currently on my 3rd or 4th pair) - I LOVE THEM. The problem is I now don't want to transition to any other shoe. These ones feel like I am walking on clouds and are the most amazing shoe to run in. I love these shoes. I am now to the point that I order them online and in quanity when I can find them. They are getting harder and harder to find. I cannot say enough how much I love them. Coming from a smaller towm my options for shopping for athletic appareal is very limited so it is nice that I know exactly what shoe I love and what size I need and can just order it online, makes everything easier.

If you are looking for a running/athletic shoe, I highly recommend Asics. They are lovely! [no I was not asked to write this review, I just love these shoes enough to write a review of them]

I am now off to try to find somewhere online I can order another pair, mine are going to wear out before my January half marathon.

Monday, September 10, 2012

Ministry Frustrations

While I love being called to a church it comes with its frustrations like any other call/job, my current frustration is finding volunteers. I hate having to call and call and call and beg and beg and beg people to volunteer for this that or the other. I know there are downsides to being a volunteer and people don't always like to do it and it isn't that I am just calling people randomly or just began calling people. I started months ago attempting to fill the catechism mentor positions. I know they will fill but it is frustrating when something is going so well and then I have to spend what feels like forever finding volunteers to step up and help lead. I can't sustain the catechism ministry on my own. I know there are gifted people in the congregation who can do these types of things, I know that there are wonderful people who work amazingly well with middle schoolers. I know people lead busy lives, but I wish I could help them to understand what their investment of time into these middle schoolers will mean to the youth. I try, but words fail. Yes, I pray about it frequently. I know it will be worked out. In the mean time I felt the need to voice my currently frustration.

Friday, September 7, 2012

A note to the man shared the road with me today

Dear middle-aged man driving a old dodge ram,
     Yes, you are 100% correct I could hear every comment you were saying to me as you drove along nice and slow beside me for just over a mile. Yes, you are correct that I was ignoring you. I chose not to respond to you because I knew I didn't want to say something I would later regret and saying nothing seemed like the best option. Sorry if I offended you in the midst of ignoring your, what I felt like, rude comments. You frustrated me.
     Yes, it is true that I will never be a Sports Illustrated bikini model, nor do I ever dream of it. I actually am in a call that I love, I get to walk alongside people in a wide variety of life situations and speak grace, truth, and hope, and share the story of a triune God who created all people and created us diverse and different. I am thankful for our creative God who calls me and showers me in grace and love and in my baptismal waters am claimed. I am sorry that you don't know this message of hope, truth, unconditional love, and salvation.
     Yes, it is true that I won't ever win a gold medal running. Yes, I know I run a little slow. Yes, I know I have a long ways to go, but each step I take is moving me toward my goals. Yes, I am sure you do have six pack abs and you could see my belly jiggle as I ran. It's okay, I am working on it. Although I would love to tell you the story of all the amazing food that I choose to eat and share with friends and family. I enjoy food, yes, I am working on watching my portion size and eating more fruits and veggies, however I do still enjoy many foods that aren't healthy for me. While I love running I also run so I can eat foods I love, like ice cream, chocolate, and pasta.
     Yes, it is true that I am running with my dog and you think that my hair flying all over the place makes you think we look alike. I was hot and sweaty and have zero care that my hear has fly aways going every which way at mile six. In fact I am proud that my hair looked like crap and was filled with sweat and dust from the road, I was thankful that I was able to make the hardest steps - walking over to my shoes, putting them on, and getting out the door.
     Yes, I know I was wearing tall socks which are out of fashion and my bright orange gym shorts from college and a blue shirt, I know it didn't match and that tall socks are out of fashion when wearing shorts. All morning I have been working on my laundry because it has been a crazy week, although I wouldn't change my week so that I could look good while out for a run. Instead of doing my laundry earlier this week I chose to: watch a sixth, seventh, eighth, freshmen, jv, and varsity volleyball game one night, teach swimming lessons, attend worship, go for two other runs, play with my dog, hang out with my fiance, and write a few letters to friends who I miss.
      Yes, I know that you think I am wasting my time because I won't ever run "worth crap" - I am sorry you feel that way. I actually really love running and running for the fun of it and the feeling I have during and after a good run. I also love the excitement of my sweet puppy every time I get my running shoes out and we hit the road, I love the way her tail wags faster than I ever thought possible and I love the way that she motivates me to keep running. I love running with her.
       I pray that whatever frustrations or internal struggle you are having is resolved and that you feel better after verbally harassing me today while I ran. I pray you meet someone who shares with you the story of grace and love of God who made you too, and loves you too even thought that may seem like a crazy idea at the moment. I pray you come to a place in life when you don't need to say harsh comments to random people you pass on the road, I pray you become and encourager to the world and use all that time and energy you waste saying rude things to serve the world. I pray that you learn the love of a God who created you and become one who shares that message with the world.
       Sorry I couldn't come up with the words to say to you while I was out for a run and you out for an early afternoon drive, I wish I had a way to share this message with you. Since I am not optimistic that our paths will cross again, I pray someone will share a message of grace and love with you. I am sorry I ignored you but I couldn't say anything that would be kind in the moment, so I chose to say nothing. If we meet again, I pray for the strength to not think harshly about you and rather remember that you too were created by the triune God and you too are a beloved child of God.

Peace to you-
  a broken, beloved, sinful, and redeemed child of God just like you

Thursday, September 6, 2012

Evening Run

    Most eveings my fiance and I take Dakota (my sweet one year old golden retriever) for a walk. Last night as we were getting ready to head out on our walk we both happen to put on our running shoes to walk in (this is probably more rare than you anticipate, generally I am in flip flops, Marc is always in shoes). As we were starting out leaving my house, Marc began to jog, I think as a joke at first and I joined in. It was marvelous - the evening was cool - we both love a crisp night for a run and so we began to run together. It was fun to go out for an unexpected evening run. It wasn't record setting paces and we talked the whole time. Dakota thought she had died and gone to heaven, a second run in a day.
    Last night's run was liberating to a certain degree, I get caught up in what time I need/want to hit, and how many miles I need/want to run. I get caught up in the details of the run. I forget what first made me fall in love with running, the simple joy of being outside running, not the time or the distance, rather the love for running.
   We ran a good forty minutes or so (without the watch we sort of had to guess what time we left and we think we ran about forty minutes). I had a drawstring bag on my back (I was carrying my keys, cellphone, and bags to pick up after Dakota) - it was a little awkward and I would never choose to run with it - however last night in the midst of the improptu run it hardly phased me. I ran without an ipod (also a bit of a rare occurrance).
    I am thankful for last nights run for several reasons:
  • it reminded me that a run doesn't always have to be about time or distance
  • I love running short distances with Marc (he doesn't quite have the endurance or desire to go much further)
  • the cool crisp air was a welcome guest after a hot and muggy summer
  • I had an exhausted dog on my hands when we got home
  • I enjoy running just to run

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Change

Change doesn't happen overnight. It doesn't, ever - well usually - every once in  a blue moon it happens but generally it takes a long period of time with lots of work and often times change comes with some pain. Change is hard. Change takes work. Change can be frustrating even if the end result is worth it. Change sometimes just straight up sucks.

As the fall begins I feel like I am a fish swimming upstream in a lot of different areas. I think on some levels - personally and professionally - I am in a season of change - it seems to be happening all around me and in many areas I long for the change.

Personally - I am training again for a few half marathons (and couldn't be more excited) - I have goals, I have desired times I would love to hit, summer was rough in terms of training with being gone so often and traveling for church doesn't always make a run possible. I am back in the saddle and I want to do well and I want to be back to my good long runs - I enjoy them, but building up to them takes time - change is happening - my endurance is growing - it takes patience. I will get there but I want the change to happen over night.

Professionally - we have several changes going on at church - we have the Family Faith Journey coming and a new class of catechism kids (yes this happens every year but it does involve training in a new group of adults) - we have lots going on all over the place (it is exciting and terrifying).

Personally - I am getting married (it hasn't fully sunk in yet) - which is a whole new set of changes around the corner. I get to get use to having someone else in my house come June - which means I need to rearrange the closet - make room for another apartment worth of stuff - I need to be willing to compromise - change is hard and exciting.

Professionally - I am no longer in my first year (Thanks be to God) and certain things make senese and others still confuse the heck out of me. Some things are dying and out of death always comes new life but the dying process can be long and painful and new birth can also be long and painful even when it results in something beautiful.

Personally - I have ten thousand things to be thankful for - and I am.

Professionally - I have ten thousand things to be thankful for - and I am.

In the midst of it all I seem to find myself coming back to one of my favorite prayers found in the Evangelical Lutheran Book of Worship (ELW) Evening Prayer Service [I have had this prayer memorized for years and pray it daily].

"O God, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Giv eus faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go, but only that your hand is leading us adn your love supportin gus; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."

Saturday, September 1, 2012

September.

Where did summer go and how is fall upon us?! It is an exciting time in the church (as well as other places I realize), it is a time of new beginnings and ministries going strong. I feel like I have spent the past month preparing for this month, making photo copies, ensuring I have adult leaders to help where needed, making all the necissarily curriculum, and general long range planning and announcing all that is coming. It is exciting and terrifying.

Excitement in my world in terms of work this summer has been found all over, but one thing in particular that I have been working on for this fall is that we are switching out 2nd-4th graders to Family Faith Journey in terms of Sunday school. What does this mean?! Good question, we named it ourself. We are moving to a whole family Sunday school for our 2nd-4th graders, meaning they get to come with their parent(s) to Sunday school and together learn. The problem with this whole deal is currently there is not any curriculm written for this type of Sunday school unless it is extremely fundamental or not quite where we want to be at theologically so I am writing all my own curriculum. I forget how much time this takes. I am excited to see where this all goes and how it transpires, I know we will have to make adjustmetns as we learn what the year looks like and what this group of people need but I am excited none the less.

I am also jazzed that fall is around the corner. I love fall and look forward to sweatshirt weather, football season, all things pumpkin, runs where I am not over the top sweating when I walk out the door, and a 'normal' (or as normal as things get for me) routine. I am ready to get back in the swing of things as intimidating as it may be, it is exciting.

Personally I am also excited because the training plan that I am using for the Disneyland Tinkerbell half marathon officially kicks off midway through September. I look forward to long runs in the cooler weather. I am not however looking forward to the long runs on the ice or snow or on the dreaded treadmill.September I am going to focus on celebrating the miles I get run, the laps I get swam, and the days I get in a good workout and not focus on beating myself up for the miles I should have run or the laps I should have swim or the weights I should have lifted. I choose to rejoice in the victories that will happen.

I am also excited because I have a really hard time getting motivated to crochet during the summer months, it never seems like time to create things, so I sort of take a break through the summer months and fall always kicks me back into time to crochet things again.

It is crazy to think of everything this year will hold and I couldn't be more excited. There are lots of things happening at church and in June I am getting married. Which I still don't think I have gotten used to that idea fully. Crazy! It should be a wonderful year of planning and at the end of it all I get to get married (one of these days I should start planning).