Strange Time In LIfe

This time of year always seems a bit strange to me.

I am wrapping up a TON of school year ministry type stuff and I am preparing for a TON of summer ministries, and this year gets even stranger as I am also beginning to work on plans for while I will be gone next fall. I am living in a state of already and not yet for sure.

Summer is closer than I care to imagine.
     Now if only Mother Nature would catch on as well.

I grieve the end of every school year because the kids are always soo marvelous, however it is ALWAYS time for the year to end and for the kids to move on to the next year.

I grieve knowing I won't be at the start of next school year, despite I know how wonderful it will be to have time at home with baby.

It is strange to think through the start of maternity leave and questions fill my head:

• Where will we worship?
• Do I come back to "work" to worship? It is the only worshipping community I know here in town - however, I don't want to be drawn to actually work, rather I want to enjoy the chance to worship with my husband (seriously this never happens - I think we can count on less than one hand the number of times we have sat in the pews together to worship) and a new babe in arms.
• Do we jump from church to church here in town and explore what others are doing?


• The details that I need to leave for the multitude of people (seriously thankful for these folks) who will be covering for me while I am gone
• The plans and the back up plans - the plans for if I go early and the plans for if I go late (seriously, nearly banking on going late)
• I literally have started a binder of information for people who are covering for me while I am gone - does it seem semi excessive - yes, however, I don't know how else to keep everything organized for them and accessible
• Not to also forget that I have stacks of postcard reminders that need to be sent on certain days that are already printed and just have a date to be mailed on/by
• Also mission trips to be signed up for, paperwork to be collected, information to be processed and registrations to be mailed
• Confirmation will also happen 
• which I am coming back for (at least for that Sunday, I can't walk with these kids for 3 years, to sit at someone else's confirmation two blocks down the street - it would kill me just about as much as some of them would be disappointed)
• There are moments in which it almost seems like more work to be gone than to be here

meanwhile - my head also spins with the reality that soonish (less than 100 days from now there will be a baby that I am charged to take care of...

Yes, I know it will all be fine. For some reason crossing under the 100 day mark for one reason or another on top of registering, on top of Marc pushing to start working on the nursery, this sweet baby is becoming more and more real (not that I didn't think it was real before, however, as my belly expands the reality becomes more real for me).

In completely unrelated things: our chickens are growing like crazy and as soon as Mother Nature plays along they are moving outside to their coop (currently the evening temps are just a little lower than I would care for them to be for the current size, however they have grown a TON). I hope to get some new pictures of them this weekend on one of my real cameras, these are just some photos from my iphone (which does take decent pictures but not awesome ones) from the other night when we were playing with the chickens in the basement (yes, they still live in the baby pool in our basement). Dakota remains fascinated by them but has not even come mildly close to them, I think she has a slight dose of fear of them (of which I have zero intent of helping her overcome).



Dear Mother Nature,
    Please send spring or even skip us to summer, or at least send the sunshine.
Love, northern Minnesota (and probably many more places)

Chicken Enchilada Soup

I am not certain how working women pulled off having dinner ready at any sort of a reasonable time (read before 9:00 pm) before the invention of the crock pot. Seriously, I cook in a crock pot at least three times a week. Why, because I never know what time I will get home and when I do get home the last thing I want to do is cook over the stove, I just want yummy food ready to go when I walk in the door, hence my obsession love of the crock pot.

Now that fall is definitely upon us I have gotten back into soups (LOVE soup during the colder months, which in northern Minnesota is October through April May). My most recent soup is from THIS PIN on pinterest. I also LOVE pinterest and actually cook and make things off of there weekly.

Here is the soup I made this week:

Add everything except the cheese and cilantro and cook on high for 3 to 4 hours.  Add the cheese and sprinkle with cilantro just before serving

Chicken Enchilada Soup

3 cups chicken stock
2 skinless, taw chicken breasts diced into small pieces
2 tsp ground cumin
2 tsp  chili powder
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
1 28 oz can diced tomatoes
1 jalapeno peppers, minced
2 green bell pepper, diced
1 small onion, diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 15 oz can black beans, rinsed and drained
2 cups frozen corn
1/2 cup tomato paste
8 oz colbyjack cheese, shredded (because this is what I had in the house)
8 oz pepperjack cheese, divided
1 cup cilantro, chopped
Tortillas

Dump everything, except the cheese and tortillas, into the crock pot, reserve some of the cilantro to be spread over the top. Add most of the cheese with about fifteen minutes left in cooking. I also added strips of tortillas at this point. Sprinkle the remaining cheese over the bowls of soup as they are served. I also had some tortilla chips sitting around that I crushed and put a few on the top of the bowls of soup as well.

I am sure there are 12,000 things you could do to this soup to change it up a bit. We loved it and enjoyed eating it for a few days.


Do you have any great crock pot recipes you want to share?
Do you like soup season?
What are your go-to meals?

Fall Swing

Fall hit me hard this year, as you may have noticed my blog went nearly dead for a couple weeks, I couldn't get my legs under me and stay up. It was CRAZY for me. In the midst of it all life has been good. This past week Marc and I went up to Fritz Loven Park (where we got engaged) and spent some time wandering around hiking, and our crazy puppy swam (she is NUTS - that water was cold). Here are some pictures from our adventures:

Now we wait for the leaves to turn colors and I am sure it will be gorgeous then too and we will be back and I will take countless photos. I love fall.

What is your favorite season?

What do you enjoy about fall? For me it is all things pumpkin flavored and beautiful running weather!

Do you have any favorite pumpkin recipes you'd like to share?

Pumpkin Streusel Muffins - Review

This past week I made some delightful pumpkin streusel muffins that I found on pintrest (I LOVE pintrest). Here is the pin.

I followed the recipe exactly as it is written. It made 12 muffins although I think there was a ton of dough and could have easily made 18 muffins just as easily. If you make 12 know that your muffin cups will be super full, but it does still work out fine. This was a super easy recipe to make. I made them for our all board retreat at church, they were gone fast. I am making them again this week (I think I am going to take them down to my brother & his girlfriend).

Pumpkin Streusel Muffins:

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 (15-ounce) can pumpkin puree
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
• 2 large eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

For the cinnamon streusel topping:

• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into bits

For the glaze:

• 1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted
• 1-2 tablespoons milk

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 12-cup standard muffin tin with paper liners; set aside.

To make the streusel topping, combine flour, sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl. Add cold butter and toss to coat, using your fingers to work the butter into the dry ingredients until it resembles coarse crumbs.

In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, baking powder, baking soda and salt.

In a large glass measuring cup or another bowl, whisk together pumpkin puree, butter, eggs and vanilla.

Pour mixture over dry ingredients and stir using a rubber spatula just until moist.

Scoop the batter evenly into the muffin tray. Sprinkle with reserved topping, using your fingertips to gently press the crumbs into the batter.

Place into oven and bake for 16-18 minutes, or until a tester inserted in the center comes out clean.

To make the glaze, combine confectioners’ sugar, butter and milk. Whisk until smooth. If the glaze is too thin, add more confectioners’ sugar as needed.

When the muffins are done, cool for 10 minutes and drizzle the glaze on each muffin.

Allow glaze to set before serving.

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

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

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).

Training Plan

There is something utopic about planning for future races, there are the things I hope for (much fast times and personal records), the plan that seems totally do-able at the start (clearly not considering life, the weather, or any injury that will inevitably happen), and there is the excitement of upcoming races. I think I have most of my races planned out for the summer and into the fall. I need to fill in a few more races in September, November, and December, but I am excited to say that I am finally going to earn my coast to coast medal in 2013.  Ever since I heard of this medal I have wanted to earn it. I signed up for the Tinkerbell Half Marathon this coming January.

I just sat down and mapped out my training plan up through this race. I worked my schedule so that it easily fits the other races that I am registered for. It will take dedication to be committed to my training schedule, particularly since I have a couple mission trips this summer.

Note to self:

• you will miss some of the training runs and cross trainings that you have planned - it'll be okay
• keep dreaming big - keep challenging yourself - keep working hard
• update your ipod - stop being lazy - you know you are sick of the music on there
• this is a challenge between you and yourself - don't compare yourself to others - you are unique and you will have great victories and great challenges - embrace them - grow from them
• update your ipod - seriously - get it done

I did it!

I did it! I am so very proud. I went down to the Crow Wing State Park, Dakota and I walked around on the beautiful trails, taking in the crisp crunching of the leaves below our feet and I took some pictures. I love all the fall colors that are coming out and the branches that are now becoming bare and the reds, oranges, and yellows. I loved the afternoon just walking around and playing with the puppy. It was a glorious day off. Thanks be to God for a great fall days!

Fall/Winter Project

This fall/winter I have decided that I need to take on several projects for a few reasons:
1) it gives me a sense of variety and purpose
2) I know I'll be cooped up in a building a lot of winter so I need projects to keep me going
3) Fall/Winter always seems like a time for projects indoors when I can't be outside playing

One of my projects this fall/winter is I am going to try making a lot of different soups. I love soup but I really dislike most pre-made soups from grocery stores because I generally find them far too salty for my liking and they never quite taste quite as good as if it is homemade rather than store bought.

I started yesterday with Cheeseburger Soup. My friend Lynneskies recommended it to me originally. She said to not put in the parsley or the basil and left it out and don't think I'd put it in either after tasting the soup. It is even fabulous reheated. If you click on Cheeseburger Soup it should bring up the link with the recipe of where Lynneskies found it originally. I am already beginning to look for soup recipes for next week. I can't wait to make a variety of soups. I know it would be possible to get in a massive rut of eating sandwiches and other quick foods with my schedule so it is fun to be able to crock-pot some of the soups and some to make on the stove.

I am off to play with a very happy puppy! I love my Dakota! I have her enrolled in beginning dog training classes (I guess we are both technically taking the class) and so far it has been super fun. I love watching Dakota learn new skills and I love learning how to help her learn new skills. I am excited to see what else she will learn. While I miss my classmates at seminary, I don't really miss going to class yet (I know people say I will eventually), I am liking the ability to choose what classes I want to take and to take a wide variety of random community education classes, I am hoping to get into a crocheting class this winter since I am a self taught crocheter it would be fun to take the class, it is an hour and a half for two nights, which I think should fit into my schedule.

What about you all, do you have any fall/winter projects planned?

Beginnings & Messes

There is something absolutely beautiful about the chaos of the beginnings of things. Last night was the first night since I have been in my current call that we have had our Wednesday evening ministries in full swing. Yes, there was more than once that I wished I had the ability to make two or three of myself so I could be at several places at once. Sure was it crazy and loud and is the building a mess this morning, indeed on all accounts. But that is what a church should be, I was thinking about it last night that I love when the building is full of people and the next morning we have some picking up to do. Sure I would love it if the high schoolers didn't wad up their gum wrappers and fling them all over the room or if the choir remembered to put away their binders or if the catechism youth put their phones away for the time we are together and that they didn't find it amusing to throw the crayons at one another leaving them all over the floor. But in a sense to me I see signs of life, signs of a healthy congregation with stuff happening, with people being sent out into the world. I see signs of people gathering and celebrating, mourning, grieving, rejoicing, and attempting to hear where God is calling them.

It is like a sign that hangs (or use to back in the day) in the kitchen at camp use to say: Thank God for dirty dishes, it means we had something to eat. While it is easy to look at the mess afterwards and complain about this, that, or the other today I am choosing to look at it and see life. (I may need a reminder of this at some point down the road when I am frustrated with one group of youth or another for not picking up completely.)