Taste of Fall: Rosemary Roasted Root Vegetable Soup

Here in Pennsylvania, the weather has been acting a little bipolar, but I am not fooled. Even if the boys and I were able to slurp ice-cold smoothies while running around in sandals and 80 degree October days last week, it's still fall and I am still going to embrace all things fall-ish. Enter pumpkins, squash, soups, scarves, tall boots, et cetera. Woo-hoo!



I can always tell the autumn itch has begun when my dear husband starts asking for butternut squash more often - and specifically, this soup. I have been making it for several years, and it keeps evolving to something (I believe to be) more magnificent. I have served it to company on numerous occasions and it is always met with requests for the recipe. A little over a month ago we started following the Trim Healthy Mama eating style. (More on that in a bit). I didn't have to change much to make it fit THM guidelines, just a few small tweaks, and we are happily enjoying our favorite fall dinner as an E for Energizing meal.

I bought and read the book Trim Healthy Mama in early September and it made so much sense to me. Since starting to follow the plan I have lost about 5 lbs. and a whole pant size! I am absolutely loving it. In a nutshell, the authors, sisters Serene & Pearl, have done a lot of research and put together a plan that is not a fad or a diet- but rather focuses on eliminating blood sugar spikes so that insulin does not have to work overtime, causing fat to be stored. This is done by eating healthy fats (with protein) at one time and low-glycemic carbohydrates (again always with protein) at other times- but NOT large amounts of fat and carbs at the same time. By eating only one fuel source at a time, it allows your body to more efficiently use your food for fuel and not store excess glucose as fat. I am so excited that I get to nourish my body with coconut oil, real butter, olive oil, cream, etc. and embrace yummy carbs like fruits, sweet potatoes, quinoa, and oatmeal. That is the short version. Check out and follow the THM facebook page for lots more info!

Onto this recipe, which is of course the reason for this post. I will have a few notes as we go along as it is very much open to modification.

Roasted Root Vegetable Soup
Trim Healthy Mama E Meal
Serves 8-10

1 medium butternut squash, peeled and cubed
1 large sweet potato, also peeled and cubed
2 red or sweet yellow onions, quartered
1/2 bag (8 oz.) of baby carrots OR 2 whole carrots, chopped
1/2 large head of cauliflower or (for those not following THM) 2 white potatoes
4-5 cloves of garlic, halved
2 T. coconut oil or butter
Rosemary, thyme, salt and pepper
4 c. vegetable or chicken stock plus more water as needed
1 c. low-fat cottage cheese
1 lb. extra-lean ground turkey, chicken, or sausage
Crushed red pepper for topping, if desired
Optional: other root vegetables such as rutabaga, turnips, parsnips, etc. Go wild! I use what I have on hand.

1. You will want to peel and chop your vegetables to a uniform size and place on a 2 large baking pans/cookie sheets. Do not try to shove all the peelings down your garbage disposal. Not that I would know what would happen if you were to do so :-o. I once heard that a plumber's busiest day is Thanksgiving.. because many a person thinks their garbage disposal can eat massive quantities of vegetable scraps. Moving on...
2. Drizzle vegetables and garlic cloves with coconut oil and toss to coat. Don't fret, THMamas- this makes a LOT of soup and your serving will certainly have under 1 tsp. to keep it in E territory! Dust generously with rosemary, thyme, salt and pepper.
3. Roast trays of vegetables in a 400 degree oven for 35-45 minutes or until soft.



Here are my roasted vegetables, all soft and caramelized!

4. Remove from oven and let cool for a few minutes.
5. Pull out your trusty food processor or blender (I use our Ninja for EVERYTHING. You will see I mean this literally in a few minutes). Fill 3/4 full with roasted vegetables, 2 c. broth and 1/2 c. cottage cheese. Puree until smooth. Repeat in batches until all vegetables are pureed with the rest of the broth and cottage cheese to the consistency you desire. You may need to add more water or broth to get it to a smooth, soupy consistency. We like ours somewhat thick.
6. Transfer vegetable puree to large pot to heat through. Can also use the crock and cook on high (or low if longer time) til dinner.
7. This step can be done while vegetables are roasting, or after.. it won't take long. Brown ground turkey or chicken to add to the soup- to boost the protein content (and yummy factor). Season with ground sage, ground fennel, pepper and garlic salt to achieve a sausage taste. Back to the Ninja: I found today that I can grind raw chicken breast in it!! This makes me SO excited and will save us money for sure.
8. Add ground meat to soup, heat through and simmer for a bit to blend flavors, taste and adjust salt and other seasonings, and serve! Top with crushed red pepper if desired.



I actually may have filled it a bit too full and we may have had slight overflow-age upon coming home to dinner. Oops, should have used my big one!



Comfort food at its best.

This creamy deliciousness is how I followed up my dinner:



It is just the Frozen Yogurt from page 376-377 of the Trim Healthy Mama book. So easy and refreshing- and I totally wanted to make a second helping. Good thing it is a FP!!! :)

This post is linked up at Stacy Makes Cents and Gwen's Nest for Trim Healthy Tuesdays! Stacy is cooking up Spaghetti Squash Primavera and I can't wait to try it! Gwen tells us how to make sweet tea concentrate, which looks fabulous. Stacy's blog is actually where I first read about THM and saw it explained. So I owe the thanks to her for introducing me! Thanks, Stacy!

Happy fall, friends!

Breakfast Muffins Fit for Dessert

Sunday was a double-hitter in the kitchen. We hosted our home church meeting and had friends stay for lunch afterwards. I was feeling adventurous (the night before of course, since I "come alive" in the evening) and tried two new recipes for these occasions. For breakfast at church, I made two kinds of muffins, Strawberry Banana and Chocolate Coconut. For lunch, I threw together a Sweet and Savory Sausage & Rice Soup. The strawberry-banana muffins were just ok in my opinion. Some people loved them. But the chocolate ones? Whoa. We will come back to that. All of these recipes I sort of invented. Now with me and experimenting in the kitchen, usually things turn out ok, but every once in awhile they don't, so trying new things for guests may not always the best idea, right? I usually push this thought to the back of my mind and go for it. In this case, everything was met with raving reviews. (Phew!)

Back to the Chocolate Coconut muffins. I doubled the recipe so we would have enough to serve the group- which means we have quite a few left over. I cannot eat just one. I have tried. They are addicting. There is something SO chocolatey, moist, subtly sweet, something so DELICIOUS about them that they beckon you after you've finished the first.

I will try to recall what exactly went into the batch- I did a lot of revising the following morning after they got a bit dry overnight in the fridge.

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Chocolate Coconut Muffins

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups hazelnut coconut milk coffee creamer (I happened to have this on hand due to finding it on sale at a discount store. If you can't find it (very likely), substitute non-coconut-milk creamer or unsweetened coconut milk).
1/2 c. sugar (adjust to taste if you are using sweetened creamer)
1/2 c. Dutch-process cocoa powder
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 cup shredded coconut
1/3 c. unsweetened applesauce
1 egg
1/4 c. coconut oil OR other veg/canola oil
1 tsp. vanilla extract
 2 T. milk or more to right consistency
1/2 c. dark chocolate chips (I used Ghiradelli)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a large bowl, stir together dry ingredients and coconut.

In a separate bowl or liquid measuring cup, combine coconut milk/creamer, egg, applesauce, milk, and vanilla. Add the wet ingredients to dry, mix just until combined. At this point if you are using coconut oil you will add it. If you add it to cold ingredients it will solidify, something we want to avoid (although it will melt again in the oven, obviously). Fold in the chocolate chips.

Bake for 20-25 minutes in a greased muffin pan until centers are done when tested.

I will be making these again! Thanks for tuning in.. If you make them, let me know how they turn out!

Milestones:: Bittersweet

My eight-month-old cutie learned to crawl this past week. About this I have these sentiments:


Short is the Time


Short is the time
Hands are little
Grins are toothless
And words are few

Bittersweet it is
To see milestones reached
These little ones grow
Becoming their own

A proud mama am I
But tighter I do hold
His chest to mine
Embrace its rise and fall
His head on my shoulder.

For short is the time
A baby is a baby
Mama is his world
Sweet innocence reigns...

So today I will snuggle
I will get down and play
For overnight my baby
Will become a man.

Humbled by love

There are certain things that inspire one to begin blogging again. Sometimes things happen in life that just must be shared, or at least processed through writing.

This is a post about humility. It is also a post about marriage, and the essential role humility must play in love.

As a stay-at-home-mom with two young boys, a large part of my attention, emotions and energies are poured into these two sweet ones during the day, as it should be. After all, they need me. Not only am I responsible for their physical needs (although it is often all I can focus on as they are clamoring for breakfast, or snack, or to go potty, or...), but I also seek to stimulate my three-year-old's mind effectively so that it develops into that of a genius (of course every parent wants their children to be smart, right?), as well as comfort them both when they are tired, fall down, get upset with the dog, etc. I also share in their joys when they learn how to figure out a puzzle, explain their emotions in words, or begin drawing faces that actually have heads, eyes and hair, or in the case of my 7.5-month-old, when he learns to feed himself finger foods, makes new sounds, and scoots across the whole floor. That adds up to physical, mental, and emotional needs for two human beings (and a canine one) SEPARATE from my own that I am constantly watching out for day after day.

Enter Mr. Right. By the time he comes home at night, I am so happy to have help with the lot of them that his needs are altogether eclipsed. After the boys are sleeping like angels (read: the baby... toddler finds reasons to come out of his room for a full hour after bed), I still haven't remembered that he has needs. My narcissist side thinks it's a good time to meet my needs: rest, relaxation, tuning out or doing things I can't do with the little monsters. This often looks like Pinterest, facebook, TV or a movie- you get the picture. If I do "selflessly" deny my desires to do something I want to do, it's usually because the sink is full of dishes, the kitchen counters look like a hurricane blew through, or the piles of laundry rival Mount Vesuvius.

So when does Mr. Right come in? In a broken conversation over dinner about the events of our days, amidst flying handfuls of baby food, the dog thinking our feet are chew toys, and repeatedly reminding the three-year-old to talk less and eat more? In a hurried "I love you" before bed? Heck, sometimes he is asleep before I even make it to bed.

Last night all of this came to light. Mr. Right indicated with a wounded look in his eyes that it felt like I didn't love him as much anymore. This caused me to take a step back and look at why he might be feeling this way, and that is when I arrived at the conclusion of all stated previously. He then proceeded to give me some straight talk which was humbling but true and necessary to hear. I gave up "my needs come before yours" when I got married and had kids. I can't just forget that he has needs. I HAVE to pour into my husband even after I feel like I've poured every ounce of my energy into the kids. Because I love him! And that is love. That is love.

Here is the kicker to this story of humility and love. We had this conversation at dinner, then went on a walk, got the boys in bed, etc. I came down to clean up a bit and had just sat down on the couch when Mr. Right took my hand, pressed "Play" on his iPod, and began twirling me around the living room to "Earth Angel." In recent months, he's kept it no secret that he does not like dancing. At weddings I have to beg him to take the floor with me. Nonetheless, I give him a hard time because in our teenage years, he was a great dancer and loved it. Last night he danced with me at will- just because he knew I'd had a rough day. Does he love me? I have no doubt at all. He showed me in a way that spoke louder than anything. He's a fool for me, I could see it written on his face.

I ended the day feeling so humbled. I thanked him before we drifted off to sleep "for everything." He mumbled some mumbo-jumbo about just being a husband and loving his wife, but I know that he is an exceptional one. He really, truly loves me.

And I pledge to show him that I really, truly love him. However much humility that will take.

Eucharisteo and the prayer of my heart

Following is a quote from One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp. I challenge you to ponder its meaning for you today.

"In the original language, 'he gave thanks' reads 'eucharisteo.' .....The root word of Eucharisteo is charis, meaning 'grace.' Jesus took the bread and saw it as grace and gave thanks. He took the bread and knew it to be gift and gave thanks. But there is more, and I read it. Eucharisteo, thanksgiving, envelopes the Greek word for grace, charis. But it also holds its derivative, the Greek word chara, meaning 'joy.' ....Charis. Grace. Eucharisteo. Thanksgiving. Chara. Joy. A triplet of stars, a constellation in the black. A threefold cord that might hold a life? Offer a way up into the fullest life? Grac,e thanksgiving, joy. Eucharisteo. A Greek word... that might make meaning of everything?"

Now, pondering that, here is another quote I came by today that really moved me.

"The breaking of the alabaster box and the anointing of the Lord filled the house with the odor, with the sweetest odor.

Everyone could smell it.

Whenever you meet someone who has… gone through things for the Lord, is willing to be imprisoned by the Lord, just being satisfied with Him and nothing else, immediately you scent the fragrance.

There is a savor of the Lord.

Something has been crushed, something has been broken, and there is a resulting odor of sweetness.’

–Watchman Nee

How simply beautiful. The prayer of my heart is that I would be filled with eucharisteo and give him thanks in all things so that the sweet odor of the Lord would radiate from my life. Thank you Jesus!

Days gone by: please come again

Does anyone remember xanga? I spent an hour there tonight on my old one... who knew that some of my best writing happened on that blog? Wow.

It's left me very pensive. I wrote so often about my relationship with my boyfriend, then fiance, and the emotion and passion in those words just takes my breath away. Now that he is my husband and we have a two-year-old, I can't help but wonder- what has changed?

Being separated by 200 miles week after week during our engagement was so difficult, but we prayed together over the phone every night and grew so much in that time. Going back even farther, to our dating period, everything was so new, exciting, and we couldn't wait to see each other, or to race home after school and see if the other had posted a comment on our xanga to read. We prayed for and encouraged each other every chance we got.

How much has changed?

Now I live daily life with this best friend of mine. We have to work to provide a life for ourselves. Sometimes we wonder what motivation we have to go forward. At the end of the day we swap stories about the cute things Eli said or talk about how to make sure he doesn't do or say a particular thing again. Where is our faith in daily life? It takes such a different shape from our dating and engaged years. It means being diligent and intentional to pray together rather than watching a TV show. I want to encourage each other with Scripture again. I want to be so in touch with each other spiritually that we are growing like never before, drawing closer to our Maker with each interaction we have, like it once was.

It will require effort on both our parts and true intention to do it. And an intervention of the Holy Spirit, of course. I believe.

Mark Schultz says it so well:

I believe that He loves you where you are

I believe that you've seen the hands of God

I believe that you'll know it when

You're back in His arms again

I believe that He never let you go

I believe that He's wanting you to know

I believe that He'll lead you 'til you're back in His arms again

Toddler-struck

I was struck once again today by the beauty of children.

My friend Dawn and I visited our Nepali friend, Durga this morning. Each of the three of us has a toddler boy- ages 19 months, 20 months, and 4 years. Elisha was very shy at first, as it was a new place, new faces, and he was a little out of his element. What was beautiful to watch was his face light up when he saw Saureb, the 4 yr. old, hiding behind a semi-transparent curtain. It was as if he realized at that moment that Saureb was just like him. A little boy who loves to have fun. His face broke out in his signature adorable smile, he scrunched up his nose and said, "Funny," over and over, laughing when Saureb would come out from behind the curtain. What simple joy! Watching the boys play together was such a delight. Saureb can speak not much more than 10 words in English, and yet they had so much fun chasing each other, playing with balls, and being boys. He is getting to the age where he can actually play with other children, and it is so fun to watch. He is very attached to Aiden, the other boy his age there today- Dawn's son. They see a lot of each other, as Dawn is a good friend of mine and part of our house church group. Eli has begun crying when it comes time to say goodbye to Aiden and saying his name repeatedly. It's so fun to watch them grow together.

This afternoon I was having some "me" time during Elisha's nap and just kind of chilling on the bed with my laptop. I had heard E begin talking and knew he had woken up but hadn't gotten up to get him yet. The next thing I knew, after recalling that I had heard a small noise resembling a crash, our bedroom door was being pushed open by a barefoot toddler who looked at me shaking his head and saying, "Night night. Sleep." The momentous moment happened, friends. He got out of his crib alone. I knew it was only a matter of time, as I have caught him of late putting one leg over the edge. I'm afraid for what naptimes will look like from now on when he does not want to sleep. It will probably be time to transition to a toddler bed- hopefully around his 2nd birthday, which is rapidly approaching!

Here's to hoping the groundhog does not see his shadow tomorrow! Happy February, everyone! One month closer to springtime. :)

Thoughts on Whole Living for 2011

I received my first issue of Whole Living magazine today. I won a subscription as a reward for accumulating points from Stonyfield Farms organic yogurt products. It is very encouraging and I love it already. Here are 10 thoughts to ponder this year that I plan to post somewhere visible in our home.

1. Make this the year you follow through.
2. Invigorate body and mind: exercise until your spirit soars.
3. Other people may have opinions about where your life is headed, but only you have the power to prove them wrong.
4. The path to fearless living goes straight through the roadblocks, not around them.
5. Seek out foods that sustain, nourish, and warm you.
6. Creativity goes beyond sheer artistry; it takes courage to express your ideas.
7. Disagreements offer invaluable insights. Don't avoid them- study them.
8. To truly detoxify your lifestyle, think about what you can add to it, not just take out.
9. The coziest homes aren't merely filled with stuff; they're designed to bring people closer.
10. An ending doesn't have to be sad. It's the only way to begin something new.


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The way I see it, resolutions may last a month or two, but it is never too late to re-visit habits we wish to create. As Lynn J. states, "Instead of making New Year's the only time I reflect on my goals, I make the first of every month a new beginning. I think of a few small things I want to accomplish (drinking eight glasses of water a day, exercising four days a week) and write them on the dry-erase board on my refrigerator..." This is something I hope to pursue. How much more would we accomplish if we were to consciously remember the small ways we want to make a change in our lives and re-visit them at the beginning of every month or even every other week if need be? I think we could stay on track and achieve little goals, eventually amounting to larger ones, quite effectively.

Here's to living wholly!

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PRICELESS TODDLER TIME

Fun moments with Elisha:

It was such a joy tonight to watch him eat ice cream. He ate everything on his plate at dinner (amazing!- and probably because he refused lunch and was ravished), so we thought it fit to give him a little treat. He ate mint cookies & cream frozen yogurt with a smile and a laugh between each bite. How beautiful it is to watch children discover the simple joys in life!

A Fresh Start

I've been inspired to revive this blog. A new look and new ideas. More to come soon!

A Day Off

I've come to the conclusion that a day in which both husband and wife are free from work-related duties on the same given day (in other words, off) is a wonderful thing for a marriage.

Between three jobs the both of us hold, this phenomenon doesn't happen often for my dear husband and I, but when it does, it is extremely refreshing. Not only do I feel relieved from baby duties, meaning dearly beloved can help put Elisha down for a nap, etc, but it is wonderful to be with each other for 24 straight hours! (Given, 9 or so of those may be spent sleeping, a most highly revered activity itself).

Today Elisha turned 9 months old and Tim and I both had off work. We did a tae-bo workout together this morning (I'm really coming to love the workouts he's treasured for about a year now) and after lunch, took Eli in for a photo shoot at Tim's photo studio. Here are some thumbs (sorry, I can't show them any bigger due to copyrights).







We had a lot of fun.

For Valentine's Day, Tim & I started something fun we hope to continue for a good while, and I plan to blog about the things we do. I read the idea online. We created a "Fun Jar", listing on slips of paper fun things we've always said we'd do or have wanted to do. We will pull one each month around our anniversary day (the 21st) and promise to do it within a week or so. I am excited! We have some fun things to do together. [spoiler alert: eat a whole half gallon of ice cream together! oh boy! if you know the two of us, you know this is no small feat. we are heath-conscious to the max, and so it will take some careful planning of meals/calories on that day, haha! but nonetheless, that will be a great one.]

Here are some pictures from the blizzard of 2010, the 2nd storm in a week to slam us in February.





We had SOOO much snow!

Looking ahead to a busy weekend full of good things [unfortunately, not all of them include my husband]. But I am so thankful for his hardworking provision for us. Here's to showing it more often. :)

Oh, what a wonderful world

Snow. S-n-o-w. Lots of it. This weekend we were pounded with what the President has dubbed "Snowmageddon." We have close to two feet! And it took a great effort to shovel ourselves out of the house and car. But oh, it is beautiful! And I have enjoyed the time "snowed in" by creating delectable dishes, watching a few flicks, cuddling with my hubby and baby boy- a welcome reprise from running all over the city.




My forte of choice in the kitchen lately has been soups. I have created several Adriane originals, including (but not limited to) French Onion with Chicken, African Peanut Chicken Stew, and something I call Pot of Gold Soup- with chicken, cream of chicken, cannellini beans, broccoli, tomatoes, and a few other vegetables. I just LOVE experimenting with new things. And what is better on a cold snowy day than a bowl of piping hot soup?

I've tried to bake bread recently as well, but it seems my bread machine is quickly failing. If anyone knows of someone who is looking to give one up, here is a willing recipient! :)

Tim and I have been going through a "Praise & Worship" devotional together. Something he said as we talked last night really struck me. We were discussing the question, "What does it mean to you to come to Jesus as a little child?" Tim referenced how our parents always provided food and brought in money and we never worried about finances or where our next meal would come from as a child. He reflected that to him, that's what it means to come to Jesus with childlike faith. Dependence upon Him, trusting without a doubt that He will provide for our every need! How beautiful. Thank you, Jesus, for loving us so deeply.

The baby boy is awake and I shall go fetch him! <3 Peace to you!

Comfort food

Comfort food. What comes to mind when you hear those two words? For some it is cheesy dish of macaroni or a thick beef stew. For others it is something as simple as yogurt and granola or a bowl of favorite cereal.

For my hubby and I, it is curry. The smell of curry is comforting, Tim told me today as lunch simmered on the stove. "I know it's going to be good if it smells like curry," he exclaimed, always sure that anything with curry powder has to be good.

Today I tried out a new Indian dish: Chicken Korma.
E.x.c.ellent. Feel free to experiment!

Chicken Korma
(by Jemima Madhavan), courtesy of Taste of Home

1 large potato, peeled (if desired) and cut into 1/2-in. cubes
1 large onion, chopped
1 cinnamon stick (3 in.)
1 bay leaf
3 whole cloves
1 Tbsp. canola or olive oil
1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1/2-in. cubes
1 garlic clove, minced
1 tsp. curry powder
1/2 tsp. minced fresh gingerroot or equivalent of ground ginger
2 medium tomatoes, seeded and chopped (or 1/2 can of canned diced tomatoes)
1 tsp. salt
1/2 c. plain yogurt

Place potatoes in a small saucepan and over with water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and cook for 10-15 minutes or until tender. Drain.

In a large skillet, saute the onion, cinnamon, bay leaf and cloves in oil until onion is tender. Add the chicken, garlic, curry and ginger; cook and stir 1 minute longer. Stir in the tomatoes, salt and potato.

Cover and cook for 10-15 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink. Remove from the heat; discared cinnamon, bay leaf and cloves. Stir in yogurt. Serve with rice if desired.


Every bite was like heaven for me. Next time I will double the recipe so we have leftovers!


Today our house church meeting was really wonderful. Every Sunday I am blessed by the family community of our fellow group members. They are so authentic and genuinely full of love. This morning what really spoke to me the loudest was Jesus' love for us in his walk to the cross. He did not offer up one word of protest or complaint or even claim to innocence when condemned before Pilate. He kept quiet out of submission and love. He willingly gave himself up for us. How precious is He.

May this week be full of blessing.

Soujourner

My.honest.heart.

Sometimes...
I miss my baby boy when he's in bed at night.
Most of the time...
My heart feels ready to explode with love for this baby boy.
Sometimes...
I feel disheartened.
A lot of times...
my faith is weak.
Sometimes...
I feel disullusioned with prayer.
Sometimes...
it feels like said prayers hit a wall.
Sometimes...
I feel that I could be doing so much more.
Most of the time...
I have to be content with being a mom and realizing that is a lot.
All the time...
I know that I need Jesus.
Sometimes...
my hubby surprises me.
All the time...
I learn new things about him.
All the time...
Life is changing.
Most of the time...
I am on board.

Some of the musings of my heart.
Que Dios les bendigas.

Day by every day

Happy 2010!

In the past year:

-We moved (Dec. '08) and began to transition to life in a new city (Lancaster).
-I started a new job as secretary at Mission New Life Drug & Alcohol Counsel and began to use my Spanish again :).
-Our first baby was born, Elisha Aaron, on May 18.
-I turned 21 and left juvenility behind.
-We took trips to Washington, D.C., Ohio, and Boston, Massachusetts.
-We've delighted in watching Elisha grow and learn every day!
-We started a new house church for the northeast end of the city with four other wonderful couples and truly feel like a family and community!
-Tim got a new job at the Picture People and discovered his inner photographer.
-After completing a semester at community college, Tim decided personal training is his passion and plans to pursue certification this spring!
-Elisha has gone from sleeping the majority of the day and not being able to do anything for himself to sitting up, trying to crawl, interacting with us and showcasing his personality, babbling, and getting into everything around him!
-We've spent a lot of quality time with family (mostly Tim's) and enjoyed watching them enjoy Elisha.


As I look back on this year and how fast each day goes by, I can't help but think about the importance of each day. It may seem the days go by in a blur, but each one matters to the Lord. Every day, it matters to Him what we do, even when our daily happenings may seem trivial. I pray that this year I will work harder at making every moment count. Here is to another year in God's love and grace.

Starlight, Starbright

My baby boy is six months today. A whole half a year! How did it happen? I suppose time marches on, regardless of our willingness or awareness of its audacity. Six months ago there was suddenly upon my chest a squirmy, squawling, beautiful boy that I could hardly believe was my very own son. As soon as I lay eyes on him, my heart did a flip-flop and was inevitably captured. The only way I know to describe the feeling at that moment is that I knew there was nothing in the world that could ever make me stop loving him. My beautiful Elisha Aaron.

My love for him only grows with each day. He is such a little miracle. As he reaches for anything in front of him now and picks it up, concentrating so hard on what he is doing, then looks up at me with a triumphant look that shouts of his excitement for life, or when he catches me watching him and his face squishes up into a joyous and contagious smile, I can still hardly believe he is real and so very perfect. I can only thank God every day for this wonderful gift with which he has entrusted us.


I have been reading a lot lately. Tonight I finished In Search of Eden by Linda Nichols. It is a beautiful book with a wonderfully-crafted plot about forgiveness and finding one's "Eden"- in this case, a long lost child, but also, a symbol of perfect peace and paradise. I thoroughly enjoyed it and will definitely be looking for more books by the author. Here is a particularly thought-proking quote from the book.

"Part of her cried out to run, but another part, just as obstinate, sat down and refused to budge. It was funny what made her decide. The little spiky rock, the meteor her father had given her, was on the bedside table. She picked it up and ran her fingers over the sharp surface. She thought about a meteor, flaring swiftly across the sky, illuminating and taking the breath away for one brief moment on its journey. She set it down and went to the window and looked out at the night sky. It as full of bright stars, shining softly, giving light, and she knew then the difference between the two."

Which are you? How do you view life? A meteor shining gloriously for a few short moments and then disappearing as fast as it had come, or a star shedding soft light each and every night?

Food for thought.

Massachusetts. Prayer.

Elisha and I just got home from 5 days on the North Shore of Massachusetts.
We visited my good friends Dawn and Lisa. The coast is just beautiful, the trees blazing with color, and the company was wonderful! I thought I'd share a few of my pictures...


Massachsetts is a simply pleasant state. I was very impressed.



We went into Boston on our last day there. Such a beautiful city. These pictures are from the Boston Public Garden.



It was a great time, but I am so happy to be back with my hubby :). Longest time we've been apart since we've been married!

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Next, I am going to beg all of you reading this who are praying people to pray for my best friend.

Pray for restoration in her marriage. Pray for strength and peace. And most of all, pray for protection from the evil one in every area of life. Pray for renewal.

We are begging God to move.
Period.

Till We're 99 1/2

Today was a breath of fresh air.

As fourth-graders, we were amazed to find our dads were owners of the same sort of business and we both had pet dogs named Maggie. As sixth-graders, we shared notes and giggles through every class and gave our "crushes" code names of sodas. As eighth-graders, we dealt with some deeper issues like disagreements and misunderstandings, came through it stronger, and promised to call each other up when we were 99 1/2 years old. Throughout high school we played tennis together, learned French together, studied at each others' houses, laughed through field trips, and no matter what, were just ourselves together. In twelfth grade, we looked reality in the face as it took the shape of a child and adoption- and what this meant for life. We looked back on memories made and hugged each other jubilantly at graduation. We did it! Best friends through school and an unspoken bond promising friendship for the future.

As 21-year-olds, we share a cup of coffee and talk about life- one as a mom and wife, the other as a college senior contemplating life careers. She is still so dear to me. A few hours with her makes me feel safe and secure, just because our friendship is.

This is my Leah K. Till we're 99 1/2.

Tae-bo, Chili and Cold Weather

My husband is a huge tae-bo fan. He has at least a dozen videos/DVDs of Billy Blanks himself, teaching and leading the martial arts/dance combo with high-octane music and energy.

One day this week when we both had woken up early and Elisha was still asleep, he convinved me to try one of the videos with him. I loved it! I continued onto Day 2 and today, Day 3, trying three different work-outs. It is intense. Close to the hardest workout I've ever done. But I enjoy it. I feel newly motivated to get back to my pre-baby self.

Yesterday the turn of the weather inspired me to throw together my Black Bean n Pumpkin Chili. I've already had one request for the recipe (shout out to Julie!), so I thought I would post it here :). It is a delicious body-warmer that will fill you up and delight your tastebuds!

Black Bean 'n' Pumpkin Chili Recipe
Photo by: Taste of Home

Prep: 20 min.
Cook: 4 hours

Ingredients
1 medium onion, chopped
1 medium sweet yellow pepper, chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 tablespoons olive oil
3 cups chicken broth
2 cans (15 ounces each) black beans, rinsed and drained
2-1/2 cups cubed cooked turkey
1 can (15 ounces) solid-pack pumpkin
1 can (14-1/2 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained
2 teaspoons dried parsley flakes
2 teaspoons chili powder
1-1/2 teaspoons dried oregano
1-1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions
In a large skillet, saute the onion, yellow pepper and garlic in oil until tender. Transfer to a 5-qt. slow cooker; stir in the remaining ingredients.
Cover and cook on low for 4-5 hours or until heated through. Yield: 10 servings (2-1/2 quarts).

This can also be prepared in just a regular pot instead of slow cooker if you are short on time. It will go together quickly and simmer wonderfully on the stove until you are ready to eat.

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Today the temperature was a balmy 40 degrees. It's only October! When did winter decide it was time to move in? I much prefer the warmer weather.. or at least that of fall! We are learning to bundle Elisha up and make sure he stays warm. I'm excited for the holidays to come with him, though! Also, it looks like his cousin and aunt and uncle will be around this winter- they're moving home from Kansas City, Missouri. How great! We have missed them a lot- my brother-in-law and his wife.

Tonight is Mexican Lasagna with Chicken, Corn and Black Beans. I love cooking out of Taste of Home magazines~ endless inspiration and healthy and delicious meals.

Be blessed today!

Homemade bread is a special treat.

I've recently recovered my mom's bread machine from storage. With my already-inherent love for cooking, how exciting the possibilities are now before me with this new toy in my kitchen!

So far I've only made bread twice, but today's recipe was much better than the first! I'm not sure what made it fall in the center (anybody have any ideas?), but the first bite melted in my mouth, if bread can do that. (I believe homemade bread can).

Multigrain Bread Recipe
www.cdkitchen.com

Serves/Makes: 1.5 lb. loaf

Ingredients:
1 1/3 cup water
2 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon butter
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups bread flour
3/4 cup whole wheat flour
1/3 cup rolled oats, toasted
3 tablespoons dry milk powder
3 tablespoons cornmeal
3 tablespoons toasted wheat germ
2 teaspoons active dry yeast


Directions:

Place all ingredients in bread machine pan and process on basic or whole wheat cycle.

The flours in this recipe will vary in water absorption and so you may need to add more flour or water to get the right consistency. Let your machine knead for 5-6 minutes before adding any additional water or flour.

Yum!


On another note, as the days get crisper and the leaves begin to turn color, I am realizing how fast my little boy is growing. He's learning so much every day! I am also savoring the moments I have with him while we are nursing. I don't think I am going to make it to a whole year, because my milk supply just does not seem sufficient to help him grow and gain accordingly. I have the goal set for myself to make it to six months- which is only a little over a month away! I'm already starting to dread not being able to feed him.. so I may stick it out a little longer. How I love those moments where we can cuddle and be so close~ and I can just adore and love on my beautiful baby boy. I think my love for him grows every day. God created this parenthood thing to be so beautifully rewarding. I am so thankful!

My hubby is at class again this evening, which makes for a long day at home! Tuesdays and Thursdays are my days off work, which also happen to be the weeknights that Tim has class. I try to get a lot accomplished, but often I have to be satisfied with what I do get done. Elisha is a full-time job :).

I feel so very blessed at this season in life. God is so good. I cannot praise Him enough. I will live to glorify my King.

Here are a few pictures of Mr. Cutestuff himself:

Blessings from Above

I know five pregnant ladies. Four due in May, one in March. Amazing! Since being pregnant, I am just so intrigued and mesmerized by pregnant women. How incredibly strong they are! What a miracle it is that God has created our bodies to foster a human being's life!

I am visiting my grandparents with Elisha in Chambersburg today. I drove down Letterkenny Road for what may be one of the last times! They are planning to sell their home and move into a retirement community. So naturally, Grandma and Grandpa are sorting through the attic and basement and everything in between. Today at lunch, Grandma oh-so-casually brought up something she had for me that brought tears to my eyes.

"When your mother was in physical therapy at Cherry Tree in Hanover, they brought in crafts for the patients to paint. One of the times the project was a shelf, and after she painted it and brought it home, she said to me, 'I want you to give this to my first grandchild.'"

It was painted in the fall of 2000- two years before Mom went to be with the Lord. It is blue. Can you imagine? Can you imagine how blessed I feel by this gift from my mother- who knew to paint it blue for my son nine years before he was born because God placed it in her heart to do so?




Don't we serve an awesome God?


Here's another highlight from our day with Grandma :)