*Simply Happy*

Monday 1/2/12

one... two... one-two... this is a fun date in time. 

Today is my sil's 33rd bday... Happy Birthday Becky!  Love you! 

For Becky's birthday we went to a late lunch at Cheesecake Factory.  One of the best menu's of all commercial American cuisine right now.  It's interesting, I don't remember CCF always having a good menu.  Rightly so, since the point of the joint is good cheesecake.  But then they went from good to great by hitching their creamy cheese goodness to some of the best savory delights!  So, well done CCF.  More interesting than this random thought of mine... We didn't even order any cheesecake.  I suppose the different topics covered during the meal, including the evil in carbonated soda, wishing we all had the amount of money needed for personal trainers and committing to drinking more water this year, cheesecake would have been a bit hypocritical.  Nevertheless we had a lovely lunch.  I hit one of my Project 52 goals: I ordered New Orleans Shrimp.  (I substituted broccoli for rice.)  It was positively delicious! 

 

What was not so delicious was the aftertaste of the Rose Bowl Parade being today.  Just weird.  I think I understand the respect of not having the parade or football games on a Sunday as that is a traditional day of rest in stereotypical conservative culture.  To be honest, I totally forgot the parade was today for the first hour and a half of being up.  Sally and I had watched a bit of Phineas and Ferb when I remembered and we turned it on.  It just didn't feel the same.  Yesterday was New Year's Day, not today.  O'well, we don't have to think about it again for a while.

Something I might worry about for the next few weeks is the amount of cuts they showed of girls crying this season of Bachelor.  Good grief.  I do want Ben to find what he is looking for in a significant other; I want that for everyone.  I do, however, think it is a bit unfair for the producers to pick women/girls that act like they haven't been watching the show for years.  I mean, really, you just had no idea it was going to be so emotional?  I've been hearing this line in the cameo interviews every season since the show aired.  By the way, the first episode aired March, 2002.  That means that the girls that are 21 or 22 years old were children.  They have been raised on this show, watched it with their high school friends and college dorm mates, etc.  So early runner from my view on the couch: I like Rachel.  She was the first girl out, the only girl to really pull off wearing a red gown.  I didn't mind that he picked the horse rider for the first impression rose.  All in a all a good first night.  I thought the London girl might be around more than just tonight, but she has enough personality to more on with her life. 

Back to reality in my life tomorrow.  Back to a 5:45am alarm clock, back to work/ministry.  I've enjoyed a week off and sleeping in and spontaneous activities.  I enjoyed celebrating Christmas and New Years with family and friends.  I enjoyed my birthday, too!   I am also so grateful to be back at story time, back to a schedule and working in a place that God has called me to.  He allows me to grab His hand and another person's hand and put the two together, take a step back and watch Him work in their life. 

What did you observe in your day today?

 

Project 52

Starting with this first day of this new year, 2012, I look down the road at 52 glorious weeks.  So many things to do, say, accomplish, value and address.  Here is my attempt at putting them in list format and following through. ( For a glimpse of the former: In 2011, there was Project 35. )

Project 52 - 2012

1. Memorize 25 Bible Verses.
2. Go out of the country.
3. Make 25 new recipes.
    *Brie Stuffed Meatballs with Balsalmic Reduction Glaze (Jan 9)
    *Panettone French Toast with Blueberries (Jan 21)
    *Ratatouille in the Crockpot (Jan 21)
    *Veggie & Port Egg Rolls (Jan 23)
    *Fried Rice (Jan 23)
4. Read 12 new books.
    *The Help by Kathryn Stockett (Jan 9)
5. Go see 8 movies at the theater.
6. Send 52 hand written notes to family/friends by US Mail. ( 19 / 52 )
7. Stay overnight somewhere besides home 4 times.
8. Visit the Mouse House 10 times. (1/10)
9. Cook in the crockpot 25 times. ( 2 / 25 )
10. Go on three family hikes.
11. Visit 2 Art museums or galleries.
12. Lose 50 pounds.
13. Post on my twitter account once a week.  (1/52)
14. Ask a thought provoking question on FB once a week.
15. Have lunch away from my desk and off campus 25 times.
     *Sharkey's with Erika
     *Islands with the OR Team for Allyson
     *Veggie Grill with Dre, P1, & Kristen
16. Become a proficient beginner at piano.
17. Use my sewing machine to follow a real pattern.
18. Make 3 sewing projects.
19. Plan 3 extra creative dates.
20. Finish Sally's 1st grade scrapbook with her.
21. Eat at a Food Network Chef's restaurant.
22. Get a real facial.
23. Host friends to a Spoon Tasting Party.
24. Pick up my Master's Degree from the school already.  Sheesh!
25. Go to a professional sports game.
26. Through the use of coupons & club card, save $1,200 at the grocery story.
27. 6 Professional Pedicures. (1 / 6)
28. Eat gluten free for a week.
29. Pick one day a week to be absolutely television free. (2/52)
30. Share at Story time 9 times this year. 
31. Go to the gym 52 times.  That's once a week, Christie!  (1/52)
32. Go to 5 different farmers markets.
33. Enter something in the OC Fair.
34. Teach this year, more than once. 1
35. Unplug from cell phone for 24 hours a couple of times this year.
36. Go on 6 Farley Family Lunch Adventures. (1 / 6 : We went to Bruxie 1-1-12)
37. Write with intentionality once a week...52 times, for one hour.
38. Attend one concert.
39. Give 6 random gifts that are just because.
40. Attend a retreat.
41. Make a seasonal wreath for the front door.
42. Paint our bedroom.
43. Get a new pair of specs.
44. Order fish 6 times. ( 1 , 2 / 6 )
45. Go on a boat at least 3 times.
46. Buy a couple of pairs of shoes that are not black or brown.
    * Purple Suade Pointy Toes by Nine West - Beautiful
47. Spend a whole day taking pictures of whatever I do.  Then blog about it.
48. Clean my purse and bag that I take back and forth to the office out once a week.
49. When I have lost the 50 pounds, document the trip to the Gap that I have so missed!!
50. Fear less and love more.  Do this intentionally once a week. Blog about it.
51. Paddle-board 3 times.
52. Let this year, 2012, be defined by our family word: Pursuit.  Pursuit of balance, pursuit of who God wants me to be this year, Pursuit of friendship, Pursuit of ministry.  Blog about each of these four phrases & more if there are more to write about.

52 Weeks.  52 - 7 day opportunities to pursue life.  And I intend to!

Which King Are You?

I was in the company of someone who self professed to be Saul the other day.  I said back, “You’re in your 30's.  You’re not dead.  Change it.  Given that the best case scenario is you have 40 more years to bring effective change to anything and everything you do, why are you settling for such a label?”  We’ll see what comes next out of this person.  It’s funny, how much I care about this person and what comes next.  David thought it was all a little bit funny, too.  I’m not David, don’t misinterpret, I just think God’s reveal of His plan is always laced with a bit of comedy. 

If given the character line up in the book A Tale of Three Kings, by Gene Edwards, who would you self profess to be?  And why?  And is that the end of your story?

Searching to define grace

 Casey Anthony has been found innocent.  Culture and society at large have found her guilty.  Is it possible that both are true?  She is guilty but it could not be proven in a court of law?  The uproar is that she should not get to walk away when it seems so obvious that she was involved in the crime.  Do you think she has been able to walk away?  The prison that society believes she deserves has been constructed around her despite the court of laws; yet the peer group that was her jury, a judge and attorneys that have a formal education reached the conclusion together.  Did these simple to complex people get it wrong?  Is it possible for simple and complex people to get it wrong? 

I think we get it wrong every day.  Here is the stinging truth; it’s not up to us.  We are called to continually extend the boundaries of the lines of God’s love, not our own.  This is a wise thought I had to learn from my friend Kyle, because he understands grace better than I do. 

“30 days before you called the police?!?!?!”, I screamed the first time I heard about Casey.  I am a mother; I cannot even imagine having one day go by, let alone 30.  Do you think my automatic guilty flare went off in my brain instantaneously?  Yep. 

But here is the deconstruction of my paradigm- God is consistent and I choose to amazingly and radically trust Him over myself.  I am a person of a thousand second chances, most of which I’ve never picked up because I didn’t think I deserved them.  Casey has been given a second chance and society is preaching she doesn’t deserve it.  But then let me ask you this.

What do you think of when you hear the name Peter from the bible?  Disciple, the one who got out of the boat, the one who walked on water, the rock & the one who denied Christ three times, the one who sank in faithlessness, the one who questioned.  Is it possible to even understand why Christ told him he would deny Him? Christ told him it would happen knowing He has already forgiven him, knowing it would be fear that drive him to be a coward.  Christ told him it would happen because He wanted it to be so clearly understood that it is by grace that we are saved, it is by grace that we are given a second chance, it is by grace that we are able to put the gospel on display.  It is because of Christ and not ourselves.

I pick up my second chances now.  I give away second chances a little more often too.  Not always, and not without being reminding of who God is and who I am not.  But it is because of my second chances, it is because of my understanding of grace, in which Casey may be guilty but I believe she deserves a second chance.

  

to do something that matters.

We all want to be known.  I want to be known.  I don’t have the words yet, but someday I will.  Until then I will attempt to express myself best through those that have their words. 

This link is a set of words I pray God would take me to. Someday. (Soon, if I can be so bold.) 

These are words that inspire.  To read this is to know me. 

to do something that matters

Hanging with my Friends at Staff Retreat!

    

Last week was Staff Retreat at camp...so fun!!  We did the confidence course (ropes, log & wall climbing, archery, leap frog - fun but kind of crazy).  We had great devo's, great worship, great porch time.  MOst of all I had a blast with the women from children's ministry playing rounds and rounds of cards.  My roomies were super cool, lots of talking & very little sleeping.  All in all a great couple of days to remember!

Thai Chicken Meatballs - OMGoodness Good!

1 lb ground chicken
1/3 brown onion, grated
1/2 cup fresh bread crumbs
couple shakes of garlic powder
s&p
Squish all together with hands.  Make 1 inch balls & put them on a plate.
In a non-stick, heat on medium, a thin bottom layer of peanut oil.  Place the meatballs in the oil and brown on all sides, for 2-3 minutes on each side until all sides are browned.  Remove to a paper towel.  While they are drip drying oil...
1 large scoop of peanut butter in a microwave dish and nuke for 30 seconds.  Add a few shakes of light soy, a smidge of toasted sesame oil and stir.
Plate meatball, spoon drizzle sauce, garnish with peanuts.   Very rich, so very good!

Shrimp for Him and Her

 

Shrimp Yumminess

1 lb of medium shrimp, de-veined at the store
1/4 cup orange juice
2 tbsp olive oil
couple of shakes of old bay
s&p
Put these ingredients in a bowl in the morning and put in the fridge in the morning.  Fire of the grill and grill them when you get home in the evening.  When they come off the grill, pull the tails off.
While they are cooking, chop a head of romaine lettuce, cube up an avocado, stir together equal parts sour cream & salsa.

I made taco's for husbie with flower tortillas and a salad for me.  So yummy, filling but light.  And I just love fresh shrimp!!

The 1/2 Cup Fajita Salad

1 head of red leaf lettuce
1/2 cup corn
1/2 cup black beans
1/2 cup fine chopped bell pepper
1/2 cup shredded cheddarella
2 handfuls of corn chips, crushed in your hand
1 skirt steak, marinaded with s&p, cumin, chili powder, garlic powder and olive oil.  Grilled for 6 minutes on each side (thank you husbie)
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup of medium pace picante sauce

Chop lettuce, sprinkle corn, sprinkle beans, sprinkle bell pepper, crush chips, lay sliced steak, spoon drizzle sour cream/salsa mixture.  Toss.  Eat.  Yum.

Semi-Homemade Strawberry Chocolate Cupcakes

1 box mix of Pillsbury Strawberry Cake - make the cake mix according to the directions, adding a smidge of vanilla extract when you add the water.  Add one box of slow cooking chocolate jello pudding mix to the mixer and let mix an additional 2 minutes.

Bake in paper cups for time/temp that is your altitude and such.  Let cool completely.

1 Can of Chocolate Fudge Frosting with the sprinkles in the lid.  Put all of the can of frosting in a sandwich baggie and zip it closed.  Snip one of the corners with a 1/4 inch opening.  Then pipe and squeeze the frosting in a circular motion.  Let the kiddo's do the sprinkles.