I forgot to mention one last thing that I am thankful for...
-a tin roof.
Its been a very rainy day today. Its officially 3:30 and I'm still on the couch, in my PJs, and havent even thought about lunch. [online christmas shopping has a way of doing this to my day] But in a few minutes I'll have to drag myself off of the couch, spend 40 minutes in grueling pain [chris and I have started doing insanity], shower, and then make my way to the Echo [youth group].
If you have never listened to the rain on a tin roof, you are really missing out. So I just wanted to amend that thank-you-list, and acknowledge the wonderful music of the rain that I have been enchanted with all day. Thank you, tin roof.
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Monday, November 21, 2011
There's Thanks, and There's Giving.
I know this is super cliche, but since it is the holiday season, I thought I would just take a second and jot a little list of my thank-you-for's (in no particular order). Its always good to remind myself how much God has blessed me with before I start thinking about the "what I want for Christmas-list"
-My husband. (tehe, still so new to hear that word) This new season of life with him has just been pure fun. I just love the company he brings- from tickle fights even to the more serious moments, he makes life so much more FUN!
-Our home! We seriously found it just in the nick-of-time. It may not have a dishwasher, and my hands may be a little more dry than usual, but its perfect. AND it has a wood stove. This little treasure is amazing. Christopher says in his manly voice, "Babe, I'm gonna make a fire!" And for a few moments, he feels all manly and I get to stay warm!
-My job. I am so spoiled. I get to work from home, usually in my pj's & nestled on the couch. I could not ask for a better set up.
-The music channels on TV. I know I'm probably the ONLY one in the universe who uses them. But it makes me feel a little more productive if I'm not actually watching TV all day while I work.
-Redbox. Seriously. The Campbell family weekday entertainment. Except that Christopher and I can never remember to bring them back. We are now stuck with The Last Song, and other more manly movies that I fell asleep during. Bummer.
-My two baby sisters. aka, the best friends in the entire universe. :) I love it when Hopie comes home from college, and we all get together. The days usually play out like so: we hug and snuggle and love on each other, get seriously annoyed that someone just messed up our hair or tickled us or something, start making fun of each other, and then the rest of the day we spend laughing at how silly it was to get so annoyed in the first place. I love them.
-I am thankful for pintrest, and online shopping to occupy my time when work gets slow.
-My mom and dad. Most people, when the first get married, want to move far far away from the rents, start their own life, and be independent. Lucky for me, I am 0.8 miles down the road from mom & dad....annnnddd grandma & grandpa. But in all honesty, its wonderful. For starters, it made the physical moving out a little easier, and it also made the mental move a little easier too. And hey, when my car breaks down, they are always accommodating....as long as I'm willing to give Faith a ride somewhere. ;) Also- when I'm cooking and realize, gee, I don't own a muffin pan... I always know mom has like 5 (not exaggerating), and she's always willing to help.
-Being able to contribute to Thanksgiving dinner this year. It may seem small, but it was so exciting to me to have my own dish sitting there on the table.... Call me crazy, but I loved it.
-And finally, Christmas music, and lights, and decorations, and your toes being so cold you can't feel em, but your hand are warm cause you are holding hot chocolate. I love it all. This is the best season ever.
Happy December folks. And Merry Christmas!!
-My husband. (tehe, still so new to hear that word) This new season of life with him has just been pure fun. I just love the company he brings- from tickle fights even to the more serious moments, he makes life so much more FUN!
-Our home! We seriously found it just in the nick-of-time. It may not have a dishwasher, and my hands may be a little more dry than usual, but its perfect. AND it has a wood stove. This little treasure is amazing. Christopher says in his manly voice, "Babe, I'm gonna make a fire!" And for a few moments, he feels all manly and I get to stay warm!
-My job. I am so spoiled. I get to work from home, usually in my pj's & nestled on the couch. I could not ask for a better set up.
-The music channels on TV. I know I'm probably the ONLY one in the universe who uses them. But it makes me feel a little more productive if I'm not actually watching TV all day while I work.
-Redbox. Seriously. The Campbell family weekday entertainment. Except that Christopher and I can never remember to bring them back. We are now stuck with The Last Song, and other more manly movies that I fell asleep during. Bummer.
-My two baby sisters. aka, the best friends in the entire universe. :) I love it when Hopie comes home from college, and we all get together. The days usually play out like so: we hug and snuggle and love on each other, get seriously annoyed that someone just messed up our hair or tickled us or something, start making fun of each other, and then the rest of the day we spend laughing at how silly it was to get so annoyed in the first place. I love them.
-I am thankful for pintrest, and online shopping to occupy my time when work gets slow.
-My mom and dad. Most people, when the first get married, want to move far far away from the rents, start their own life, and be independent. Lucky for me, I am 0.8 miles down the road from mom & dad....annnnddd grandma & grandpa. But in all honesty, its wonderful. For starters, it made the physical moving out a little easier, and it also made the mental move a little easier too. And hey, when my car breaks down, they are always accommodating....as long as I'm willing to give Faith a ride somewhere. ;) Also- when I'm cooking and realize, gee, I don't own a muffin pan... I always know mom has like 5 (not exaggerating), and she's always willing to help.
-Being able to contribute to Thanksgiving dinner this year. It may seem small, but it was so exciting to me to have my own dish sitting there on the table.... Call me crazy, but I loved it.
-And finally, Christmas music, and lights, and decorations, and your toes being so cold you can't feel em, but your hand are warm cause you are holding hot chocolate. I love it all. This is the best season ever.
Happy December folks. And Merry Christmas!!
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Apple Coffee Cake
I am really loving getting into my wife-y role.
OK, mostly.
I'll be the first to admit that being tidy does not come naturally to me. However, learning the secrets to a yummy kitchen has been fun! :) Working from home sometimes has me glued to the computer, but it has also given me some extra time to explore and fine tune my cooking and baking skills.
Today I am currently making an Apple Coffee Cake that I found on, of course, pintrest. If you don't have a pintrest, you NEED one. Okay, need is an overstatement. But I don't know anyone who has gotten one that hasn't been obsessed. Seriously, so much "pinspiration." heh. I'm so clever....
Anyway, THE CAKE! My house smells scrumptious right now so I suppose I'll share this amazing recipe with y'all, and in 30 min, I'll tell you how it tastes.
(photo cred http://thefauxmartha.com)
Apple Coffee Cake
recipe adapted from Martha Stewart; makes one 9-inch tube cake
APPLE FILLING
1 1/2 Granny Smith apples
2 McIntosh apples
1 tsp. lemon juice
1/4 c. sugar
1 tbsp. flour
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
dash of sea salt
dash of nutmeg
dash of cloves
dash of ginger
CAKE
1/2 c. unsalted butter, room temperature, plus more for pan
2 c. all-purpose flour* (I used 1 c. all-purpose, 1 c. whole wheat flour)
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. sea salt
1 c. sugar
2 large eggs
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1 c. sour cream
STREUSEL
4 tbsp. unsalted butter, room temperature
1/2 c. flour
1/4 c. light brown sugar, packed
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
dash of sea salt
GLAZE
1 c. confectioners sugar
2 tbsp. milk
1. APPLE FILLING: Peel, core, and dice apples. Add the rest of ingredients. Stir and set aside.
2. CAKE: Preheat oven to 350°. Lightly butter a 9-inch tube pan; set aside. In a medium bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt; set aside.
3. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter, sugar, eggs, and vanilla on medium speed until light and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the flour mixture in three parts, alternating with the sour cream and beginning and ending with the flour. Beat until just combined, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.
4. Spoon about half the batter into the prepared pan. Arrange the apples in a single layer on top of the batter; avoid placing any apples against the pan’s edge, as they may stick or burn if not fully encased in batter. (You may not use all the apples.) Top with the remaining batter, making sure it is evenly distributed, and smooth with an offset spatula.
5. STREUSEL: Place ingredients in a small bowl. Cut butter into the mixture until evenly moistened. Sprinkle streusel evenly over the top of the batter.
6. Bake until cake is golden brown and springs back when touched, 40 to 45 minutes. Transfer pan to a wire rack and allow to cool completely before handling. Loosen the cake from the pan using an offset spatula or knife. Using two spatulas to lift the cake, transfer to cake platter.
7. GLAZE: Stir together confectioners sugar and milk until smooth. Spoon glaze over the cake, letting it drip down sides. Let cake sit until glaze is set, about 5 minutes, before serving. Cake can be kept at room temperature, covered, for up to 4 days.
My results...
OH EM GEE. get off your computer right now and make this yummy cake!
OK, mostly.
I'll be the first to admit that being tidy does not come naturally to me. However, learning the secrets to a yummy kitchen has been fun! :) Working from home sometimes has me glued to the computer, but it has also given me some extra time to explore and fine tune my cooking and baking skills.
Today I am currently making an Apple Coffee Cake that I found on, of course, pintrest. If you don't have a pintrest, you NEED one. Okay, need is an overstatement. But I don't know anyone who has gotten one that hasn't been obsessed. Seriously, so much "pinspiration." heh. I'm so clever....
Anyway, THE CAKE! My house smells scrumptious right now so I suppose I'll share this amazing recipe with y'all, and in 30 min, I'll tell you how it tastes.
(photo cred http://thefauxmartha.com)
Apple Coffee Cake
recipe adapted from Martha Stewart; makes one 9-inch tube cake
APPLE FILLING
1 1/2 Granny Smith apples
2 McIntosh apples
1 tsp. lemon juice
1/4 c. sugar
1 tbsp. flour
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
dash of sea salt
dash of nutmeg
dash of cloves
dash of ginger
CAKE
1/2 c. unsalted butter, room temperature, plus more for pan
2 c. all-purpose flour* (I used 1 c. all-purpose, 1 c. whole wheat flour)
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. sea salt
1 c. sugar
2 large eggs
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1 c. sour cream
STREUSEL
4 tbsp. unsalted butter, room temperature
1/2 c. flour
1/4 c. light brown sugar, packed
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
dash of sea salt
GLAZE
1 c. confectioners sugar
2 tbsp. milk
1. APPLE FILLING: Peel, core, and dice apples. Add the rest of ingredients. Stir and set aside.
2. CAKE: Preheat oven to 350°. Lightly butter a 9-inch tube pan; set aside. In a medium bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt; set aside.
3. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter, sugar, eggs, and vanilla on medium speed until light and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the flour mixture in three parts, alternating with the sour cream and beginning and ending with the flour. Beat until just combined, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.
4. Spoon about half the batter into the prepared pan. Arrange the apples in a single layer on top of the batter; avoid placing any apples against the pan’s edge, as they may stick or burn if not fully encased in batter. (You may not use all the apples.) Top with the remaining batter, making sure it is evenly distributed, and smooth with an offset spatula.
5. STREUSEL: Place ingredients in a small bowl. Cut butter into the mixture until evenly moistened. Sprinkle streusel evenly over the top of the batter.
6. Bake until cake is golden brown and springs back when touched, 40 to 45 minutes. Transfer pan to a wire rack and allow to cool completely before handling. Loosen the cake from the pan using an offset spatula or knife. Using two spatulas to lift the cake, transfer to cake platter.
7. GLAZE: Stir together confectioners sugar and milk until smooth. Spoon glaze over the cake, letting it drip down sides. Let cake sit until glaze is set, about 5 minutes, before serving. Cake can be kept at room temperature, covered, for up to 4 days.
My results...
OH EM GEE. get off your computer right now and make this yummy cake!
Monday, October 24, 2011
Autumn
So, after taking the summer off from blogging. I thought I'd update ya'll on what I've been up to.
This is truly a season of change in my life. In the past 6 months I have:
Graduated.
Moved home.
Started a big-girl job.
Moved out. (around the block)
Gotten married. (!!!!)
Phew.
All I know is that the changing of the leaves is so representative of the stage of life I'm in.
I knew that this fall would look completely different than anything I had ever been used to. And I love it!
I will be the first one to admit that I am completely spoiled rotton. (:
My job is flexible and fun, I have the most wonderful husband in the universe, we have been blessed with the most perfect cozy little house, and we are surrounded by friends and family. Life is just awesome. And I can't stop thinking about the Lord's goodness.
So here are a few photos from my favorite day this summer, August 14. Taken by Ali Williamson. She is one awesome photographer. Check her out.
This is truly a season of change in my life. In the past 6 months I have:
Graduated.
Moved home.
Started a big-girl job.
Moved out. (around the block)
Gotten married. (!!!!)
Phew.
All I know is that the changing of the leaves is so representative of the stage of life I'm in.
I knew that this fall would look completely different than anything I had ever been used to. And I love it!
I will be the first one to admit that I am completely spoiled rotton. (:
My job is flexible and fun, I have the most wonderful husband in the universe, we have been blessed with the most perfect cozy little house, and we are surrounded by friends and family. Life is just awesome. And I can't stop thinking about the Lord's goodness.
So here are a few photos from my favorite day this summer, August 14. Taken by Ali Williamson. She is one awesome photographer. Check her out.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
The Last
April and May have been filled with nothing but "lasts." Everything is the "LAST TIME..." The last time I'll skip class. The last time I'll complain about the PINK house falling apart. The last time I'll see most of the people that have made JMU so special to me. My last time studying at Greenberry's (which is what I'm supposed to be doing right now).
While having my whole life seemingly ahead of me and having endless possibilities is something to be really really excited about, I can't help but feel a twinging sense of sadness in the pit of my stomach.
I keep asking myself if I have any regrets about the past four years. Did I take advantage of all of JMU and Harrisonburg? Did I get coffee with all the people I said I was going to? Did I cross off all of my bucket list items? Did I make time for friends?
There are some people I don't think I could ever make enough time for. I think that is what makes me the most sad. I could never spend enough time with my housemates, my small group, or the people I've lived with in the past.
Life is about to look a lot different. All I can do is be thankful for those people I could never get enough of and know that I'll see them in August!
While having my whole life seemingly ahead of me and having endless possibilities is something to be really really excited about, I can't help but feel a twinging sense of sadness in the pit of my stomach.
I keep asking myself if I have any regrets about the past four years. Did I take advantage of all of JMU and Harrisonburg? Did I get coffee with all the people I said I was going to? Did I cross off all of my bucket list items? Did I make time for friends?
There are some people I don't think I could ever make enough time for. I think that is what makes me the most sad. I could never spend enough time with my housemates, my small group, or the people I've lived with in the past.
Life is about to look a lot different. All I can do is be thankful for those people I could never get enough of and know that I'll see them in August!
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
My First Wedding Nightmare.
So I've been told by a few friends that the closer the big day is, the more frightening dreams seem to pop up. Dreams like, the wedding being in your room instead of at the church, the groom showing up in pjs, and other horrid disasters.
Recently I experienced my very first wedding nightmare. With 130 Days, 1 Hour, 37 Minutes, and approximately 9 Seconds, no wait 4... uh 1.... Who's counting anyway...
I had my very own disaster dream.
It went something like this.
I was at Fosters with Chris (my real life fiance), my mom, and another man who was my dream fiance. He was old. I mean like really old. Like has teenagers of his own-old. Okay, maybe he wasn't like grandpa-old, but he was certainly much older than me.
I couldn't figure out why I was engaged to him though. Everyone kept congratulating us and said cute things like, "you two are peeeerrrfecttt!" But something in my gut was just so horrified. I kept looking at Chris wanting to scream, "But I love HIM!" However, I was too afraid of being dramatic. So I sat, in panic, trying to figure out how to break the news to my mom that I wanted to marry Chris instead.
When old guy-dream fiance got up to use the bathroom, (apparently my mom disappeared at this point too), I looked at Chris and finally sobbed, "This is just not right! I can't do this!!!" Quietly he held me and said, "I know baby, I'll take care of it. Don't worry!"
I was so relieved.
I'm not much for dream interpretation. But I just know, if this was real, he really would take care of everything, just because that's the kind of man he is. It is such a blessing and encouragement to have him in my life. God is just too good!
Recently I experienced my very first wedding nightmare. With 130 Days, 1 Hour, 37 Minutes, and approximately 9 Seconds, no wait 4... uh 1.... Who's counting anyway...
I had my very own disaster dream.
It went something like this.
I was at Fosters with Chris (my real life fiance), my mom, and another man who was my dream fiance. He was old. I mean like really old. Like has teenagers of his own-old. Okay, maybe he wasn't like grandpa-old, but he was certainly much older than me.
I couldn't figure out why I was engaged to him though. Everyone kept congratulating us and said cute things like, "you two are peeeerrrfecttt!" But something in my gut was just so horrified. I kept looking at Chris wanting to scream, "But I love HIM!" However, I was too afraid of being dramatic. So I sat, in panic, trying to figure out how to break the news to my mom that I wanted to marry Chris instead.
When old guy-dream fiance got up to use the bathroom, (apparently my mom disappeared at this point too), I looked at Chris and finally sobbed, "This is just not right! I can't do this!!!" Quietly he held me and said, "I know baby, I'll take care of it. Don't worry!"
I was so relieved.
I'm not much for dream interpretation. But I just know, if this was real, he really would take care of everything, just because that's the kind of man he is. It is such a blessing and encouragement to have him in my life. God is just too good!
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Encouragement from my Teenage-Self
So instead of studying for my Spanish test tomorrow, (awesome) I decided to read over old journals from middle and high school. I read over an entry I had wrote after I had an experience with God. I was in Ecuador and it was the summer before my senior year. My friends and I got to talking one night about our lives, and suddenly the Lord met us. We all burst into tears and just worshiped him until about 4am. It was incredible. And this is what I wrote...
"I asked to be broken.
I broke.
I asked to be filled.
You filled me.
I was lost.
You found me.
My heart was hard, you made it soft.
I asked for you, and I found you.
I was dry and you opened the floodgates.
How can I express my gratitude? There are no human words to give you, so I will give you my heart and my life. Forever you are faithful. There is no reason to doubt. There is no reason to worry. If you seek his face, you will find it. If you ask, it will be given."
Be encouraged people, the Lord is faithful:)
"I asked to be broken.
I broke.
I asked to be filled.
You filled me.
I was lost.
You found me.
My heart was hard, you made it soft.
I asked for you, and I found you.
I was dry and you opened the floodgates.
How can I express my gratitude? There are no human words to give you, so I will give you my heart and my life. Forever you are faithful. There is no reason to doubt. There is no reason to worry. If you seek his face, you will find it. If you ask, it will be given."
Be encouraged people, the Lord is faithful:)
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