Ridin' in style

About a month ago, we finally had the opportunity to fly home.  We've spent much of the last 5-6 years wishing we could just fly in to visit family - it would be so cool!!!
Well, we were extremely blessed to be able to do just that, and it was SO VERY COOL!!!
There are few moments in life that make one feel on top of the world.  Flying in to a field I've passed a gazillion times, with my daddy standing - biggest smile I've ever seen - waving. . . that was fabulous.  Never mind flying alongside my stud of a husband.  ;)  I love that despite the unbelievable roller coaster we've been on, we're living proof that dreams really do come true.
Here are some of my favorite pics from the day.

Preflight.  These two crack me up.

We are all pretty fond of our pilot!

This beats the view from a car anytime!

My step-sister and her grand babies came with Daddy & Judy to see us off.  Of course we had to checkout the plane first!

Doing a low approach with this crew waving ecstatically was the highlight of my day existence!  :)
(And no, this wasn't taken during low approach. HA!) 

 I love this crazy, turbulent, beautiful, breath-taking life of mine.  #blessed

Aldi Love

I have flip-flopped on whether or not to make this post, but have decided that you'll either appreciate it or you won't - and that's okay.  If nothing else, you'll wind up with a couple meal ideas. :)

First you have to understand that my Uncle Forrest is the cheapest most frugal person on the planet (which would also explain why his portfolio is redonkulous) and he's known for buying the cheapest food you can find - and sometimes that doesn't taste so good.  SO - when he told me about Aldi about 4 years ago, I politely took his samples (and enjoyed them) but didn't actually go shopping there.  For one thing, I don't have a decent one nearby, secondly, I don't like having to go to multiple grocery stores (and Aldi doesn't have everything).  However, about 2 years ago, after being told about it (again) by a friend, I gave it a try.  I instantly fell in love.  I can honestly say that besides the sandwich meat (which I'm quite picky about to begin with), I haven't purchased anything at Aldi that I didn't just LOVE.  PLUS - if you're like me and use a lot of canned items (feeding good food to a family doesn't have to take hours, just FYI), you'll appreciate the low prices and good taste of their canned items.  If you want to find a local Aldi near you or seek out "First Timer Tips", visit their website.  

Here are just a few of my favorite items:

(Disclaimer: I have a fear of running out of food. There are root issues for this, but I can honestly say this issue has served me well - we've never run out of food as as my mother-in-law will tell you, with cans of anything, I can feed this family for weeks!  She says I can make a killer vegetable soup with a rock and water - she's too kind, but I appreciate the fame she spreads on my behalf!)

By far the best - and at about $.79/can, the price can't be beat!

 Majority of the canned food shown is about $.60/can (smaller can) and about $1.00 for the larger.

I also LOVE the vegetable broth, but because I use it most, I was out of it and couldn't get a picture. 

And if you're wondering "what would you do with this stuff?!?!?", here are a few ideas for some of these things:

Black & White Chili - hands down one of my favorite recipes.  It's ridiculously simple - and this stuff is amazing over a baked potato.  Amen!

Two-Bean Burger - another of my faves from ultimatedanielfast.com  There's something about the combo of white & black beans. 

White Chicken Chili - okay folks, I have a problem.  But that's okay. 

Sombrero Pasta Salad - can't find the link, but it's really easy (and adaptable for food allergens/preferences):

Pasta (spiral, penne, bowtie, whatever you heart desires) - Aldi has this too!

Black beans (drained & rinsed)

Ground beef (turkey, chicken, pork, or none at all)

Taco seasoning

1 cup shredded cheddar (also really good without cheese)

Green chiles

Sliced olives

Can of Corn (drained)

If you're feeling generous, you can add artichoke hearts as well!

Or a revision of that that I made last night using what I had on hand (see pics above).  Matt laughingly called it "Poor Boy's Chili" - I don't know what his issue is - it was delicious!  LOL But it was also SIMPLE, and did I mention delicious!?!?

Poor Boy's Chili 

(I hate this name, so aka "Laura didn't make it to the grocery store today")

Needed (feel free to sub ingredients - I do it all the time):

1 can of corn

1 lb ground beef

Taco Seasoning

1 can of green beans

1 can of black beans (drained & rinsed)

1 can of diced tomatoes with green chiles (some people call this Rotel ;) )

1 can of green chiles (because life is better with green chiles added)

Crackers (this is where the poor boy came in - normally I would've topped this mixture with cornbread and baked it, but with it being Easter, all of my eggs were hard-boiled, so that's how it became "chili with crackers on the side".  Being adaptable in the kitchen is the secret to happiness.  Truth.)

Directions:

I used an iron skillet so the corn would brown better, but you could use any form of stove-top tool. :)

1. Saute corn until it starts to brown.  It will smell like popcorn at first, then the house will smell like Grandma's cornbread.  You will tear us, wish she was here - she would've been smart enough to not boil ALL of the eggs - and then you get back to cooking.  Grandma never was one for lolly-gagging.

Set aside (in the serving bowl is fine - you're gonna use it in a sec anyway)

2. Brown the hamburger meat.  Drain (and rinse if you're like me and need to do that extra step for good measure).

3. Add taco seasoning per instructions

4. Add the corn back to the pan, along with the green beans, black beans, diced tomatoes & green chiles (everything except the crackers and kitchen sink).  Keep on the burner long enough to warm it.  

Eat it.  Eat it with genuine excitement to be eating "Poor Boy's Chili".  And don't forget to put some on a cracker or 10.  

And there you go - a look into the insanity of our home.  Don't you feel a little less crazy? :)

The joy of reading

For personal reasons, I recently took a break from school, and I have found that I have more time after the kids go to bed to do what I really enjoy doing - reading - reading books that aren't related to work or school (especially since Matt ISN'T taking a break from school, so he's pretty preoccupied).  It has been really nice; I've done more "choice reading" in the past couple of months than I have in many years combined.  But I have also found that I'm not good at sticking to one thing, and in the past two weeks I've grown restless.

I want to garden, but here in the lovely state of Okla-havenoideawhatseasonitis-homa, those of us who have watched the weather have put off doing much in terms of actual planting, so all I have is this (which looks pretty rough in this photo but is actually quite nice now that it's been fully worked and staked):

On Sunday, it was almost 80 degrees, tornado watches and thunderstorm warnings.  Monday, it snowed.  Granted, unless you looked outside at the perfect time, you didn't know that it snowed.  But it snowed.

Anyway, back to my point - I'm bored of reading books for the time being.  There's nothing worth watching on TV - the excitement of the final episode of HIMYM is over.  Note: we missed the 2 seasons prior to this one because we were bored and ready to just meet her already!  So, this season was fun for us.  Again - off point. . . . SQUIRREL!!!!! Sheesh.

Long, ridiculous story later. . . I decided to start reading blogs.  Not those blogs that make me feel bad about myself - that my house isn't fancy enough at all, I don't do enough "extracurricular" stuff, my kids aren't clean enough, house isn't clean enough - I put enough pressure on myself without all of that.  But I do find it helpful to read blogs that help with dinner preparations, feeding a family healthy food on a budget, real people doing real exercises, and stories from other moms who understand what it feels like to step on a lego in the middle of the night or to sit on the toilet in the dark and realize the last person who used it didn't aim well.  These things speak to me on a level that even the best Nicholas Sparks book can't reach.

Now, if you're like me, finding/reading/following blogs can be a daunting task, but a couple months ago a friend (*her blog is posted below) told me about bloglovin.com  I didn't have time for such nonsense at the time (ha!) so I didn't looked into it.  But this weekend, as I was hunting for menu ideas, etc., I pulled it up.  I have found my new Nicholas Sparks book, my new, beloved reading companion.  And while my fickle self will probably change back to real books in a few weeks, for the time being I will love me some bloglovin!!

Here are just a few of my new (as well as trusty) faves - all of which I can follow and read through my bloglovin app:

The Pioneer Woman Cooks
Wellness Mama
100 Days of Real Food
FitSugar - Healthy, happy you
The Real Arnolds*

Are there any blogs/bloggers that you just can't live without?

Year in Review: Kindergarten Celebration

This post is perhaps the one that cause me the most shame.  My baby girl finished kindergarten with only a few commemorative Facebook posts.  In my defense, I wear a lot of hats.  :( Anywho. . . . excuses aside, P had the best kindergarten experience.  As I shared with her precious teacher (she really was the best), P had the kindergarten experience that every single child deserves.  She learned so very much, had the most kind teacher (who also demanded appropriate behavior), and developed some of the sweetest relationships.  She even had a "boyfriend"; his name was Matthew.  She thought it was only fitting that he was a "Matthew" because her favorite guy in the world also has that name! :)
During this year, we also experienced sorrows that will never be forgotten.  Most memorable was the Connecticut school shooting.  That was impossible to comprehend and even harder to talk to a 5-year-old about (or 8-year-old!). :(  I think about those parents often and I hug my babies a little tighter.  Not long after that, one of P's classmates was killed in a car accident.  The person he was with was drunk, the little boy wasn't buckled in, it was horrible.  (Note: it was during this loss that P got to share Jesus with one of her other friends. #proudmommamoment)  We talked through a lot during those months.  It was both the hardest and the most exciting school year I've experienced as a mom.
All of this said, it was only appropriate that they rocked out at the end of the year.  They sang the CUTEST song, "Kindergarten ROCKS" (which I can't find online and also can't find the video, boo!) and as you can see below, they LOVED it - just like they loved class all year long!

 

I'm so very proud of my "almost-finished-with-first-grade"-er.  She is such a joy in every way!

And on this note, I'd really like to go back to kindergarten.  I felt the need to put that out there.

Grace, Mercy & Forgiveness

There's a plant in my office that has me thinking about "grace" "mercy" and "forgiveness" a lot lately.  I'll tell you more about the plant shortly, but I'd like to offer some definitions first.

Merriam-Webster Dictionary provides the following definitions:

GRACE: (n)
      *a controlled, polite, and pleasant way of behaving

MERCY: (n)
      *kind or forgiving treatment of someone who could be treated harshly
      *kindness or help given to people who are in a very bad or desperate situation

FORGIVE: (v)
      *to stop feeling anger toward (someone who has done something wrong); to stop blaming (someone)
      *to stop feeling anger about (something); to forgive someone for (something wrong)
      *to give up resentment of or claim to requital for (forgive an insult)
      *to cease to feel resentment against (an offender)

However, God's idea of these things is much more impressive:

• Grace: Getting what you don't deserve, or unmerited favor
• Mercy: Not getting what you do deserve, or withheld punishment
• Forgiveness: When we ask for forgiveness, when we repent, He casts our sins as far as the East is from the West.

How amazing is our God?!?!  His grace provides unmerited favor - when we don't even deserve it - and His mercy keeps us from being struck down every other second.  Not to mention His mercies are new every morning!

So - what does all of this have to do with a plant?!?!?  Last year I acquired a plant that was essentially dead.  I was supposed to use the dirt and pot to plant something new.  Instead, I felt intrigued by the dead plant and decided to water it, prune the dead leaves, give it plenty of light and attention, and see what happens (I only regret that I didn't take a picture of it).  

I won't give many details about where the plant came from, but I can tell you that (as with just about any human who makes mistakes), the person associated with it deserved no grace, no mercy, no forgiveness. This person turned the lives of so many people upside down, cost people jobs and destroyed a few relationships along the way.  

However, not long after the dust began to settle, I was discussing the situation (with quite a bit of anger and resentment) and, in an attempt to make me laugh, was told "Laura, that's not very Christ-like of you to not forgive".  We did laugh, it was a nice relief from the tension of the conversation, but it obviously struck a chord with me.  Not long after that, I was DETERMINED to make that plant live. 

About 2 months ago, I noticed some green growth at the top.  I continued to water, prune old pieces, move to better lighting. . . give it the attention it so desperately needed.  Just this week, it has taken off with such vigor!  

It not only has tons of green leaf growth, it even has new roots sprouting.  

In the end, what am I getting at?  This plant not only reminds me of how loving and kind and generous and mighty our God is, it also reminds me that we should extend the same grace, mercy & forgiveness to those who have done us wrong.  Do I trust the person I referred to above?  I must be honest and say "No, not at all", unfortunately.  Do I forgive them for the unbelievable amount of stress and anxiety that they caused me and those I care about?  Yes, I do.  Because who am I to withhold what God has so graciously and generously given to me?  After all, He's given us all the opportunity to be pruned and loved on and cared for and most of all, given new life and stronger roots.

Year in Review: Baseball Spring 2013

In my attempt to catch up on the 1200+ photos that I had on my calendar, I'm starting a theme, "Year in Review" - starting from the oldest photos on my camera. :)

First up, C- Baseball - Spring 2013

It was such a great season!  It was our first year of baseball (after a few years of t-ball) and we ALL loved it!  We had a great team with awesome team parents, coach, and league coordinators.  And, I'd be lying if I said I didn't' become just slightly overly competitive. ;)

We finished the season in 2nd place and came in 3rd during the post-season tournament.  Not too shabby for a team with so many "newbies".

This week, we start with the same team (with a few changes), although we've been renamed from "Whitesox" to "Pirates" - and we've gone from really cool black shirts to blinding, glow-in-the-dark-like green.  But we're super stoked!

Here are some of my favorite action shots:

And some of the pics that were taken by Tricia Hurst Photography are:

HA! All I could find was the sample she sent me of this one.
The prints don't have "sample" but are just as awesome! :)

Ready to see what our guys and gals can do this year! It's no longer coach-pitch.  Thank God for face masks! :)

Jace's FIRST Birthday!

It's been a year since Jace entered our lives.  A WHOLE YEAR!!!  Living 4+ hours away with the busy life of two active kids and both of us working and in school, makes it really hard to get back to Arkansas for a visit.  Because of this, we've only spent time with Jace about 5 times. :( But, we did make it home for his 1st Birthday Party a couple weeks ago.

You can see the photos that I took in this Facebook album.

Here are a few favorites taken by Divinely Inspired Photos

I'm particularly fond of the family dynamics in this photo.  Mixing families can be hard, but this group does it with grace and poise unlike any other.  We're all blessed with such amazing in-laws!

And we're also all a little crazy.  Maybe that's why we get along so well!

Here's a toast to NOT going 4 more months without hanging out with this handsome dude.

Home is where the heart is

Such a cliché, "Home is where the heart is", yet oh so very true.  When we moved in to this rental house, it was "just temporary".  We recently hit the 3-year-anniversary.  I'm pretty sure that we weren't in any of our other homes for that long.  So, considering the fact that I love this tiny cracker box of a home despite the fact that it's the size of a hall closet, and it is, in fact, where my heart is, I decided it was time to lay down roots.  Literally. 

I've wanted Jasmine in my front yard, preferably next to my front door (like Matt's Grandpa had), for as long as I can remember.  I kept saying "when I get a more permanent home", but after acknowledging that this was as permanent a home as we've had since we got married, it is silly to keep saying that.  Live for today, right?!??!

Well, this beauty was purchased AND planted in the same 2-hour period.  For those of you who don't believe in miracles, this was just for you!

Of course, nothing happens around here without battle scars.  I couldn't just plant one thing; I had to redo the hanging baskets, finish prepping the garden, and replant an indoor plant.  Somewhere along the way, I did this. . .

Ignore the stack of library books in the background.  Visual proof that the kids & I are addicted to library books. HA!

No idea how it happened.  Seriously.  6 hours later, my arm is still stinging and is covered in welts.  But - I have Jasmine in my yard!!! Not far from the most hardy, easiest, most fragrant rose bush ever. 

Now, the OTHER side of the porch is an entirely different story.  Anyone have the strong urge to dig up holly bushes?  Am I the only one who thinks things are good ideas until you're too far in to stop - but can't quite finish either? 

Life of a slacker

When I was working at AR Dept of Parks & Tourism, a few lifetimes ago, my co-worker overused the word "slacker".  I still find myself using it often.  I love how simple things remind me of life-connections that have had such an impact.  That was my "side-note" for today.

Well, I went from being pretty regular at communicating via blog, to being a total slacker.  The life of a slacker is hard; it involves raising a family, full-on war with the laundry, cooking food that no one really cares to see pictures of, working a full-time job that I both love and wish I could bypass on occasion (hello, vacation days!!!), supporting a hard-working husband who is also in school fulltime because he obviously hates himself, and remembering to breathe.  However, I LOVE to write; it is my passion. . . . and I miss it.  Therefore, I will do my very best to make time to write.  For me mostly, I'm sure, but also for those of you who like to keep up with our family and may be wondering if the kids stopped existing in May 2013 - which is the last time I downloaded pictures from my camera.  They're still here - taking more and more of my breath away every day, and making me so very happy that I haven't had time to write.

I'll leave you with just a few "coming up" shots: