4. Really?

Today is Fred's 4th Birthday. He is my nephew...and I love him.

I remember seeing him for the first time...I cried.

I love this little guy so much. It is a really strange thing to me that he can have conversations that make sense. He is a funny, smart, and a totally cute little 4 year old. I pray for him and his little bro. all the time, and while it is fun to think about what he will be like when he grows up, it is a blast to watch him be a kid.

The last time I saw him, he wanted to go on a run with me and listen to "The Cave" (mumford and sons) What kind of kid does that! He is a constant joy in my life.

Love you Fred! Happy Birthday!

feeling like fall

This time of year marks such beauty in MO. The temp drops cold at night and the days sunshine warms you enough for some to say "I'm hot". This is the first taste of "missing MO" I have had since moving to the fine state of TX. I have been thinking about the anticipation of the fall festival (hehe), the smell of the cold fall mornings-drinking coffe on our front porch, the leaves changing to such brilliant colors of gold, orange and bright red (like this one right outside of our window in Liberty). I sigh. I sigh because I know that Fall will not shed its brilliance on good ole Dallas, TX quite like it will in Liberty, MO.

BUT.

This morning I woke up and drank coffee while reading. I said goodbye to Andrew and then I laced up my running shoes. I stepped out my front door and breathed a different sigh. It was a beautiful morning. Sunshine...right around 70. (high today 89) And I went. I ran and I smiled as the sun kissed my skin and I breathed a cooler air into my lungs.

I finished my run and stood on my front stoop and looked out. I realized...this is TX fall. I hate being cold and this is supposed to be the weather till November...at least. I can open windows.

As I sit here typing now there is only one thing going through my mind. I think of a little curly red headed girl as she belts with all her might. "I THINK I'M GONNA LIKE IT HERE!"

(note I have made appropriate changes to my blog page to make up for things which TX cannot provide)

saucy

A while ago I made this pizza that used this delicious sauce made with cilantro instead of a tomato sauce. I loved the flavor so much that I started using the base sauce and adding stuff to it and putting it in and on everything.

The base is this:

a huge handful of cilantro

EVOO (I add like 1/8 a cup to get started)

2 jalepenos (Seeded)

blend.

If you want it thicker add less EVOO

Sometimes I add less cilantro and more EVOO and then add some brown sugar and almonds and make it a salad dressing for an asian salad with mandarin slices, celery and snap peas...(and lots of fresh spinach)

Lately I have been adding honey and pistachios and adding it to mexican food.

I put it in green chicken chili enchiladas last week and this week I added it to mexican pork tacos (like in the place of sour cream). Something about the sweet nutty flavor goes so well with spicy mexican dishes.

So, if you are looking to sauce things up and add a fresh new flavor...here is my contribution to your food!

3 years and 4 months.

So this is me. I was 3 years and 4 months old. I watch this and think about what is written on my heart. Has the truth of what I am saying filtered into my life?

The Lord is my Shepherd. I Shall not want.

I am so thankful to my parents for teaching scripture as such a young age. When I was 3 there was absolutely no way for me to know the power that these words held. I most definitely would never have known how, 28 years later these TRUTHS are things that I cling to, and base my everyday living on. Thank you Lord for allowing these words to be a part of my existence.

kindred spirits

This year for vacation we went to Destin, FL. We usually do a Panama City beach vaca, but our vacation this year was not as much about where, but about who. Yes, we were in Destin, and got to spend time on the beach, but more fun for us was getting to spend a week with our dear friends, Jacqueline and Derek Garcia. We met at National youth Pastors Convention, November 2009, in Atlanta...and we have seen each other in person exactly 4 times; when we met, last year on vacation (we met them for dinner), at NYWC this previous year in Nashville...and in August when we spent a week at their house!

It is hard to explain our relationship with the Garcias, but I try with the words "kindred spirits". It is a daily activity for me to figure out how we can all serve in the same place. The Lord is our common bond, but it doesn't hurt that we have a ton of similar interests, and that Derek may be the funniest person I have ever met. We just LOVE them...that is all. It was a refreshing week that we needed and we were so blessed by their hospitality and more than that their company...and their dog, toby

...I know, I almost didn't say it...but I liked toby and I feel bad keeping it to myself.

here are some pics for you to look at.

Andrew and I went on a date!

This is a photo I took about 10:00pm. I love the results of a long exposure shot at the beach. It makes the world look magical.

The Garcias. Love.