An Easter Celebration

We sat side by side in our love seat. Our smiles were genuine as we waited for the automatic timer to click on my camera. He couldn't understand why I kept laughing - it was only a self-timed picture after all! The camera shutter opened and closed in a flash of an instant and I was hopping up and running to check if it passed my approval - in 3+ inch heels mind you.

At try #5 I nearly succumbed to the laughter. My mind was in years gone by. I could see my siblings and me crowded around my mom in our Easter best on the family sofa, waiting for my dad to set the camera timer. My mom, to my right cracking up at the little black lens we all stared into. Words can't describe what a hysterical sense of loneliness it is to stare at a tripod for a family photo. But that's how it was! We were all each other had. The lone wolf family of a very big extended family, we were on our own.

I sat there remembering that feeling so well. And now here I was, all grown up... staring into my own self-timed camera. Thinking of my mom and dad. Admiring their bravery in all those years raising us with no one around. So I chose to laugh happily, when I could have just as easily cried. Because life is good. Because God is good. Because my Savior is risen! Because as lonely as life can get from time to time, it is still a beautiful gift.

 Some iced coffees to assist in our meal prep! 

 My beautiful cousin (and her boyfriend!) were able to spend the holiday with us - such a blessing and joy to share the day together! 

 No self-timer needed this time! Thank you, Hope! 

How cute are they? :) F'real. Love you guys! 

Valentine's in the Rear View Mirror

I don't know about you, but we had a wonderful Valentine's Day. It was delightfully cliche - even down to waiting an hour for a table at our restaurant! (FYI, go to dinner before you see a movie, not after!) But it was okay because we were having fun just being together!

What is quickly becoming a Valentine's Day tradition (this was our second together as a married couple - where the heck does the time go?!) returned once again to my kitchen: Chocolate mousse. Oh. My. Gosh. You like chocolate? Coffee? Yeah, this mousse is for you. It's rich enough to make you sick, but it's worth it!

And a fun new tradition we have established! Chocolate covered strawberries. So delicious! Two ingredients! Strawberries + chocolate = awesomeness.

Somewhere in the middle of the day the doorbell rang and there was this handsome guy wearing aviators and a plaid button down leaning up against the doorpost holding these beautiful things. He asked me to be his Valentine... I of course couldn't resist! :)

Like my card-making skills right there?

Yeah... It was a little bit of a chocolate overload. We kind of went to sleep feeling sick... But it was so worth it!! I hope you had a day filled with love and sweet surprises!

PS: Go see "The Vow" - it's such a beautiful love story! (Yes, we saw "The Vow" on Valentine's Day. I warned you it was a cliche day!)


PSS: A big thank you to my precious parents who made our day so much more special with their thoughtfulness and packaged surprises! They're pretty much the best!

Odies with GG

It's the first thing he wants to do when he sees GG (which is a precious name, due to the fact it's what my siblings and I called our own grandma!). Make odies. Also known as oogies. We commonly know them as cookies. 

Evan has a passion for baking. Actually, his passion lies in eating his creations, but nevertheless he loves the kitchen! And most of all, he loves being in there with his GG. 

It truly is the cutest thing. They stir stir stir together, crack the eggs (which sometimes land in his little lap!) and eat until his little belly is content. It seems to be one of his life's greatest loves! His cookie bakes with his GG! :) 

 Gaahhh that face!!!!

I'm am just so in love with that little man!!

Our First Easter

This Easter marked two things for us: 1) Our first Easter as a married couple, and 2) My first Easter away from my family. So while it was all fun to start new traditions together, I couldn't help but feel the ache of missing my family and all our crazy traditions. But what does one do other than press onward? Despite the distance, we made the day really sweet - even if there were video games going on throughout most of the day! 

I'll warn you, this may be a long post

In the 9 months we have been here in Virginia, we have visited a fair number of churches, yet we've been churchless - nothing has felt quite right for us. We have recently found one that has filled us with hope, and this past Sunday, it filled is with joy! One thing I have noted about this church is how joyful the congregation is. What a refreshing thing that is! The Easter service was such a blessing to us, from the hour-long worship service, to the flowering of the cross, we walked away filled with excitement over the glory of the Lord and our hopes that this church very well may be "the one."

Alright, let's get down to business. As I mentioned before, it was just the two of us for Easter. I can recall childhood memories of it just being me and my immediate family on every holiday (and all year long for that matter) and us all sitting on the sofa with a self-timed camera and tripod. Well, those memories became very real when it was once again, my new tiny family on the sofa with a self-timed camera. Only it was on the over sized chair, rather than a tripod. As the camera ticked and beeped off preparing for a sudden flash of continuous shooting, dear Miss Scarlett was intrigued and jumped up to investigate. We have the whole series of photos, yet this one speaks volumes: (Don't mind my extremely large open mouth...I obviously find my cat to be hilarious)

Yup. That really happened! Too bad she's completely out of focus! This happened three more times, but eventually, we got one that we settled for:

After our Sunday's Best were hung up, the food prep began. I suppose I am used to being in the kitchen all day when it comes to holidays. I have always been my mother's right arm in the kitchen, so I wasn't too surprised that I spent my whole day in the kitchen on my own. Although Strom was a help, I flew solo for the most part. My mom and I chatted the afternoon away to make it feel normal, but there was no hiding it: I missed being her right arm. 

No, I did not sneak that muffin. I cut the recipe in half and it made one muffin short of a dozen. They look awfully delicious, right? (Lemon Poppyseed Muffins). So, this is my first attempt at putting on an Easter dinner: 

It wasn't bad at all, if I do say so myself. The muffins killed the rest though - absolutely delish! We topped off the evening with some decadent chocolate mousse and decided we did pretty well for our first run! :)

"Surely He has borne our griefs
      And carried our sorrows;
      Yet we esteemed Him stricken,
      Smitten by God, and afflicted.
        But He was wounded for our transgressions,
      He was bruised for our iniquities;
      The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
      And by His stripes we are healed."

-Isaiah 53:4-5

And for this very reason, we celebrate this day each and every day from now until forever!

White Chicken Chili

 

It has been a while since I posted a recipe, so I figured it was about time! And I have a winner for you. My cousin sent this recipe (from Simply the Sweet Life magazine) my way and it quickly became a Strom favorite. It is as easy as could be to throw together as well, so if you're in a pinch for time, this is a good one for you! 

White Chicken Chili Recipe

• 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts cooked and cut into bite size chunks
• 2 16oz cans Great Northern white beans
• 1 medium onion chopped
• 2 cloves minced garlic 
• 1 can chicken broth*
• 1 can of diced tomatoes
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon oregano
• 2 small cans green chili's-chopped
• a few sliced jalapenos to add heat 
• 2 cup sour cream
• 2 cup cream**
• 1 to 2 cups grated pepper jack cheese

Cut chicken into bite sized pieces then saute in olive oil with onion and garlic. Add chicken broth, tomatoes, spices, beans, sour cream cream, cheese, green chili’s and jalapenos. Cook on low for about 30 minutes.

* If you wish to make the chili thicker, leave out the broth. It changes the consistency to a tasty soup. If that's what you're going for, then by all means, pour away!

** I am certain this tastes unreal with heavy cream, but between the sour cream and cheese, I had to make an executive decision and I went with half & half. It didn't taste like it was missing a thing. So if you're looking for a cut in calories, you can shave some off there. 

Serve this with some corn bread and you have a killer meal for dinner! Just remember to pay attention to your corn bread baking process and put in baking powder... Not baking soda... I still gag at the memory.

Bon Appétit!