Emotional Change

Change is difficult to say the least.  Not many look forward to things being different.  Right?  You like your routine, your schedule, your friends, your church, your comfy home, your same seat in class, your coffee in the morning, your steak.  Trying new things or leaving old patterns, memories and emotions behind, are all tough.  

As we are in the process of moving, I am faced with the emotional changes required to leave our home.  We have lived here for seven years and a lot has happened in this house.  It is so many amazing family times.  I know that this house is just a structure, not my home.  I have stored many emotions here.  The absolute hardest part about leaving is that I feel like I am leaving Caleb here.  I am a mess about this.  We have not moved any of his things.  A cute three year old could come home any day and jump right back into my life.  I have to box his closet and leave his room.  I vacuumed his room today for the last time, I think.  I know Ellie and Tea share his room now, but they are coming with me.  Our family makes the home.  We will begin again.  We will flourish, we will be refreshed, we will rejoice.  Today I am leaving memories and it is hard.  I feel sick.  I feel unmotivated.  I feel like I got knocked down again.  The feelings of grief and traumatic loss do not go away.  They fade, and then flow.  Unexpected, but not abandoned.  I embrace brokenness.  Growth comes from a vulnerable place.

We want to move on.  This home does not fit all of the dreams we have for our family.  We need space and better school choices.  I am not ready to move forward, but when will I be?  I am walking through the pain to get to a better spot.  Comfortable is not growing.  I know that.  I have lived that in many areas of my life before.  I choose to hold the hand of my Maker, embrace my husband and let him lead us through this change.  He carries us.  We always come out better.  

Change is uncomfortable.  I will miss my memories, but will hold them in my heart.  I miss Caleb.  I have him ever so close to me.  This is a tough one.  We will overcome.  Can you tell I keep telling myself that?  I know this to be true and expect it to happen again.  

Love to you all.

OMG! First Recital Shots

Some knee bending and booty shakin'.

Lots more to come!

Frosted Cakery

I called Bev at Frosted to order a birthday cake two or three days before the party, I know, bad mom. The girls celebrating are 8 years and 2 days apart. They both love puppies, so we went with that idea. I called and asked Bev if she could pull it off in this short of notice and she said, "Of course." Like it is no big deal to construct somthing like this. :) I asked for a puppy cake, gave her the spelling of the names and was happy to have a cake. I thought it would be a round or sheet cake with a puppy on top, like all of the other cakes we have had from other bakers. When she delivered this cake, I was shocked with her creation. In my limited creativity, I had no idea this is what was coming. Everyone was so happy. We find lots of excuses to order from Frosted.

Stinkin' Cute Kids

My long time girl, Shea has a great knack for makin' Stinkin" Cute stuff. Check her out!

Real Food Recipe-Apple Chicken Quesadilla

With the kiddos home this summer, I have been looking for recipes that are not from a box or a can. I do as much as I can from food that does not have a label.  I try to grocery shop only the perimeter of grocery stores.  Think about it, where are all of the things that are fresh, real food?  Do you have any healthy lunch ideas? 

Apple Chicken Quesadilla Recipe

INGREDIENTS

4 Flour tortillas (approximately 8-inches wide) (We use whole wheat with extra fiber)
1 cup cooked, shredded or chopped, chicken meat
1/4 lb cheddar or Monterey jack cheese, sliced or grated
1 apple, sliced
1/4 cup salsa

METHOD

 

1 Heat a large skillet on medium high heat. Place one tortilla in the skillet. Flip it a couple of times with a spatula, then let it sit in the pan heating up until air pockets form and parts of the tortilla begin to puff up. Flip it again.

 

2 Place cheese slices on half of the tortilla, at least 1/2-inch from the edge of the tortilla. Add chicken pieces on top of the cheese. Fold the tortilla over like an omelette, and press down on the folded tortilla with the spatula. Lower the heat to medium. At this point, if you have enough room in your skillet, you can add a second tortilla to the pan to begin to heat it up.

 

3 When the cheese inside the quesadilla has melted, remove the quesadilla to a cutting board. Open it wide and layer on apple slices and salsa. Fold the tortilla back again, and cut it into 3 triangles, as if you were cutting a pie. (You don't have to cut the quesadilla into triangles, it just makes it easier for kids to eat.)

4 Repeat with the remaining tortillas.

Makes 12 quesadilla triangles.

Birthday Dinner Photos

We went to Chevy's for a birthday celebration. Savannah loves the sombraro they give you and the l*o*u*d* singing. We celebrated Ellie's birthday too. She does not expect any of this right now, as she just turned two. My baby is two. My bookend children are born in June and then that sweet blonde in blue could really get left out. Everyone is really sensitive to her and shows up with a gift for her, too. Such a great family we have. We are super blessed. Thanks for loving our girls!

Swimming Lessons

I have another little fish! Such freedom in having a water safe baby. I love it. "Fish out of water!"