A Time to Give Thanks

Family, friends, Macy's Parade on T.V. and PIE!!!  These are my favorite things about Thanksgiving.  I love gathering around a table full of food with the people I care for.  Every year I am reminded of how many reasons there are to have a thankful heart.  The past few years I have enjoyed some great Thanksgivings with very special people in different parts of the world.  This year, I am looking forward to spending this holiday with my husband and his side of the family.  

Thanksgiving 2007 in Morocco

Taking a moment to consider what I am thankful for this year, I am overjoyed with how much there is to be grateful for.  A few things I am thankful for this year are: 

1.)  My husband.  I remember very well this time last year persistently asking God to "give me to be a wife to a good, godly man".  He answered this prayer in a way that was beyond my imagination.  He is a good God and I am so thankful for the man he brought into my life at just the right time.  

2.)  God's grace and sanctification in my life.  He has forgiven me far beyond what I deserve and loves me with an everlasting love.  And I realize that if it weren't for Him taking the initiative in the process of making me holy, I would forever continue in my sin without a second thought.  I am thankful for his discipline, kindness, and love as he continues to bring me to completion.

3.) My family.  I have a family that always loves and supports me.  Much of the person I am today is because of the influence they had on me.

4.)  The freedom we have in the U.S.  Never again will I take this one for granted.

5.) My tutoring job.  I absolutely love my current tutoring position and find great satisfaction in it.  I enjoy the other ladies I tutor with and the kids are so special.  Even before moving out to the mountains we were praying for a job to open up that would be a good fit for me for the time that we are here.  This job was an answer to prayer.

Thanksgiving 2008 with family & friends in Ohio

What are you thankful for this year?  Happy Thanksgiving!!  

Vegetarian Chili

When I was single I was not much of a cook, meaning dinner for me often times meant sticking a frozen pizza in the oven or pouring 2 bowls of cereal.  However, marriage has brought about within me a desire to learn how to cook better and to cook more frequently.  One of my recent goals has been to discover and prepare one new dish a week.  I've actually had a lot of fun doing it and have ended up with  a lot of yummy meals!  I thought I would share a simple recipe for Vegetarian Chili that I adapted from The Williams Sonoma Cookbook.  I made this today and both Zach and I loved it!  It was easy to make and very affordable (as long as you have all the spices on hand).  The original recipe called for 2 cups of dried pinto beans, allowing them to soak for at least 4 hours.  Instead, I opted to use 2 cans of black beans (the most nutritious bean) and 1 can of navy beans (for some variety).  I also used 1 less onion than what the original recipe said. And, since we like our chili to have a thicker texture, I used less broth than what the original recipe called for.   I used regular pre-ground pepper as opposed to cayenne pepper (because it's what I had on hand) and, if you prefer less spicy, I recommend adding less chili powder and/or forfeiting the chipotle chilis (although they do give it a really nice smoky taste).  Here is the adapted version of the recipe that I used.


Makes 6-8 Servings


2-3 cans (15.25 oz.) of black beans  (you can use any kind of bean you prefer)
3 Tbsp canola oil
1 yellow onion, finely chopped
5 cloves of garlic, minced
1/4 cup (1 oz) chili powder)
1 Tbsp plus 1 tsp dried oregano
1 Tbsp plus 1 tsp ground cumin
1 Tbsp paprika
1/4 tsp pepper (or cayenne pepper)
11/2 cups (12 oz) canned diced tomatoes, with juice
1/2 - 1 canned chipotle chile in adobo, minced
3 cups Vegetable Stock or low-sodium broth (feel free to use more if you like a soupier chili texture)
1 Tbsp distilled white vinegar

In a large Dutch oven over medium heat, heat the oil. Add the onions and saute until softened and translucent, about 5 minutes.  Add the minced garlic, chili powder, oregano, cumin, paprika, and pepper, and stir to combine. Cook, stirring so the mixture cooks evenly to release the flavors, about 3 minutes.

Add the tomatoes with their juice, chile to taste, the stock, and the drained beans and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and let simmer. Add vinegar and cook for 1 min. longer.  Ladle chili into bowls.

We topped our chili bowls with sour cream (well, I did.  Zach hates sour cream) and shredded cheese.  Isn't sour cream the most delicious thing ever?  It just adds a scrumptious tang flavor to your food.  Although, I wouldn't recommend it on all things!

Top 20 Reasons Why I Love Being Married To My Best Friend!

1.       He’s my ministry partner

2.       He never gets tired of eating PIZZA!

3.       He dances with me

4.       He likes to play video games with me even though I’m really bad.

5.       He’s my favorite person to hang out with.

6.       He helps me clean the apartment.

7.       He drinks coffee with me.

8.       He tells me he loves me and that I’m beautiful every day.

9.       He’s FUN to watch UFC with!

10.   He likes to crank up the music in the car.

11.   He encourages me to read and learn more.

12.   He likes to pull into Krispy Kreme when we see the “HOT” sign on

13.   He prays with me.

14.   He’ll watch musicals with me.

15.   We laugh together!

16.   He makes awesome smoothies for us J

17.   He leads me to grow in Christ.

18.   He’s HONEST with me.

19.   ONE DAY we will be great Euchre partners, I just know it!

20.   He’s always there for me.

Confession of an Idol Worshipper

Next to temperance, a quiet conscience, a cheerful mind and active habits, I place early rising as a means of health and happiness.

- Timothy Flint

I remember telling a mentor of mine in college that I often felt like my biggest struggle of the day was getting out of bed.  I would love to say that over the last several years this is a habit that I have since left behind, but, honestly, it is still something I would consider to be the biggest struggle of my day.  I used to say that I was a night person to excuse my tendency to sleep in late.  And, while there have been periods in my life when I have had to get up early (either for a job or a class), my schedule for the most part has permitted me to sleep in late.  While I have known the benefits of being an early riser for quite a while it hasn't been until recently that I have been convicted about it.  It is so easy for me to set my alarm for an early hour the night before and fall asleep with the best intentions of actually springing out of bed in the morning, ready to tackle the day!  So, of course, by 8:00 a.m the next morning I've already had my coffee, done my Bible study, gotten a work out in, eaten breakfast, and am dressed for the day.  Um... reality check:  I'm usually still in bed at 9:30, sometimes 10:00 a.m.  (Eek... I know I just totally ratted myself out there.)  But it's true.  My tendency to make sleep and idleness an idol in my life is something the Lord has really been showing me lately.  There are a few Scripture verses He has brought me to lately that really speak to this area of sin in my life.  One of them is Proverbs 31:15  , "She rises while it is yet night and provides food for her household and portions for her maidens".  My friend N pointed this out to me when I was telling her about my habit of sleeping in.  This is King Lemuel's mother describing to him the character of the kind of wife he should seek after.  This woman rises early and is diligent in her work and with her time.  I saw in this passage of Scripture how rising early allows us to get a good start on the day.  When I sleep in late, by the time I get up I often end up feeling like I don't have time to spend with the Lord that day (a form of pride that says "I got this day without you God.  I think I'm strong enough to handle it on my own, thanks.  I'll let you know when I need you"). I value sleep and laziness more than I value Christ.  I also end up feeling like half my day is gone and often times accomplish very little.  Most importantly, I'm not giving myself to the Lord to be used to the fullest.  So, I've been asking the Lord for discipline in that area of my life.  I've decided that a good starting point for me is to set my alarm for 7:30 a.m. and, no matter what time I go to bed the night before, to consistently get up at that time every single day.  Today was day one of forming the healthy habit of rising early and I have noticed a huge difference already.  I've been able to accomplish more and feel more energized.  Here's what my day has looked like so far:

7:30 a.m. - woke up/got out of bed

7:30 - 8:00 a.m - made coffee and ate breakfast

8:00 - 9:00 - Bible study and prayer

9:15-9:45 - worked out at the gym

10:00-10:30 - showered and got dressed for the day

10:30-11:00 - checked and answered emails

11:00-11:45 - wrote new blog post

12:00-1:00 p.m - prepared for afternoon tutoring session

I feel blessed to have such a flexible and open schedule right now and know it won't always be this way.  I am thankful for this time the Lord has given to prune me and grow me in many things, but especially with regards to rising early and being useful with my time.  One last Scripture verse that has spoken truth into my life repeatedly and can be applied to what the Lord is teaching me now is Hebrews 12:11 which says, "For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it".  I love the wording of that verse.  Discipline, whether it is studying the Word, training for a competition, or waking up a few hours earlier, is not always fun and can be hard at the time but we reap the benefits of it as we go.  And, as believers, we are more equipped and spiritually mature to take part in God's kingdom work.   

October at our Home

So, as you can see, I took a little hiatus from blogging the last couple of weeks.  I feel like October was a whirlwind of activity.  We started off the month by taking a day trip down to Georgia where Zach went to college.  The department he had studied in was hosting a breakfast for past and present students.  It was an interesting experience to get a glimpse of what his college experience was like.  Zach went to a very small Christian liberal arts school whereas I went to one of the largest state schools in the country.  It was neat to think about how the Lord took us down two different paths in that aspect.

We also celebrated our one month wedding anniversary this past month!  Marriage has been such a joy and a blessing!  It has been sanctifying in so many ways already but being together seems to make every day better.  I honestly believe that God provided the perfect match for me in Zach.  We're very similar in a lot of ways, yet very different in other ways.  Zach is extremely laid back and I have a tendency to stress out easily - so he helps me to relax when I need to and I help him by giving him that extra push when he needs it.  Things like that we can balance each other out in.  One of the things I love and appreciate most about him is that he accepts and loves me for exactly who I am and I continually pray for the grace to always love, respect and support him the way he needs.

As I mentioned in my last post, we took a week long trip to Raleigh.  It was so nice to be back in familiar territory and be able to see and catch up with many of our friends there.  We stayed with our friends J & S who just recently had a baby.  It was fun to watch them be parents and couldn't help but start thinking about starting our own family one day. :)  I know I said I'd share pictures, but I don't think I took one picture the whole time we were there.

Another thing this past month brought was a part-time tutoring job for me!  I'm tutoring 5th and 6th graders in reading for an hour and a half after school on Monday, Tuesdays and Thursdays.  I've really enjoyed it so far and it's a good fit for me because with working only part-time I still have an adequate amount of time to be involved with the collegiate ministry on campus and the job is temporary.  It only goes through the middle of January (there may be a possibility of continuing on through May, but we'll see) and since Zach's internship with the BCM is over in May the timeline is perfect.

My first week of tutoring was this past week and it was eventful.  Oh, let's just say it. It was CRAZY!  I've worked with kids before and it's always a bit of a challenge when you come in as a new "authority figure" and they're testing to see how much they can get away with. The first day I must have looked like I had "SUCKER" stamped across my forehead.  Kids standing on desks , kids laying on the floor refusing to participate, and kids texting on their cell phones after I told them to put their phones away.  All this amidst constant chattering.  Now, if you will allow me to just pause here.  I have an equation in my head.  KIDS + CELL PHONES = WHY??  or KIDS + CELL PHONES = CRAZY PARENTS or KIDS  + CELL PHONES = RIDICULOUS.  Is it really necessary to give your 10 year old a cell phone?  They're in school with their teachers all day long.  Who are they going to call?  I could understand if it's a 16 year old who is driving around by himself, but a 10 year old?  Seriously.  [Sigh]...But I digress.  I can't blame the kids for being a little rowdy when they're having to stay after school and their friends are outside playing.  But they had to learn the boundaries that were set.  So, by the end of the 2nd day when I was referred to as a "monster" by one of the students to another tutor, I figured they were starting to get the point that I was no pushover.  And, I'm happy to report, that by the 3rd day the kids had made a vast improvement in listening and following directions. Which makes me happy. :)  I do really like the job so far though and it's a nice break from being around the campus all the time.

We ended the month with some fun fall activities like going to a corn maze and pumpkin patch, a Halloween party and breaking out the sweaters and scarves!  Now, we are settling down into the end of the semester with BCM and getting ready for a fun and simple holiday season!