Nineteen Years

Today is our anniversary – NINETEEN years together – nineteen years full of laughter and love.

When I said “til death do us part” way back when, I had no idea what that really meant. It was a romantic notion that were really just part of the vows I took. Now, almost twenty years later, I have a better idea of what this means… I think I’m still learning, though.

What I am learning is to appreciate the power of that vow. To really and truly know that there is someone who is just as committed to me as I am to him… who picks me up when I fall down, wipes away the tears, rubs tired shoulders, laughs at my bad jokes and celebrates the victories with me.

Happy Anniversary, honey. I love you to the moon and back (and then some more) – Today, tomorrow, and forever.

My Brain is Full, now

I spent the last week in an intense certification exam prep course. I’m working to get ready for my project management certification – something that will help me career-wise and also in my current job in terms of implementing best practices on the projects I currently manage.

The class has been INTENSE. Five days, 8AM – 5PM with minimal breaks, lots and lots of hands-on activities and new terminology, processes and formulas to learn. I don’t think I’ve been this deep in active learning in YEARS – maybe since college – most definitely not since…. well, I can’t remember.

It has been awesome and terrifying at the same time. I alternated between feeling utterly stupid and inept to feeling like I was soaring like an eagle and was going to be the best PM in the world someday. It has been a week of highs and lows for sure.

My brain is tired.

Last night, I felt like I could barely form a coherent sentence.

I think I was asleep before anyone else in the house, including the cat!

But, after a good night’s rest, I’m reinvigorated and rested and feel much better.

As a matter of fact, Big Girl thought she’d try to stump me on some of the prep questions.

I got them all right.

She was disgusted and didn’t want to play anymore. (hee hee)

Next week, it’s back to my usual work routine, but I have to find a way to fit in about 10 hours/week for the next few weeks to study and finish my prep – oh, and register for and schedule the actual exam. Believe it or not, I’m more nervous about the application than I am the actual exam!

Today, though, it’s all about reconnecting with my family, my home, and letting my brain (and my calves) uncramp from the week of exercise it’s unaccustomed to.

Next week will get here soon enough.

Bourbon Chicken

I mentioned last week that we were trying a few new recipes – one of the ones we tried was Bourbon Chicken, a recipe I found on Big Oven.com. (That’s the software I use to keep track of my recipes. I like it because I can copy/paste a recipe from the web right into the software.)

Anyway, this was dinner on Wednesday night last week. It was surprisingly easy and everyone liked it. The kids said the sauce was a little spicy, but I didn’t taste any heat in the dish at all. I think they were just looking for something to be wrong with it since it was a new dish. Smile

SuperMan and I really liked it. I made some brown rice to serve under it and steamed some carrots and broccoli to go along with the meat. It was wonderful. I ate way too much and my tummy hurt afterwards – that’s how good it was! (I almost never do that anymore)

SuperMan ate the leftovers for lunch the next day and said they were “very good.” So, I think this will go in the repertoire for future dinners.

Here’s the recipe, just in case you can’t get on Big Oven.com to look it up yourself: (mine is a little different than the one on there)

Bourbon Chicken

2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts (cut into bite-sized pieces)
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 Tbsp minced garlic
about 1/2 tsp dried ginger
1/4 cup apple juice
1/4 c Brown Sugar Splenda Blend
2 Tbsp Ketchup
1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
1/2 cup water
1/3 cup soy sauce (I used reduced sodium)
1 Tbsp corn starch

Heat oil in large skillet.
Add chicken & cook until lightly browned.
While chicken is cooking, mix remaining ingredients in a large measuring cup or small pourable bowl. Whisk to combine.
Once chicken is cooked, pour seasoning/sauce mixture into sauce pan with chicken and bring to a hard boil, mixing as the heat rises.
Reduce heat and simmer for 15-20 min or until sauce thickens.
Serve over cooked rice.

The recipe reminded me a lot of a chicken dish I used to get at a chinese to-go place when I worked downtown. I think it is named after Bourbon Street in New Orleans, so don’t be concerned that there is no actual Bourbon in the recipe!

I’d love to know how you like it if you try it!

This is what we do on Sunday

I rarely talk about my faith or my church on this blog, but I just had to share this. One of the things we do as a family is volunteer on Sunday mornings in the environment at our church that is “Sunday school” for K-5th graders.

This week, we had a “Monster Mash.” Basically, a day full of fun and games for the kids and the leaders. The kids (and volunteers) were encouraged to dress up with Monster Hair-do’s and to let their “inner monster” out. (our theme this month was about self-control and learning to control your “inner monster” – hence the Monster Mash – mashing those inner monsters!)

One of the activities was letting the kids “dress” their leaders as “monsters” – and I have to say that we have some of the best leaders and some extremely creative kids. I was so proud of our kids (and leaders) and really enjoyed being a part of it.

Even the munchkins got into the act:

SuperMan and Little Bit REALLY had fun:

I love being a part of our church! I love the fact that it is all about the simplicity of faith and of loving God and one another. (and yes, SuperMan’s hair is orange & green)

So, how’d you spend your Sunday? Smile

Menu Plan Monday ~ 26 September

Happy Monday, everyone!

This week, my menu planning is especially important.

I am taking a class downtown all week – Monday thru Friday, 8AM – 5PM. Can you say UGH!?! Yes, I will be in commuter you-know-where this week. I am looking forward to the class, but not looking forward to the hustle-and-bustle of a commuting lifestyle workday. (yes, I’m spoiled, I know)

My mom is coming up for the week to take care of the munchkins and taxi them to and fro in their activities. She will most likely be doing most of the supper preparations, too, so I wanted to have a plan and be ready for her when she gets here. I’ve made my menu, done (most of) my shopping, and all that is left is the cooking.

Here’s what we’ll have this week:

Monday: Roast Beef tips with Gravy, either rice or mashed potatoes and a salad
Tuesday: Crock Pot Baked Chicken, rice/gravy and veggies
Wednesday (new recipe to try) Balsamic Pork Roast with rice & veggies
Thursday: Sloppy Joes w/ homemade fries (another new recipe to try)
Friday: probably eat out somewhere
Saturday will most likely be leftovers or whatever we didn’t cook earlier in the week.

How about you? Have you made your menu plans for the week?

Hop on over to orgjunkie.com for some more great menu ideas.

Hello? Fall? Are you there?

Growing up too fast

You hear people say that all the time –

“You’re growing up so fast!”

“Look at how you’ve grown!”

“You’re growing like a weed!”

etc. etc.

Who knew there really was such a thing as growing up too fast? (besides mommies who always think their kids grow up too fast (and too slowly, at the same time))

But there really is a condition …

…and apparently, Big Girl has it.

She has been complaining of a sore ankle and we thought she’d just sprained it. So, we’ve been icing it, wrapping it with an Ace bandage and keeping her (relatively) inactive. But it’s been two weeks and it is getting worse, not better.

So, today we went to the podiatrist to make sure she wasn’t dealing with some hairline fractures or something worse.

Turns out she has what is called Sever’s Syndrome. Basically, it’s where your foot grows faster than the tendons and they are stretched too far. The heel has a growth plate that is attached to the Achilles tendon and this is where the pain occurs.

It is apparently very common among active 10-15 year olds and is intermittent. So, we will probably be dealing with it for some time to come.

She is in a boot for the next three weeks and then we go back to the doctor for a re-check and possibly orthotics to help alleviate future flare-ups.

She is bummed about not being able to dance and participate in activities at school but I am relieved that she is not dealing with broken bones or a severe strain/sprain.

(on a side note, she couldn’t believe I was taking pictures in the doctor’s office! hee hee)

So, that’s how my day has been!!

How about you?

If these bowls could talk

If these bowls could talk…

They would tell stories…

Stories of cakes baked in them…

Cakes and cookies and all sorts of goodies.

They would tell stories of cornbread made from scratch and fried on a griddle until it was lacy and crispy.

They would talk about a sweet, gentle little white-haired lady who handled them with loving care, washed them by hand in Ivory dish detergent and placed them on a rack to dry in the sunshine that fell from the window above the sink.

They would tell stories about little girl fingers that snuck their way into the batters to taste, that mixed and “helped” and poured and learned.

They would tell of the love of cooking that the little white-haired lady had and shared with her great-granddaughter … one of the things she wanted to share with a rare girl-child in her midst.

They would tell of the loving care in which they have been kept through the years, waiting to be passed down to that now-grown girl-child, who treasures them as so much more than bowls.

They’re history.

If these bowls could talk… the stories they’d tell.

Adding to the Bucket List

Today is my birthday – and for the first time in many years I really, truly, feel like celebrating. I think I am, at forty-three, finally reaching the point in my life where I feel like I am at my best – physically, mentally, and spiritually. I am happy to wake up each morning – excited to see what each new day holds.

Whoever says that over forty is “over the hill” is crazy. I think it’s in your forties when you are finally comfortable in your own skin, less concerned with others’ approvals and opinions and more content to follow your instincts and do what feels right for you. And it is fabulous.

I’ve been working on a “Bucket List” for the past year or so – and I’ve come up with a few more things I want to add to it as part of my birthday celebration – as well as a few things I can cross off that I’ve accomplished. You can see the original list here.

And here are my additions for today:

Drive a motorcycle (very fast)
Go to India
See the Vatican
Drive an “18-wheeler” tractor-trailer rig
Go to Nepal
Learn more about Buddhism and Hinduism

I’m sure I’ll continue to add to the list over time, but hopefully I will be scratching some things off, too!

What about you? Have any things you want to get to before you “kick the bucket” or things you want to make sure you do at some point in your life?

Project Life Tuesday ~ 20 September

I’m sharing some pictures from Big Girl’s camera today – she’s been snapping away and I thought it would be fun to capture the world from her perspective for a change.