Animal, Vegetable, Miracle

I've been wanting to blog about this book for some time now and finally had a bit of free time tonight! Last fall when my friend Jenny visited me from Indiana she had this book with her. She told me about it and I was semi interested at the time...she really seemed to think there were some important messages in this book about sustainable foods and recommended I read it.


I actually kinda forgot about it until recently when my sister posted a comment about Kingsolver's interactive Vegetannual site and her other books, particularly, The Poisonwood Bible. After reading Jill's post, I decided to check this Animal, Vegetable, Miracle book out for myself.

Kingsolver and her family (husband and older daughter) co-wrote a book about a year of food life. She and her family "abandoned the industrial-food pipeline to live a rural life-vowing that, for one year, they'd only buy food raised in their own neighborhood, grow it themselves, or learn to live without it." The book is part memoir, part journalistic investigation. It really has opened my eyes to the old truth: You are what you eat.

It seems as Americans we want what we want when we want it. Take strawberries for example. It's sad how demanding we are for strawberries in the middle of winter. I live in central Pennsylvania and strawberries are only in season from mid June-late July (if blessed with a good crop). Do we even realize all the fossil fuels we are using up by having those, not so fresh, or ripe strawberries delivered to our local grocery store?

Normally I make my usual trip to the farmers' market (on Tuesday's to be exact) and get what I need for the week. But I never really thought about where it was coming from. When I asked these "local" farmers' market vendors where their produce was coming from, most of them said, Maryland or from other outlining states. Not local. They did reassure me that in the summer more of the produce was local. It's important to ask where our food is coming from. It's ok to ask questions.

So I started thinking. Why don't we just buy from our local farmer and eat what is in season? Yes, we may have to sacrifice what we really want but it's SO much better for our environment, economy, and health to buy locally grown foods that are sustainable. This book has challenged my impulsive, selfish eating patterns that I have so grown accustomed to.

I hope our little family can make a difference in the world by deliberately eating food produced from the same place where we work, where we live, and breathe.

I thank the Lord for compelling me to read this book. Even with small changes, I hope to bring glory to Him by being a better steward of what's He's given this Earth to help sustain us...even though we're only passing through...

Cooking Extravaganza!

My dear fun loving friend Jenn came to visit last weekend and boy did we have a BLAST!

We cooked until our hearts content, laughed, made silly voices, played with Addy, rested, went to the movies, shopped, and all in all had a great time.

I love getting together with Jenn because she lifts my spirit. She is so joyful and high-energy. Something I am not. Type A I would call her, and I love her for it.

She's my cooking buddy. We're always e-mailing, messaging, texting, or calling each other about recipes to try, ideas to explore, and creative things to do with our kiddos. So before she even came the two hour drive from the Allentown, PA area, we made our menu.

Saturday night: Fondue party!!

Swiss and Gruyere Cheese Fondue

Served with: steamed veggies, crusty bread, apples

Chocolate Peanut Butter Fondue (TO DIE FOR!!)

Served with: marshmallows, pretzels, strawberries, bananas, apples,

graham crackers, and BROWNIES (double the chocolate)

Sunday lunch:

Homemade pizza half with mushrooms (for Jenn's sake, I highly dislike ;)

and half with spinach and Roma tomatoes~! Yummy!

Sunday afternoon we made homemade buttery herb croutons

Monday lunch:

Falafel two ways (baked and friend)

served on mini pitas with cucumber sauce

We parted ways on Monday afternoon, our bellies and hearts full.

Thanks for the fun weekend Jenn!

Deep Empathy

My heart is overwhelmed tonight.

My childhood family friend, Karen, lost her husband of 13 years earlier this week. They have three beautiful children: Aidan 13, Arielle 9, and Amberly 7. Their family has been totally shattered by this devastating loss and my heart is just absolutely broken for them. The knowledge of their loss has been heavy on my mind...

So I ask you, will you join me in prayer for this family? Will you uplift them before our Lord and Savior who I know is the only one who can provide them comfort right now?

Thank you!

February: A month of Intentional Love

I love the opportunity the holiday of Valentine's Day gives us. An opportunity to intentionally love on others. I know we "love" each other all throughout the year...but in February it's celebrated more and cherished as most special.

My mom is amazing. Recently, Ron and I went to a Pastor's and Spouse's Retreat. She came up from Maryland to take care of Addison for two days. I always know that Addison will receive great care when she's with my mom. The two are so sweet together.

I got these cute heart plates from Target. I love that store!!

This year I decided to do things a bit differently for Ron. Instead of doing one thing for him or getting him one gift, I decided to do something special for him for the first 14 days of February. This pictures shows a few of the little treats I have for him.

Addison's card to her Daddy. Starting her off young, will hopefully instill in her a love for others and a caring heart.
Busy at work "coloring" which lasted about...well...um like 3 minutes ;)


Chocolate cupcakes with pink frosting for a young adult get together we had recently. My mom gave me this cupcake tower for Mother's Day last year and I've really gotten a lot of use out of it. I think it's so pretty!

Candy, 'cause you can't celebrate the month of love without a bit of chocolate!!

Our new pretty pink tablecloth and garland all ready to celebrate the month!

I hope you and yours share in a month of intentional love where there are many hugs and kisses, and heart warming memories made.

Matthew 22:37–39
Jesus said to him, 'You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'

New Thoughts

I have always been encouraged by a certain devotional book Streams In The Dessert, and this week it was nothing less. I think I've read through the devotional several times, but it seems that God reveals to me new thoughts and insights every time.

Last week I read these words:

"Some of life's storms-a great sorrow, a bitter disappointment, a crushing defeat-suddenly come upon us. Others may come slowly, appearing on the uneven edge of the horizon no larger that a person's hand. But trouble that seems so insignificant spreads until it covers the sky and overwhelms us.

Yet it is in that storm that God equips us for service. When God wants an oak tree, He plants it where the storms will shake it and the rains will beat down upon it. It is in the midnight battle with the elements that the oak develops its rugged fiber and becomes the king of the forest.

When God wants to make a person, He puts him into some storm. The history of humankind has always been rough and rugged. No one is complete until he has been out into the surge of the storm and has found the glorious fulfillment of the prayer O God, take me, break me, make me.

The wind that blows can never kill
the tree the God plants;
It blows toward east, and then toward west,
The tender leaves have little rest,
But any wind that blows is best.
The tree that God plans
Strikes deeper root, grows higher still,
Spreads greater limbs, for God's good will
Meets all its wants
There is no storm has power to blast
The tree God knows;
No thunderbolt, nor beating rain,
Nor lightning flash, nor hurricane;
When they are spent, it does remain,
The tree God knows,
Through every storm it still stands fast,
And from its first day to its last
Still fairer grows"

L.B. Cowman

Sweet Surprises!

I have this very kind friend. Her name is Judy. Life has not been easy to her, in fact, it's been quite difficult. Judy was born with CP. In many ways it had dictated who she was, what she was going to do, and where she was going to go in life. As an adult Judy came to know the Lord as her Savior. A beautiful story. Through learning the Word, listening to Joyce Meyer, and fellowshipping with other believers, Judy began a personal journey to emotional freedom. She's still working at it today and I'm honored to be alongside her through this journey.

She's been a special friend who thinks of our family often. She calls, e-mails, sends cards and absolutely loves Addison. She and I live 45 minutes away from one another so we don't get to see each other too often...but when we do, it's always a blast!

I got to see Judy today and she blessed my socks off with this Vera Bradley bag she bought for me (a combo gift for my b-day and Christmas). Perfect for those days when I'm on the run with Addison. What a gift! I mean, seriously. So very loving and heartfelt. When I'm with Judy I am reminded to take life slowly and gently and to calm down. She has a soothing effect on me...blessed I am to know her!

Better Than Kashi

I bought these Kashi cookies for $3.99 (for a box of 8) the other week while perusing the organic aisle at the grocery store. I wanted to have something healthy on hand to eat when I wanted something sweet. :)

I like the cookies. I think they are really good. But, kinda dry. So I thought...hey I can make something similar that won't cost a lot. I've never made low-fat or low-calorie cookies before, so I was a bit apprehensive about trying applesauce in a cookie recipe. I decided to look for a recipe online that I could try.

They were a hit! Everyone in my family loved them, including Addison. Ron thought they tasted similar to the Kashi brand but they were much more moist. I'm so pleased that I found a recipe I can use in place of paying the high cost of a name brand. AND I added flax seed and a bit of wheat germ to boost up their health value. :)