We Made It

Yesterday was our 13th anniversary.

I am beyond thankful that we made it this far. I am praising God that we made it this far.

I think marriage is often portrayed in extremes. In love versus getting a divorce. But reality is not so clear cut. So black and white. So clean.

Reality is that persisting in being married is the hardest thing you will ever do it your life. The work of it trumps the labor of child birth any day of the week. It is far more painful and far more rewarding.

A real marriage involves Endurance. Grace. Forgiveness. God. Love. Mercy. Humor. Sacrifice. Persistence. Trust.

A real marriage has really high highs and lower lows than you'd ever imagine.

A real marriage involves heart break and vulnerability. Vulnerability is its own dicey thing. Vulnerability is hard. Sharing yourself-your whole self-leaves you open. Open for love. Open for pain.

Vulnerability leaves you rather defenseless. Your armor and guard is let down.

But you have to be vulnerable to experience the intimacy of marriage.

Last night Brian gave me a couple new charms for my Pandora bracelet. A pink sparkly heart. A heart locket with a tiny diamond. A 13.

And he said, "we made it," as we both cried. (honestly, I am crying as I am typing this...)

This year was rough for us. There were times when we both were wondering if we would make this anniversary. Our foundation had gotten a bit shaky.

It humbled us. It brought us to our knees. It drew us together. It made us stronger as a couple. It sanctified us as individuals.

I'd not wish this year's path on anyone, but at this end of it, I can say,

God used it for good.

And I am so thankful.

I love you, Mr. Hippie!

Tuscan Skillet

It's been a week. Of birthdays, and (wall) painting, and bike rides and triathlons and runs. Of reading and cleaning and cooking. Of last outdoor summer concerts and picnics in pavilions. Chocolate and pasta. Rain and sunshine.

All in all, a great week.

How was your week?

My other question for you today (besides how was your week) is, "do you have a 6th sense about recipes?" Can you read over a recipe and pretty much know it is going to be good and you are going to love it? Or do you try a lot of recipes that end up being duds?

I very rarely make a recipe that I don't love or that doesn't turn out well. Maybe it is because I know what flavor combinations I like, and what flavor combinations are always winners. Sometimes I make a recipe that I feel can be improved upon, but rarely is a recipe a flop.

I think another reason the recipes I try are rarely flops is that I look for simple recipes. If a recipe has more steps than the Spanish Steps, that recipe is probably not going to be made by me. Too many possibilities for error.

Anyways...this recipe that I am sharing today is one of THOSE recipes. The great ones that you know instinctively is going to be a winner. 

The sauce is rich. The dish is healthy. The ingredients combine for an amazing burst of flavor.

Browned chicken. Browned mushrooms. Fire roasted tomatoes. Sun dried tomatoes. Wow!

One key tip, is to not crowd the mushrooms. Yes, that is a movie quote-quoting a cookbook. Do you know which movie/cookbook?

Crowding the mushrooms keeps them from browning. Do at least 3 batches of mushrooms. It takes more time, but the end result is worth it.

Tuscan Skillet
Prep time: 15 minutes, Cook time: 35 minutes, Total time: 50 minutes
3 Tbsp olive oil, divided
2 pounds chicken breast
1-1/2 tsp kosher salt
1-1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
1-1/2 tsp.oregano
3/4 tsp thyme
1 large onion, diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
16 ounces mushrooms, sliced
1 cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
2 (15 oz) can Cannelini Beans (or other white beans), drained and rinsed
3 (15 oz) cans fire roasted diced tomatoes
1-1/2 Tbsp. sugar
Salt and pepper, to taste
Parsley for garnish

-Cut each breast into 2-3 pieces and season with salt and pepper. Heat 1-1/2 Tbsp of olive oil in
a large sauté pan or cast iron skillet over medium-high heat, then add the chicken and brown for
3 minutes on each side.
-Remove chicken and set aside on a plate. Add the remaining tablespoon olive oil to the pan. Add
the sliced mushrooms in a single layer and brown, working in batches, a few minutes per side.
Remove from the pan and set aside.
-Add the onion and sauté for 3 minutes. Add the garlic, and sun-dried tomatoes. Sauté for 2
minutes. Stir in the diced tomatoes, spices, beans, and sugar.
-Transfer the chicken back to the pan and spoon some of the sauce and vegetables over top of the
chicken. Cook, covered, on the stove top until the chicken is cooked through and the sauce is
bubbling, about ten minutes. Return the mushrooms to the pan. Taste and add salt and pepper as
needed. Serve hot, garnished with parsley.

Btw, the movie reference was Julia and Julie, where Julie quotes Julia Child about the mushrooms.

Have a tremendous weekend!

Lovable Quirks

We all have quirks. Some are certifiable grade quirks. Some are just slightly odd.

-I always eat two M&M's at the same time. And generally I eat pairs of the same color first.

-I rarely start a book at the beginning. I read the last few pages to make sure it has a decent ending, and then decide if it is worth my time.

-I also will scan through a book following a character or circumstance. And then I finish reading through the book page by page.

-I hum to myself. When I am driving and biking. Even when I am with other people.

-I didn't wear red nail polish for many years. It reminded me of a photo I saw of the Hindu goddess Shiva (or something). Her finger and toe nails were painted blood red. It had something to do with human sacrifice.

-I love walking barefoot outside-in the dirt, sand, water. Basically whatever. I hate the feel of gritty, unswept floors. Don't.even.ask...

-When I shop for clothes, my eye is always drawn towards anything coral. I am not sure if it is because it looks good on me, or because I like the fall color palette. Regardless, I have to remind myself that it really isn't necessary to own 3 or 4 coral colored dresses.

-I talk to myself. It is the only way to be sure I am connecting with someone at my own intellectual level.

-I laugh out loud (LOL)-at the movies, or watching shows, or listening to sermons, or when I am reading a funny book. I'm an appreciative audience....

-I hold internal debates (with myself) over whether to cut and display my garden flowers (and thus shorten their life span) or leave them in the garden.

-I can hang a spoon on my nose.

-Looking for hotels seriously stresses me out. Every time. The brands, the price, the location, the availability.

-I had my first grey hair when I was 18. Now my eyebrows are turning grey too.

-I love reading pulp fiction aka fluff & stuff. I try to space it out on occasion with a biography or poetry or a business book.

-I regularly will pick a previously read book up from the library. Not one like Pride and Prejudice. (a read it again classic) A book that I've forgotten I've read. But then I read the fly leaf (and the back few pages) and think it sounds like a fun read, and so I will check it out again. About 50 pages or so into it, I realize the book is awfully familiar...

-I'd much rather wear a short-ish skirt than shorts. I don't like the way my legs look in shorts?

Well, that was my list. I asked Mr. Hippie for his contributions...

-I say sump-theen instead of something. I do.

-My eyes twitch when I have too much caffeine. It's cumulative.

And, then he wisely decided that it might be better to quit while he was ahead. Prudence being the better part of valor and all that...

What are some of your quirks?

Are You a Wise Parent?

"The ear that hears the reproof of life abides among the wise. He that refuses instruction despises his own soul: but he that hears reproof gets understanding. The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom, and before honor is humility." (Proverbs 15:31-33)

So, I've got 4 kids. We've navigated the infant years. We are mostly through the toddler years. We are on the cusp of teenage hood. This has got to make me some kind of parenting expert right?!

(insert very unladylike snort here)

A few weeks ago on FB I followed two discussions about what we as parents think of other people correcting our kids. It came out loud and clear that most of us don't like it very much.

For me, it's a pride thing.

My reaction to the correction really has very little to do with my kids. It is more about me.

When someone corrects my kids, it ruffles MY feathers. It gets MY hackles up.

If someone else corrects my kids, it might mean that person thinks I am not doing my job right. Or that that person thinks I am an awful parent.

My generation is the generation that coined the term "mommy wars." We feel that we need to defend every last parenting decision like it is the hill to die on. Big decisions, little decisions. Feeding, sleeping, schooling, disciplining. Everything. 

(Ironically enough, we are willing to read parenting books for advice and techniques but not learn from the troves of wisdom in real-live people in our lives)

We are all experts. Except few of us are.

Personally, I can confuse investing in my children with investing in my image. How does my parenting look to others? What is more important-being a good parent or looking like a good parent?

Imagine my chagrin when I come across the above verses in Proverbs. Ouch. 

A wise parent listens to correction-whether it is direct correction, or comes in the form of correcting your child. A wise parent who listens to reproof might just gain some insight and understanding into this whole parenting/kid thing.

Hmmm....

I dialogued with a wise woman in my life about this whole parenting/correcting someone else's kids scenario. She reminded me that it may sting for someone to correct my kids, but it isn't necessarily wrong for them to correct my kids.

My "but-but's..." kept piping up, but she was firm.

And she wisely and graciously rebuked a judgy attitude in my life that I was not even aware of. It pinched a bit to hear her words, but it was good.

I may not verbally correct someone else's kids, but I might still be judging their parenting.

She reminded me that I need to not judge others. Not verbally and not in my inner dialogue. I can delude myself into thinking that I am not judging another's parenting because I am not saying something to their face. But, if my thoughts are going there-I am judging. I am judging because subtly I think I am parenting better, or my parenting techniques are better, than so and so.'s.

That nutshells the issue of why it bites when someone else corrects my kids.

This was a reproof. It was correction. It was instruction. It got to the heart. To my pride fed by my inner dialogue.

It was a reminder that though I do process things by thinking, I need to keep my thoughts on a Philippians 4:8 level. Pure, honest, trustworthy, true, just, lovely, virtuous, praiseworthy, of good report.

It was a reminder (once again) that the meditations of my heart need also to be acceptable in God's sight (Psalm 19:14). Words are important, but so are thoughts.

Why? Because thoughts lead to actions. My words may not be judging, but my demeanor and heart sure can be. My inner thoughts are seeping out into my actions.

This whole post is not to say that we shouldn't make our decisions and stick by them. We are accountable to God for our parenting. But, humility and a teachable spirit go a long ways.

And one last thought...our kids acting out on occasion is not necessarily a commentary on our parenting. It simply attests to the fact that they are kids and sinners (just like we are). And they aren't perfect (just like we aren't). So someone correcting our kids does not need to throw our life's worth into question. Which is something I need to remind myself of.

What do you think?

Birthday Days

I am sitting here in my bedroom listening to the sound of the falling rain. And I am so happy about it. I am not a big lover of daytime rain, but we have not had rain in a couple weeks, and my gardens are thirsty, so I will not be complaining today. We had a nice soaking rain for over an hour this morning, and now it is lightly sprinkling. Ahhh....

It is BMV's 12th birthday. 12th!! Where has the time gone? I certainly don't know.

And we celebrated LC's 7th birthday on Sunday.

I remember being convinced BMV was a girl, and LC was a boy. I was also convinced that Freckles was a girl and Meres was a boy. So, obviously I just need to follow the opposites of my instincts.

Both LC and BMV were born soon after a new day dawned. If I remember right, BMV was born at 12:47 a.m. and LC was born at 1:17 a.m..

They both changed my life in their own ways. They both are my firsts-son and daughter.

LC was due on BMV's 5th birthday. She was born two days before BMV's 5th birthday. I had been out of town for BMV's 4th birthday, so I had planned a party for his 5th birthday. His cousins and my parents, and siblings.

I didn't plan on having a 48 hour old baby, accompanied by 48 hour hormones and 24/7 nursing. I was a weepy mess who couldn't make her son a box cake, let alone frost it. Let alone get my junk together to celebrate. It was not my finest hour. I think Mr. Hippie made the cake and my mom frosted it. And I cried in my bedroom. But we all survived.

We still celebrate in a rather subdued way. Homemade or box cakes. Presents. Family. Painting basement walls...(it's raining outside. it just made sense...) Nothing Pinterest-able about the decor or games or food.

LC requested a Guinness cake (here) for her birthday this year. I was happy to oblige. Can a pound of butter taste any better? I'd say not. Well, except for maybe in Hollandaise.

BMV requested his usual. A box chocolate cake with white buttercream frosting. I just couldn't. Here I had made a from scratch chocolate guinness cake, and he wants a BOX chocolate cake. Not going to happen.

I told him that he had to pick a homemade cake from my extensive repertoire. That would be Strawberry Cake, Spice Cake, Hot Milk Sponge Cake or Boston Creme Pie. He picked the Boston Creme Pie.

And as I was beating the egg whites I wondered why in the world I insisted on a not box cake. What is my problem?

Tonight is our last outdoor concert of the summer. Which will be the perfect end to a perfect birthday!

There's No Such Thing as Packing Light (for a Triathlon)

And I'm not even joking.

It's a totally different ball game than lacing on your running shoes and hopping in your car to get to a 5k (or even a 25k). It blows my list of essential running gear right out of the water. Literally.

3 Disciplines. 3 completely different looks. Though looks may not be the aim of the gear...=)

It takes planning, and a bit of finger crossing that you don't forget anything vital.

So, you start out with the swim. Which generally involves a swim suit-or tri suit. Also: goggles, nose plugs (if you believe in magic), a swim cap and a wet suit-if you are hoping for some extra help.

And then the bicycle portion. Bike, bike shoes, socks, mandatory helmet, sunglasses (to keep out the sun and the bugs) and water bottles.

The run includes running shoes (which are generally different shoes than the bike shoes), hat, and shirt or shorts to pin your number on.

But, that's not all, folks. There also is transition gear. Which often consists of a towel to dry your feet, and sometimes extra water to rinse sand off before you put your shoes on.

And that is just what you provide...

At triathlons you don't just get a race bib with your number. You get a number to attach to your bicycle. And sometimes a sticker number to put on your helmet. Plus you get the bib number that you must have on you when you run (or walk, or crawl, as it may be) through the finish line. And a timing chip that is often an anklet. Oh, and not only do you have numbers on all your gear, you are actually marked on the arm and calve-with your number and age. No fudging there. I guess it's a mercy that they don't ask for your weight to be displayed.

The über prepared amongst us also bring a change of clothes so they don't have to ride home in the soggy/stinky gear.

Personally, I beef up my gear allowance by always wearing my sandals to the tri. For good luck or something.

It's pretty radical.

But fun.

Are you a light packer?

Panzanella Salad and Post Scripts

Way, way back when people use to write pen and paper letters, they'd often include a postscript (aka p.s.). And sometimes, if they'd forgotten enough things in the letter, they'd include multiple p.s.'s. If you consider my earlier posts this week my letter to you, you can consider this my postscript for the week...

P.S.-My three youngest were supposed to attend VBS this week. And I was supposed to bike with my oldest every morning while they were gone. Operative words...supposed to. Well, Meres decided on Monday morning that she was not going to VBS. And she has a way of digging in her heels-that one. I think she gets it from her dad. (sigh...) She is a very independent little booger, but she is going through a clingy stage. I take that back. She is a very independent little booger, but she has always been my most needy child. It's weird. I don't do needy very well. Regardless, I was not happy with the needy child, but I managed to adjust (mostly) my attitude and my plans. (who is the adult here?) (I just couldn't see making her the problem of a stranger who had about 10 other 3 year olds to deal with.) So, no bike rides with the oldest. We spent our mornings running errands instead. It was good (enough).

this girl...sigh

P.P.S.-In my choose gratitude post (here) earlier this week I said I was grateful for my bicycle repair guys. And I am. But, our relationship...Oh brother. I bring in both of our bikes to get repaired, which puts me in the repair shop about every other week. They actually gave me a freebie two visits ago on Mr. Hippie's tire repair. Something about holding the title for the most flats fixed in a season. Well, I got into a nice bike crash on Saturday which messed up my odometer (and gave me some rainbow bruises on my knees and other parts that never see the sun) so I took my bike in. On Monday. In was an in-and-out affair. No charge. But, Tuesday, as I was off on another bike ride, I blew my tire. (the bff came to the rescue, and brought me and my bike to the repair shop, and me home. Thank you BFF!) So, I had to sheepishly enter the repair shop AGAIN. The owner and his bro gave me guff about it. They asked for my number to call when my bike was ready. I told them that they should just put it on speed dial or have it memorized. Oh, and the bff suggested that I buy stock in the company if they ever go public because then my repairs would actually be an investment. Which the repair guys thought was a  brilliant idea. (snort) Thankfully I made it out of there with a good overhaul-new tube, tightened brakes, more tape. I should (theoretically) be good for a while. 

P.P.P.S.-I started on a project this week. I took last year's time line down and patched the wall it was taped to. Next week I will sand the patches and put a fresh coat of paint down there. And we will be all set for another school year and its timeline.

P.P.P.P.S.-Our school books arrived this week. Which is exciting. The kids were all almost as excited as Christmas morning. I should have recorded the moment to replay for them in another 8 weeks or so, when the books aren't nearly as copacetic a situation. With the books' arrival I realized that I have some more prep to do-especially in the science department. It is a huge textbook with thorough student notebooks. I have to decide just what we are going to cover and when.

P.P.P.P.P.S.-(the final postscript, in case you were wondering how many I could stretch it out to.) Panzanella Salad....

Look at the photo, and need I say more?

Essentially, panzanella is a bread salad. Which is a great idea-for anyone who loves bread and isn't on a gluten-free kick. I love bread, and I love salad. It is practically a match made in heaven.

So, grilled bread. Grilled red onion. Garden fresh tomatoes and basil. A grilled chicken breast or two, to make in a main dish affair. Feta cheese and kalamata olives just because...

Wow!

It is healthy. And colorful. And delicious.

Though it actually isn't my kids' favorite. Which is okay. I'd say this is a great recipe for adults. 

Panzanella Salad
5 Tbsp olive oil
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 red onion, sliced into 1/4” rounds
6 (1” thick) slices Italian bread
5 ripe tomatoes, cored and chopped
3/4 cup fresh basil, cut into ribbons
4-1/2 Tbsp red wine vinegar
1-1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1/2 cup (2 oz) feta cheese
1/2 cup Kalamata olives, halved lengthwise

-Preheat grill to medium-high.
-Mince garlic. Combine the oil and garlic in a microwave safe bowl, and microwave until fragrant and bubbly, about 1 minute.
-Brush the chicken breasts with 1-1/2 Tbsp oil mixture. Grill over medium high, turning once, until cooked through and the juices run clear. Remove from grill and let stand.
-Brush onion slices with 1-1/2 Tbsp of the oil mixture and grill over a hot fire until lightly charred, about 2 minutes per side. Transfer to a large bowl.
-Brush bread with 1-1/2 Tbsp of the oil mixture and grill until crisp and golden, about 1 minute per side. Transfer to a cutting board.
-Chop tomatoes. Add to onions in the large bowl. Add basil, vinegar and remaining oil to the bowl and toss to combine.
-Slice chicken into 1/4” thick slices. Add with olives and feta cheese to the tomatoes.
-Cut bread into 3/4” chunks then fold into the tomato mixture.

P.P.P.P.P.P.S.- We are participating in our 2nd "race" triathlon (of the season) this weekend. What are you up to?