13 Lessons Learned in 2013

1. Bloom where you’re planted.

Regardless of the situation, of the difficulties encountered, of the unmet expectations – consider it an opportunity to THRIVE.  The Lord put you exactly where HE wants you (Jeremiah 29:11), He placed you there for a specific purpose, and the best way to give Him thanks is to glorify Him with your attitude and with your actions.  Trust in God’s goodness and grace for He is incredibly in love with you (Psalm 139).  

2. Blur the line between work and play.

DO WHAT YOU LOVE!  Combine your passions and strengths and you’ll LOVE WHAT YOU DO!!

3. Sometimes God doesn’t change your situation because he’s trying to change your heart.

In 2013 I caught 2 of the bouquets of the 5/10 weddings I attended, but this in no way altered my relationship status; I remain single.  As stated in a previous blog posting: An expert is someone who has a comprehensive and authoritative knowledge in a particular area.  I’m 28, have been a bridesmaid 12 times, invited to well over 50 weddings, my longest relationship is 7 months, and I’ve yet to fall in love.  With my amount of experience I consider myself an expert on being a single lady.  2013 taught me to not only embrace my singleness, but to offer thanks for it too!  Embracing singleness doesn’t mean my desire to be married no longer exists, it means trusting that God will provide EVERYTHING I need.  I refuse to be in a stage of life wishing it away or coveting what others have.  I love attending weddings, not only because I get to dress up, sip champagne, dine on delicious foods, and dance the night away, but it remains a beautiful reminder of God “WOWing” us.  I have faith the day will come when God will surprise me with a love greater than I could have ever dreamed or imagined, but until that day I will enjoy the excitement, freedom, and adventure of singleness. 

4. The pursuit is the reward.

In 2013 I accepted the challenge of training for and competing in a figure competition.  It was an adventure I had considered, as well as quickly dismissed after the first stranger approached me in the gym and encouraged me to compete. I found myself preparing reasons as to why I shouldn’t/couldn’t/didn’t want to, but eventually I thought, “If you never try, you’ll never know.”  My goal was to make it to the stage; it was my coach who implanted the thought that I could win. Three months of: no chips (this girl LOVES her chips!), no ice cream, no alcohol, no eating the treats patients would bring to me, waking early for morning steady cardio (boring), giving up my daily long runs, meal prepping on vacation, having to decline social activities that resolved around food and beverage to avoid temptation, bachelorette parties as DD; BUT for what I “gave up” I received an even greater blessing of discipline, dedication, determination, perseverance, and an insane work ethic.  To me, the journey to the stage meant more than the trophy awarded.

5. Keep growing.

Accept challenges.  Take risks.  Learn a new skill.  Venture into unfamiliar territory.  Write your goals down, define a time line, perform the appropriate research, share your goals for accountability, keep company that supports/encourages you, avoid company that tempts you to become distracted from your goal, practice consistently, do not become distracted by a bump in the road, believe in yourself, keep firm faith that ALL things are possible, persevere, achieve, and CELEBRATE!

6. Create your own happy hour.

What makes you happy?  Write it down.  When you’re feeling blue just pick something from the list and DO IT, seriously JUST DO IT.  List items can include: singing at the top of your lungs while driving with the windows down and the stereo up, dancing to 80s music, lying in a bubble bath while sipping on some bubbly, getting a pedicure, running as fast as you can, lifting heavy weights, going ice blocking.  One item that should be included on everyone’s happy list is helping others, because it is impossible to throw a pity party when both your hands are already occupied with serving someone else.

7. Trust without knowing the answers.

“Faith don't come in a bushel basket, Missy. It comes one step at a time. Decide to trust Him for one little thing today, and before you know it, you find out He's so trustworthy you be putting your whole life in His hands.” - Lynn Austin

I don’t need to know what the future holds, because I know who holds the future.  When I don’t understand, when I can’t see His hand, I’ve learned to trust His heart.  My knowledge of God’s character provides me with peace while I trust; God is gracious, generous, faithful, merciful, mighty, victorious, all powerful, all knowing, and loves me more than I can comprehend – it is because of this knowledge I trust His way over my own.

“Trust is not a passive state of mind. It is a vigorous act of the soul by which we choose to lay hold on the promises of God and cling to them despite the adversity that at times seeks to overwhelms us.” - Jerry Bridges

8. Prepare to be WOW’d.

To you, a situation may appear impossible, but God thrives on the “impossible” for that is when His power, might, goodness, and grace can be displayed.  God approaches those “impossible” situations with solutions that will glorify Him.  Prime example is the story of Sarah (look it up!)

God is all-powerful; He has infinite resources and His creativity never lacks. He has access to the best!  God is all knowing; He knows what is best for you!  God is crazy in love with you, HE WANTS TO GIVE YOU THE BEST!  God does NOT withhold greatness and blessings from you!  He is in complete control!  When I reflect upon where I currently am I see His provision, His blessings, His faithfulness, and His creativity used in getting me exactly where I need to be.  Y'all, he just loves to WOW us!

9. Surround yourself with greatness.

My BFFs are driven, hard working, multi-talented, intelligent, hilarious, CONFIDENT, loving, optimistic, thoughtful, selfless, WISE beyond measure, crazy fun, BEAUTIFUL (inside and out) Godly women.  If I’m overwhelmed/stressed/struggling or have encountered hardship my friends are at my doorstep, literally, I have found them sitting outside my door; they are consistent.  They overflow with encouragement, possess the ability to identify all silver linings, constantly speak truth, and lift all concerns up in prayer.  You will become like the company you keep; select wisely! 

10. Thank God for unanswered prayers.

Imagine how differently we would fashion our prayers if we saw what God sees and knew what he knows.  Keep faith and believe, for there isn’t a door He can’t open, there isn’t a door He can’t close.  I’m calling one of my favorite country artists, Garth Brooks, for back up - “Sometimes I thank God for unanswered prayers, Remember when you’re talkin’ to the man upstairs, That just because he doesn’t answer doesn’t mean he don’t care, Some of God’s greatest gifts are unanswered prayers.”  God is making things happen for you even when you don’t see it, even when you can’t feel it, even if its not evident, God is working on your prayers.  “Perhaps it takes a purer faith to praise God for unrealized blessings than for those we once enjoyed or those we enjoy now.” - A.W. Tozer CAN I GET AN AMEN?!

11. Leave a trail of glitter.

How do others see you?  When the thought of you enters someone’s mind are you viewed in a positive or negative light?  What do you want your legacy to be?  I want to leave a trail of glitter; I want my actions to shine to display the love and grace I have received from my Lord and Savior.  Sprinkle glitter by helping selflessly, being responsible for someone’s smile, generosity of time and resources, praying for others, surprising a friend or stranger with a treat…be crazy and creative with your glitter. 

“We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you.  We are all meant to shine.” –Marianne Williamson

12. The best things in life are free

Play outside.  Go for a run.  Jump in a lake, a river, an ocean.  Take a nap under a tree.  Climb a tree.  Climb a mountain.  Do cartwheels in a park.  Laugh until you cry.  Share a hug, squeeze tightly.  Catch a lizard, give it a name.  Soak up the sun.  Throw a football, a baseball, a Frisbee.  Meet a stranger; make them your friend (use good judgment).  Fall in love.  Build a fort.  Watch for shooting stars.  Write a love note.  Help a stranger with yard work.  Sing every Disney song you can remember.  Swing in a hammock.  Kiss deeply.  Swing on a tire swing.  Pick wildflowers.  Teach your child a new skill.  Make a friend who can teach you a new language.  Tell someone your favorite things about them.

13. Remain True to YOU.

It was Valentine’s Day of my high school freshman year when I signed “True Love Waits.”  I can’t recall if I understood the gravity of my signature or what I was committing to, but as I matured I realized I wanted this to be my covenant to God.  I want to honor My Lord, as well as my future husband with my purity.  Throughout the years I’ve encountered temptation, but had always been proud of my decision to wait.  It wasn’t until this past year (2013) that I experienced the emotion of hatred towards my own purity.  I felt the burden was too much to carry, I had my character insulted based solely on this one decision, I no longer wanted to remain pure.  This is where you can refer up to #9; tearfully I shared my heart with my best friends, as well as to God, and let me tell you, I was slapped with straight truth and tough love.  I had to address my insecurities and recognize that not everyone is going to agree with my decision, not everyone is going to understand my decision, not everyone is going to respect my decision, and some guys may break up with me for my decision, BUT I made this decision for myself, my God, and my husband.

I want to share some words that encouraged my heart when I was struggling with my decision to wait, this was written by my favorite blogger Sara Bacon, author of Glitter and Grace “I cling to the fact that I will be able to offer that part of myself as a gift to my husband someday. That my willingness to wait will hopefully show I can deny myself other temptations in life. And that I want to keep our marriage and relationship as new and pure as I can…As for this season of my life, it is God’s gentle voice that reminds me I am enough in His eyes, and that He has someone planned for me that is more than anything I could ask for or imagine and it is worth all the waiting in the world. Even when He has to tell me that every single day.” 

Happy New Year, y'all!  Cheers to making 2014 the best year yet!

xo

Do you believe in love at first light?

On our pie date

This all started because I wanted to hear their love story.  I scheduled a coffee and pie date and picked them up.

“Tell me your story.  How did you meet?”

Grandpa, 94, responds, “My memory is so poor I could hide my own Easter eggs.”

It was November 20^th, 1941.

Grandma has moved to Asilomar with her friend Louise, following high school graduation.

Grandpa, originally from Colorado, had been drafted into the army, he was stationed at Fort Ord.

The Lodge at Asilomar

Grandpa’s friend Milt had a car, which was rare, and they found themselves at the Asilomar lodge “We’d just heard there were girls there.”  As fate would have it, grandma had heard “quite a few soldiers spent time there, so we went to check it out.”

A special thank you must be extended to Milt; first, for having the car, second, for the courage to approach the girl at the desk and ask if she would like to go for a ride.  We must also thank Louise for not giving Milt the cold shoulder. 

Not much has changed from 1941 regarding guys calling dibs, because that is exactly what Grandpa did.  He told Milt “I want that one,” gesturing to Grandma.

“Milt was almost bald headed and short, I didn’t think much of him.”  But beside Milt stood Bill (grandma) and “He was SO cute!” gushed Grandma.

Grandpa recalls they attempted to go to a bar for a drink, but the bar refused to serve the girls because they were under age.  Instead, they went to a restaurant down the street for hamburgers (I’m not buying this whole poor memory thing).

During the conversation grandma mentioned the light bulb in her apartment had burnt out.  Grandpa excused himself to the restroom and returned carrying a small paper bag.  Inside the bag was a light bulb.  He had raced down the street to the hardware store…wasn’t this a bright idea (get it?!).  “He bought me light bulb, so that I could see to read.”

“It was the smartest purchase I’d ever made.”

Grandpa said several times, “In the short time I knew her, I knew she was very special.”

I asked grandma, “Did you know right away?”

“I was so PLEASED to see him.  He was so cute, so handsome. And polite. held the chair for me, open the car door for me, his manners were so good.” (I swear, Grandma, they don’t make them like this anymore.)

They met on November 20^th 1941, and went on 3 dates before Grandpa was deployed November 29^th 1941.  While he was in the Aleutian Islands they corresponded by letters; Grandpa smiled as he said, “She wrote good letters!” When he returned from his first deployment Grandpa asked Grandma to marry him.  They were wed July 19^th, 1944, in San Francisco.  He was deployed to the south pacific shortly after.  Grandpa returned to San Francisco on their one-year anniversary for he had been wounded in battle.

“All the way through you can see” (gestures towards the heavens). “Everything worked out exactly right.  It was perfect for me.  I just happened to fall into, no, luck into it.  All of this, her." (gestures towards grandma)

Grandma and Grandpa’s love story filled my heart with hope, peace, faith, and above all, LOVE.  Hope that one day I’ll get to share my love story with my granddaughter.  Peace knowing all good gifts comes from above; my future rests in the creator’s perfect hands.  Love stories revive my faith that my love story is being written, even though my relationship status remains very single.  I left our pie date with a heart overflowing with admiration for the love my grandparents share, their love has survived  many trials, and yet at 69 year married they are still clearly smitten with one another.

Do you believe in love at first light?  I certainly do. 

Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Cookies

Odera, my best friend, was the inspiration behind these insanely delicious cookies, or more accurately speaking, her boyfriend visiting was the inspiration.  Odera doesn’t bake, she provides wine and moral support; although it is beneficial to have a physician in the kitchen just in case an emergency arises. Isn’t that right, Safety Officer Corliss?  Regardless, she placed the request for a peanut butter cookie to share with her sweetie pie and I utilized what I found in my cupboards.

INGREDIENTS:

1/2-cup butter, softened
1/2-cup peanut butter
3/4-cup brown sugar
1/4 cup white sugar
1 egg
1-teaspoon vanilla
1 3/4 cups flour
1-teaspoon baking soda
1/2-teaspoon salt
12 Trader Joe’s Dark Chocolate peanut butter cups mashed up

1/2-cup semi sweet chocolate chips (I’m very generous with this measurement)

1/2-cup peanut butter chips

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.

Cream together the butter, peanut butter, and sugars until light and fluffy; you can use a mixer, I use a spoon and a lil muscle ;) Beat in the egg. Stir in the vanilla.
In a medium bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add to the creamed mixture and beat until well combined.
Stir in the peanut butter cups, chocolate chips, and peanut butter chips
Drop spoonfuls of dough onto baking sheet 2 inches apart and bake for 8 minutes exactly.

Spicy chicken, sweet potato, and quinoa stuffed green peppers

These vegetables that so beautifully remind me of Christmas ornaments will serve as the boat for tonight’s meal.  This boat will be stuffed, almost overloaded to the point of sinking with passengers packing protein, fiber, amino acids, vitamins galore, antioxidants, anti-inflammatory nutrients, and blood sugar-regulating nutrients!!  Can you say delicious and NUTRITIOUS!  This dish was inspired by the contents of my fridge…I can say I am incredibly pleased with the results! 

Ingredients:

1 ¼ cup Sweet potato
1 small onion

2 cloves garlic (minced)
1 ½ cup baked chicken
½ cup Quinoa
½ cup salsa
½ teaspoon Cumin
Sriracha
2 Bell peppers
Cheddar cheese

1. Preheat oven to 375.  Season chicken according to your preference, I used garlic salt, Mrs. Dash salt free garlic seasoning, cayenne pepper, and paprika.  I did not measure the seasonings, I applied Mrs. Dash heavily and the remaining lightly.
2. Bake chicken at 375, for full chicken breast bake for 35 minutes.  However, I sliced the chicken breast into strips and monitored by sight and smell.  Once baked thoroughly, dice into cubes.
3. Slice sweet potato into ¼ inch pieces.  Sautee sweet potato and diced onion with olive oil over medium heat.  Sautee until sweet potato softens and onions begin to brown.  Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute.

4. Quinoa can be cooked stovetop or in the microwave.  It can also be cooked using water or chicken stock.  Although I imagine chicken stock would be more flavorful I used water to reduce the amount of sodium in the dish.  I also used the convenience of the microwave and prepared the quinoa according to the package directions: 1 part quinoa, 2 parts water, place in a microwave safe dish, heat on high x 4 minutes, stir and continue to heat in 2 minute increments until water is completely absorbed.  Fluff with fork.
5. Combine quinoa, cubed chicken, and sweet potato with onion into a large bowl.  Add cumin, salsa, and sriracha.  Mix thoroughly.  (Taste, if it is missing something, this is the chance to alter seasoning to preference).
6. Cut bell peppers in half, remove seeds, and place in a baking dish.  Fill each bell pepper with the quinoa filling.  Sprinkle cheese atop the filled bell peppers.
7. Bake bell pepper at 375 for 30-35 minutes, until bell peppers are soft.

Dinner is served!!