Even though Luke and I's current living arrangement (bare walls, living out of boxes, etc.) can be a bit depressing at times, I'm finding it easier and easier each day to find joy in the midst of it all. This morning, my devotional was about simplicity. I find it a little ironic and yet inspiring, how God always draws everything together in His perfect time.
"Simplicity is, indeed, genius. By simplifying your life, you are destined to improve it." Isn't this exactly the opposite of what we often try to do? If only I had one more thing to hang on my wall, one more thing to do this week, one more errand to run....SIMPLIFY! God says simplify. He knows we can live on less and with less to do, and He knows we will be better off living that way.
James Dobson is quoted in my devotional book with the following quote: "Prescription for a happier and healthier life: Resolve to slow down your pace; learn to say no gracefully; resist the temptation to chase after more pleasure, more hobbies, and more social entanglements." Chances are if I learn to slow down and simplify, I will be better equipped to see and hear God.
This week, I have definitely seen God work. He opened a door I thought had closed long ago. A couple months ago, I sent out an email notice to all of my HU co-workers about the vacancy of our rental house in Huntington. I was trying to help out my landlord since we are moving. After a couple months of no reply, I dismissed the possibility of anyone showing interest. After all, who is really interested in moving in the middle of winter? I know we won't be interested in doing this again in the winter! Well, this week, I finally got a reply to that email! It turns out there is a happy couple with a 2 year old little girl and a baby on the way who will be renting our house! I just showed them the house last night, and they plan on moving in shortly after we depart. God is good.
Simplify.
Jan 27, 2011
Jan 24, 2011
Soupe Du Jour
I thought it would be fun to include one of my favorite recipes each week, so this week I've chosen to share a recipe that I found online a couple years ago when searching for a soup similar to Olive Garden's Zuppa Toscana Soup. I always love ordering that soup there, and this recipe comes VERY close to the taste of Olive Garden's.
Zuppa Toscana Soup (TuscanRecipes.com)
1 lb. ground Italian sausage
1 1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper
1 large white onion
4 Tbsp. bacon pieces
2 tsp. garlic puree
10 C. water
5 cubes chicken bouillon
1 C. heavy cream
1 lb. sliced Russet potatoes (about 3 large potatoes)
1/4 of a bunch of Kale
Saute Italian sausage and crushed red pepper in a large pot. Drain excess fat; refrigerate while you prepare other ingredients. In the same pan saute bacon, onions, and garlic over low-medium heat for approximately 15 minutes or until onions are soft. Add chicken bouillon and water to pot and heat until it starts to boil. Add the sliced potatoes and cook until soft, about 30 minutes. Add the heavy cream and just cook until thoroughly heated. Stir in sausage and the kale. Let it all heat through and serve.
This recipe makes about 6-8 servings.
Pair this soup with garlic bread and a salad, and you've got yourself a restaurant-quality meal!
Zuppa Toscana Soup (TuscanRecipes.com)
1 lb. ground Italian sausage
1 1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper
1 large white onion
4 Tbsp. bacon pieces
2 tsp. garlic puree
10 C. water
5 cubes chicken bouillon
1 C. heavy cream
1 lb. sliced Russet potatoes (about 3 large potatoes)
1/4 of a bunch of Kale
Saute Italian sausage and crushed red pepper in a large pot. Drain excess fat; refrigerate while you prepare other ingredients. In the same pan saute bacon, onions, and garlic over low-medium heat for approximately 15 minutes or until onions are soft. Add chicken bouillon and water to pot and heat until it starts to boil. Add the sliced potatoes and cook until soft, about 30 minutes. Add the heavy cream and just cook until thoroughly heated. Stir in sausage and the kale. Let it all heat through and serve.
This recipe makes about 6-8 servings.
Pair this soup with garlic bread and a salad, and you've got yourself a restaurant-quality meal!
Jan 23, 2011
Sweet Surprises
Yesterday, when Luke and I dropped a car load of stuff off at our new house in Columbia City, I was unloading some of it and noticed that some of the trim in the bathroom was painted. When I looked closer at the other rooms, I noticed the the trim in the dining room was also done! I asked Luke if he did it, and he said, "You should go look at the bedroom!" I quickly ran up the stairs and realized that Luke had painted our whole bedroom as well without me knowing it! What an awesome surprise!! Little did I know, he had spent several hours after work this week painting. He even spent his day off (Friday) painting while I was at work. I must admit, this is one of the best surprises I've encountered in awhile. Especially after we spent so many hours last weekend painting. The last thing I wanted to do this weekend was touch a paint brush. Thanks, Luke! You're the best.
Jan 21, 2011
Welcome to Our Blog!
I have decided to create a blog with the hopes of keeping track of the day-to-day happenings in our lives. While some entries may bore you, we hope others will make you laugh or inspire you.
Luke and I are nearing our sixth month of marriage...wow, now that is hard to believe! We are beginning to form routines with both of us working full time and continuing to focus on what God has in store for our future. Lately, we have been going through A LOT of transitions! In October, Luke started his new position as the Pastor of Student Ministries at First Church of God. Even before he got the job, we always knew we wanted to live close to the church he worked at because of the ability to have students over and form deeper relationships with them. Well, that time has come! After a lot of prayer, God opened up a door for us to rent a house just a few minutes from the church. So we will be moving to Columbia City in just two weeks!
It's been a gradual process. A couple weekends ago, we started prepping our new house by cleaning it. The previous renters moved out in September, so it has sat empty for a few months. It was in desperate need of a thorough clean. With the help of Anne, Mom, Aunt Carla Cooper, and Grandma Harrold, Luke and I were able to get way more cleaned than we expected to finish on our first day! As any sister would, Anne graciously volunteered to clean the bathroom--a task that no one else jumped at quickly. Don't worry--she only gagged a couple times!! Later, Andrew stopped by to start patching holes in the wall, and Uncle Loren even stopped by to lend us some leftover joint compound. We saw many visitors in our first day at the house!
Last weekend, Luke and I blitzed the house with a fresh coat of paint! Luckily, Andrew and my parents put in several hours getting the walls ready to paint. That was such a blessing! Andrew even put his caulking skills to work around the windows and trim. After 13 hours of painting on Friday, and about 7 hours of moving a few truck loads of stuff to the house on Saturday, let's just say Luke and I were happy to finally get to sleep on Saturday night! Thanks to Luke's friends and his mom, Deb, for their hard work in helping us move some stuff! By the end of the weekend, we were able to finish painting all of the walls in the living room, dining room, and bathroom (except for the trim). It looks SO much better! I will be sure to post before and after pictures soon to give you the full effect.
All of these transitions are leaving our house in Huntington a little too empty these days. We have emptied out the living room, dining room, kitchen, and second bedroom and have reverted back to our college lifestyle by living in and eating from the bedroom. We even moved the TV to our bedroom because the rest of our living room furniture is gone. So, our meals for the next two weeks will be eaten off of our landlord's piano bench that will temporarily serve as our dining table! A part of me is sad to leave this place behind, but my excitement for being able to better minister to the students in Luke's youth group definitely outweighs that. Luke adjusts much easier to change than I do, so he would've been happy to move earlier in the fall. For me, it will just take a little more time to adjust to living life in Columbia City after living here in Huntington for over six years. Fortunately, I will continue to be here throughout the week, as I plan to keep my position at Huntington University.
We would appreciate your prayers in the weeks that lie ahead with all of the transitions taking place!
Luke and I are nearing our sixth month of marriage...wow, now that is hard to believe! We are beginning to form routines with both of us working full time and continuing to focus on what God has in store for our future. Lately, we have been going through A LOT of transitions! In October, Luke started his new position as the Pastor of Student Ministries at First Church of God. Even before he got the job, we always knew we wanted to live close to the church he worked at because of the ability to have students over and form deeper relationships with them. Well, that time has come! After a lot of prayer, God opened up a door for us to rent a house just a few minutes from the church. So we will be moving to Columbia City in just two weeks!
It's been a gradual process. A couple weekends ago, we started prepping our new house by cleaning it. The previous renters moved out in September, so it has sat empty for a few months. It was in desperate need of a thorough clean. With the help of Anne, Mom, Aunt Carla Cooper, and Grandma Harrold, Luke and I were able to get way more cleaned than we expected to finish on our first day! As any sister would, Anne graciously volunteered to clean the bathroom--a task that no one else jumped at quickly. Don't worry--she only gagged a couple times!! Later, Andrew stopped by to start patching holes in the wall, and Uncle Loren even stopped by to lend us some leftover joint compound. We saw many visitors in our first day at the house!
Last weekend, Luke and I blitzed the house with a fresh coat of paint! Luckily, Andrew and my parents put in several hours getting the walls ready to paint. That was such a blessing! Andrew even put his caulking skills to work around the windows and trim. After 13 hours of painting on Friday, and about 7 hours of moving a few truck loads of stuff to the house on Saturday, let's just say Luke and I were happy to finally get to sleep on Saturday night! Thanks to Luke's friends and his mom, Deb, for their hard work in helping us move some stuff! By the end of the weekend, we were able to finish painting all of the walls in the living room, dining room, and bathroom (except for the trim). It looks SO much better! I will be sure to post before and after pictures soon to give you the full effect.
All of these transitions are leaving our house in Huntington a little too empty these days. We have emptied out the living room, dining room, kitchen, and second bedroom and have reverted back to our college lifestyle by living in and eating from the bedroom. We even moved the TV to our bedroom because the rest of our living room furniture is gone. So, our meals for the next two weeks will be eaten off of our landlord's piano bench that will temporarily serve as our dining table! A part of me is sad to leave this place behind, but my excitement for being able to better minister to the students in Luke's youth group definitely outweighs that. Luke adjusts much easier to change than I do, so he would've been happy to move earlier in the fall. For me, it will just take a little more time to adjust to living life in Columbia City after living here in Huntington for over six years. Fortunately, I will continue to be here throughout the week, as I plan to keep my position at Huntington University.
We would appreciate your prayers in the weeks that lie ahead with all of the transitions taking place!
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