Holding Pattern

When I was in 9th grade, my dad was stationed in Korea for a year.  He was an Army Chaplain for 22 years and as with all career Army positions, you have to do a hardship tour.  I hated that year.  Not only was my dad thousands of miles away from us, but my parents moved us to a sleepy little town in Mississippi where my grandparents lived so that my mom would have a support system with us girls.  We had lived in El Paso for 3 years and it felt like home.  I had friends and life was good.  So anyways, uproot, move, such is the Army way...and say goodbye to dad.  Oh yeah, like I said, I was in 9th grade...needless to say all the anger I had about my dad being gone I directed at my mom like a good little sinner.  Anyways, we found out that he was going to a conference in Kansas and was given permission to take a weeks leave and come home for one week.  One blessed, long awaited week.  We drove the 2 hours (in the rain of course) to the airport.  About 10 minutes from the airport we stopped at McDonalds for a potty break, I think we were running early.  Well, in all the fluster, my mom got out of the car and locked it with her keys in the car and the car running.  There was no locksmith fast enough!  So now we were running late to the airport, only to find that because of the rain, my dad's plane was now circling the airport in a holding pattern.  We were frustrated.  This went on for what seemed like hours and probably was at least an hour and a half.  From my dad's perspective, he was ready to ask for a parachute and jump just to get to us (that's what training him for the airborn division will do I guess).  Finally, they had to make a decision...fly to another airport or let them land.  It was in that perfect moment that resolution came.  They decided they would let them land withing the next half hour, and they did. Our much anticipated and much delayed reunion happened.

Now....why am I telling you this story.  I mean, it holds great nostalgia for me, no doubt.  But what purpose can it possibly hold right now? 

I am in a holding pattern.  Or I feel like it.  We have been here at seminary for 4 1/2 years.  Almost 5.  And By the time we are done with seminary it will have been 5 1/2 years as Mike is on track for a December graduation.  I am feeling a lot like that night.  Frustrated.  Anxious.  Excited.  Scared.  And In a lot of ways I can identify more with my dad...I just want to put on my parachute and jump and get away from this frustrating, anxious round and round day in day out try to get by and get through it dance we do.  I am so done.  I am done with the crazy work schedule, I am done feeling like a single parent, I am done working two billion jobs to help us make ends meet.  I AM DONE!  Ok...now that I have that out of my system.  I am at that point where I have to decide, do I stay and remain faithful to what God has called or do I turn and run and try to do it on my own?  Obviously I am going to stay.  And don't get me wrong, I love my kids and I truly enjoy all of my jobs.   But man...sometimes I get so overwhelmed with this "holding pattern" that God has us in that it is hard to make it through the day!  I know eventually we will get to "Land" so to say in the next place/job that God has for us, but its the waiting that's hard.  The not knowing when or if you are going to make it.  I have been praying for Peace a lot lately.  It seems to be the biggest need this year.  To be quite honest with you (maybe too honest), sometimes its the only thing that gets me through the day.  But maybe that's not so bad.  Maybe the gift of God's Peace, his perfect Peace is for just that. 

John 14:27
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

AMEN!

Quandary...

So...I am not sure what to do.  Over the past year we have had more problems with my engagement ring.  I had two or three of the prongs break...then the center diamond cracked...I got it back from getting fixed and now another prong is broken.   I haven't been able to wear it in months.   As a result I can't wear my wedding band either.  It is half a size bigger than my engagement ring and us kept on by the engagement ring.   Otherwise it keeps falling off.  I got a costume jewelry "diamond" ring, but it turned my finger green.  So I don't know what to do.  Get the prong fixed, find out about resetting costs, etc.  I don't know...too many decisions.   

So today I was driving home from target and all of a sudden I realized I was 'that' woman at target with 4 kids, no rings and looking about 10 yrs younger than I actually am.  Fyi...I am 29, only two of those kids were mine and I have been married for quite a bit longer than either of them have been around! 

New hobby

Today was a long day!  This evening after the kids went to bed I taught myself how to knit.   My sister showed me a little bit over Christmas break and another friend showed me some more at work the other night.  Tonight I broke out the needles bland some good online tutorials and I did it....this pic is the work in progress.   I already like it more than crocheting.  Maybe because I like to pull the yarn tight ans that works great for knitting but not so much for crocheting.  

Low fat spaghetti

It doesn't look pretty,  but this is delicious.  I made homemade spaghetti sauce and pasta fir mike and the girls, but for me I used a veggie peeler and made carrot and zucchini noodles fir under the sauce.   I used one zucchini and one carrot and it was a great portion for me.  I steamed them slightly.   It was so good!   Low carb, low fat,  Paleo friendly!

A love note to Texas drivers

Dear Texas drivers:

4 1/2 long years of getting to know you and I have learned to love your incessantly slow white pickup trucks chauffeured by cowboy hat clad drivers.  I have developed a passion for your complete lack of logistical foresight when you close several major multi-lane highways for the weekend leaving 6+ lanes of traffic cozy on a small 1 or 2 lane feeder road.  However, today...today was a gift too grand for me to behold.   Today one of your drivers ran a red light.  Now most normal drivers upon running a red light would continue on through the intersection getting out of the way of oncoming traffic.  But you, you aren't like other drivers.   You stop in the middle of the intersection and proceed to try to back up.  Granted it took a while for all of the many cars behind you to back up as well so you wouldn't hit them, but not many drivers would have the courage to show me love in such a special way.  I do have to apologize...the Massachusetts driver in me took over and I just couldn't help myself ....I blared my horn at you for a solid minute while you were in that intersection in my way.  That was clearly inconsiderate of me...and while you were driving so selflessly.  I will try to control my rude ways and be a better driver like you. 

Sincerely,
Me

Chronological Order

Have you ever read through the Bible?  The whole thing?  I am a little embarrassed to say that I am almost 29 and have never read it cover to cover.  Last January I decided to do it this year.  While I have eased up a little on my timeline, I am on track to finish it still , just in 13.5 months instead of 12.  I have always let myself get caught up in the timeline and if I got behind I would give up.  I decided this time that it would be better to finish it in a little over a year, than to stop because I got behind.  It was a good decision.  There have been parts of the Bible where I have been ahead, and parts where I have been behind, but It is happening!  I decided to do a chronological reading of the Bible...I have loved it!  At times it has been a little hard to get through, but It has giving me such a different perspective on the Bible.  I just had a major milestone, I finished the Old Testament.  I am now officially 74.8% of the way through the Bible.  If you have never read through the Bible, I really encourage you to do it.  I consider myself pretty knowledgeable when it comes to the Bible, but I have learned so much.  There are so many passages that we just never get to, or that we never read in context and add in the historical/chronological aspect that puts it all in perspective as far as the historical big picture...I have grown so much in my Bible knowledge this year.  More importantly I have grown leaps and bounds in my Christian walk!  I have been using YouVersion which is great because it gives you what to read each day and it has a phone app which has made it easy for me to read anywhere and everywhere.  Find a way to read that makes it easy for you and do it, I promise you won't regret it. 

Thanksgiving Menu...

Have you guys started your Thanksgiving Menu yet?  Are you hosting or are you guesting (is that a word?)?  I sat down and made my menu earlier this week and I already got my turkeys!  That's right, plural...I am making two turkeys, or rather turkey two ways!  I will be making a traditional turkey with stuffing and I will also be making a bacon wrapped turkey breast!  Yes, I said BACON....WRAPPED...TURKEY!!! 

Check out that hand woven Bacon Lattice!  Mike was drooling!

This was last years turkey.

I made this last year and it was a HUGE hit!  I actually have a friend who had it and he said that no matter where I live or when it is, if I ever make it again, he will be there!  Yes, he is coming too!  Here is the rest of the menu starting with breakfast:

Breakfast:
Homemade Caramel Pecan Rolls


Lunch:
An Array of appetizers including:
Veggie tray and dip
Fruit tray with pumpkin dip
Sweet and sour meatballs
Cheese and crackers
Maybe some mini quiches

Dinner:
Mixed greens salad with pears and feta and a balsamic vinagerette
Turkey two ways :)
Stuffing (turkey sausage and vegetarian)
Green Bean casserole (homemade...ie: not canned soup)
Bacon wrapped asparagus (special request of Mary Kate, and really...when your daughter requests asparagus, you just can't say no!)
Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes
Gravy (both turkey and vegetarian)
Whole wheat rolls

Dessert:
Easy Apple Pie
Pumpkin Pie (with fresh pumpkin!)
Pecan Pie

I am so excited!  I think if you love cooking like I do, Thanksgiving is like the super bowl!!!  What is on your menu?  Do you keep it super traditional? Or do you experiment with different flavors and recipes?  I like to experiment with different Thanksgiving recipes, but my family is more purist/traditional when it comes to Thanksgiving.  And since they humored me last time I hosted Thanksgiving, I figured I would keep it MORE traditional.  I think it is going to be DEEE-LICIOUS!   I will post pics from our big day next week, but for now, keep dreaming about my awesome menu and share your menu plans!!!