a cry for easy, yet healthy recipes

Scott and I have started to realize how unhealthy we eat. Even though I have taken a cooking class, recipes are so intimidating to me, unless it's for caramels. It's so hard for me to expand what I know. So we tend to get quick meals that aren't so healthy. We know that we need to change if we don't want to end up with heart disease down the road. My parents have always given me healthy food, but I never had to do the shopping for it or find the recipes. I have to tell you, it's so intimidating to me. But today, I've started gaining knowledge on the different vitamins and foods we need. I found a weight watchers cookbook for $6 at half price books, so I'm attempting to try some of it, however, it's still intimidating to me. So Please oh Please, send me your favorite, yet quick and healthy recipes if you have anything. And please help me with this planning thing.

Scott knows how to make it special

this is the poem Scott wrote for me this year. it means so much to me

my 22nd year

I sit here and think of the last year of my life...the 22nd year of my life. it's over with. in a few hours i will celebrate my 23rd birthday. many thoughts run through my mind but mainly, how have i loved, sought for, and enjoyed my God in the past year? Psalm 39 says,

Show me, O Lord, my life's end
and the number of my days;
let me know how fleeting is my life.
You have made my days a mere handbreadth;
the span of my years is as nothing before you.
Each man's life is but a breath.
Man is a mere phantom as he goes to and fro;
He bustles about, but only in vain;
he heaps up wealth, not knowing who will get it.
But now, Lord, what do I look for?
My hope is in you.

And now, I'm reminded of the meaning of life for me...to know Christ and be found in Him.

Also, I'm reminded of the godly example I've had in front of me my whole life - my mother. She's the virtuous woman I look up to in so many ways, from the way she's raised her family and continues to nurture her children to the way she extends her hand to those in need and serves expecting nothing in return. She's a strong woman who draws her strength from Christ. And the thing I will never forget is the many nights growing up, when she'd tuck me in and quote scripture to me for the struggle I was going through. She taught me how to meditate on scripture. Last but not least, she practices prayer without ceasing. I love my mother and cherish the role model I have in her.

Then, there's my husband. He's my best friend and I continue to thank God for this gift. Scott is always there for me. Even when he's at work, and I can't sleep, I know how he would tell me to trust God and to meditate on Scripture. He prays with me and has family devotions with me. He makes me feel secure and reminds me of my heavenly Father's love. He exemplifies patience and selflessness to me. I am so blessed to have a husband that inspires me to seek after my God.

what do you do when you can't sleep?

don't you hate that, when you're tossing and turning, just knowing how tired you're going to be in the morning when you have to go to work? well, tonight's one of those nights for me. as i'm writing it is almost 2am. scott's at ups working right now. there's no one i can call at this time to vent my frustration to. i keep thinking about the busyness of the next day of work, and how i might get called by the office anytime in the middle of the night to work a shift. i keep thinking about how frustrated i am with one of my acquaintances, and what i'd say to her if i only had the nerve. all these things are churning in my mind and i'm grinding my teeth subconsciously. i'm eating to see if that helps me sleep. and i'm watching yet another show to see if that makes me sleepy enough to forget everything.
so i'm asking you, what's your advice when you can't sleep? what's the best way to redirect your thoughts to things that are lovely, just, and pure? how can i rest in perfect peace? it's simple right? go to the Word, pray, keep your mind stayed on Him. it's that simple, yet so hard at times!

easter

scott and i are thankful for friends to celebrate Easter with.
we had a potluck with some friends from church that we normally rotate lunches with on sunday's. we had a good ham with lots of other food.

scott showed a Texan and a Floridan how to enjoy snow

Nancy and Beth above

here's the whole gang starting a game

the boys won in battle with the sexes

here's our easter eggs which i forgot to get a pic of all of them when i was finished

crocheting progress

above is a blanket i started before i was married.
took me about 2 years to finally finish.
so it's a big night for me. :)

above is a blanket i made for scott 3 Christmas ago

once in a while poor scott gets stuck helping me get knots out

and here is a scarf i just finished.
it's much faster than doing single stitch on a huge blanket

a ray of sunshine in a gloomy week

This week has been so gloomy and snowy and icey, and all while i'm on call at work.
but today, God encouraged me through a little lady who i had to work for.
i managed to get her to her hair appointment on time and do her grocery shopping,
then when we got back she gave me this cross. and with this cross was a little peice of paper
with a poem on it:

i carry a cross in my pocket
a simple reminder to me
of the fact that I am a Christian
no matter where i may be.

this little cross isn't magic
nor is it a good luck charm
it isn't meant to protect me
from every physical harm.

it's not for identification
for all the world to see
it's simply an understanding
between the Savior and me.

when i put my hand in my pocket
to bring out a coin or a key,
the cross is there to remind me
of the price He paid for me.

it reminds me too, to be thankful
for my blessing day by day
and to strive to serve Him better
in all that i do or say

it's also a daily reminder
of the peace and comfort i share
with all who know my Master
and give themselves to His care.

so i carry a cross in my pocket
reminding no one but me
that Jesus Christ is Lord of my life
if only i'll let Him be.

new scrubs

well, i got some scrubs. next week i'm on call again.
should i wear it with the hankie or not? :)

answering phones and changing diapers

well, for those of you who don't know, I am a receptionist/hr assistant at a place called Home Instead Senior Care. no, it's not a nursing home, we provide caregivers or cna's to go to homes of seniors so they don't have to go to the nursing homes etc. it's really neat and i enjoy being the receptionist and helping with hiring and all. in fact, i did my first drug screen (urine test) on someone today. and as the picture shows, i am constantly on the phone. i am comfortable with that. but, what always gets me, is the times where i have to be "back up." they tried to prepare me for this when i was hired. every 7 weeks or so i have to be back up for that whole week, which means if they call me at one in the morning i jump up and head to the clients house where i will change from being a receptionist to a caregiver. i can handle simple companionship caregiving, however, i was faced with the possibility of having to change one heavy man's diaper. yikes! thankfully my relief arrived just at that moment. the next day at work someone showed me how to change an adult diaper using a bottle. but at least it helps me picture the procedure better. so anyway, my next week of back up isn't till march, however, today i had to go to a shift. Don't ask! and it was supposedly 7 miles away. i drove around for over an hour and couldn't find it, i was so stressed out. you know, i'm knew to louisville and no one told me there were two roads with the exact same name. so anyway, today was a bit stressful. but i really think it's neat what my company does. it's actually a franchise. and the owners are great people. there are probably 500 of these companies around the states and a few in other countries. you should check it out. just google Home Instead Senior Care. if you're looking to be caregiver (maybe it's more your calling) they seem to be always hiring. i'm sure i'll have more stories for you later. maybe i can tell about the lady i cared for at a hospital.

our new paint job

above is a before picture of our table and wall

well, me and scott did a little work this week and weekend.
we decided to paint one wall in our apartment and the table that mismatched everything else.

it's my favorite color!

we need some advice on how to arrange the above shelf.

i love how it looks all together

i love this table runner from target. it looks pink in the pic. but those are reds and marunes.

we found some fabric that matched perfectly. so we put it on the newly painted chairs.

and here is an after picture
by the way, i want your opinion.
should we paint the middle line brown to match the table or leave it white?