Phenomenal Woman

My years at Syracuse University were amazing gifts to me. Lifelong friendships. Endless opportunities to learn and grow as a person. Spending my college years at SU was one of the best decisions of my life. It became so normal to attend incredible events, games, concerts or parties any night of the week. Maya Angelou was one of my many favorites.

It was my sophomore year. My good friend, Julie, always knew the exciting stuff happening on campus and would invite me along. So, we grabbed dinner in the dining hall and walked across campus to see Maya Angelou like it was no big deal. My 19 year old self didn't really appreciate it as much as my 29 year old self does now. I'm thankful for the memory.

lifelong friends

When I heard the news of Maya Angelou's death this week,  I remembered that night. She read us her poem "Phenomenal Woman". Can you believe I can still hear her voice reciting it? If I had simply read through the poem myself, it wouldn't have been the same. I can hear the places she paused and the places she added emphasis. It was my first poetry reading and I was captivated. It made me feel so officially college-y. I can't believe that was ten years ago! I remember it like it was yesterday.

"Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.
I'm not cute or built to suit a fashion model's size
But when I start to tell them,
They think I'm telling lies.
I say,
It's in the reach of my arms,
The span of my hips,
The stride of my step,
The curl of my lips.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me..."

- a portion of "Phenomenal Woman" by Maya Angelou 

This week, I listened to Maya Angelou reciting the poem again. Thanks to news stories, my Facebook newsfeed and Pinterest, I read through many of her quotes and poems. Once again, I was inspired by some of her words. 

Jesus is love. He is my rescuer.

Birthday Girl

May has been such a full month. Our weekends were filled with trips. Our days were filled with lots of life. Most of it was really good stuff. Some of the busyness was just life timing. Some of it was probably some scheduling overload. I'm thankful for all the special trips, gatherings and celebrations we enjoyed. With that comes an awareness that we need to change our pace and shift our priorities a bit as we head into June and the rest of the summer or we will burn out!

I'm looking forward to a weekend at home. Since my birthday is this Monday, I guess this is officially my birthday weekend. What? Don't you figure out which weekend your birthday is closest to and claim it as your birthday weekend? I've been doing that since I was a little girl. With the exception of celebrating some life moments at a couple of special parties this weekend,  I don't have any plans beyond being in the backyard with my family, playing with the girls, finishing up the garden with my guy, reading a lot (maybe even in the hammock), blogging a bit, unpacking suitcases, reorganizing life and creating lots of space to enjoy, pray and breathe. I'm looking forward to some quality time with the Lord. My soul needs some rest.  I'm sure there's no better way to spend the last days of my 28th year then refocusing my heart on Jesus and finding refreshment there. Everything else is just a sweet overflow.

I can also guarantee you that I'll probably get pretty nostalgic and recount lots of memories in my quiet moments. My favorite birthdays. The best years. The hardest years. The ups and downs of 28. The most transforming moments. My relationships.  My dreams for 29. It's really no secret how sentimental I am, especially when it comes to life milestones. I'm totally the friend who can't stand to only write three sentences in a card when there is a heart full of memories to share. At least having two little girls vying for my attention all day long will keep my mental sap to a minimum!

That being said...I'll leave you with these throwback gems.

with my momma at about age 2

with my daddy (first Christmas)

 Here's to 29! I'm thankful for the gift!

Friday Favorites

Some of my favorite things lately...

1. Have you seen these little colored EOS lip balm eggs everywhere? I've been a Burt's Bees girl for years, so I didn't buy one to try right away. But, my mom brought me one as my "Easter egg" this year and I'm loving it!

2. My latest library read: The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd

3. This book is really challenging and encouraging me as a parent! I'm trying to take my time, but don't want to stop reading it. I'm praying that these biblical concepts would continue to transform our family into one that loves and respects each other well.

Love and Respect in the Family : The Respect Parents Desire; The Love Children Need by Emerson Eggerichs

4. I have the best memories from my childhood of my brother and I playing card games with my Nagymama and Nagypapa after dinner. We would go through seasons. For months, we'd be on Rummy 500 kicks. Other times, we were playing round after round of Uno. Or as my Papa would call it, "You-no". We would laugh and have fun for hours.Another game, we loved was Skip Bo. I think all games, from cards to board games, are a ton of fun, but I also associate sweet family times with those focused hours of playtime. Those are treasured memories for me today. This week, I happened to be walking down the game aisle at Wal-mart and saw this:

I was so so excited that I told Abby we were skipping rest time after lunch and playing cards together. Even though the game says ages 5 and up, Abby caught on right away and thinks it's so much fun! It takes enough skill that it is fun for adults, but is basic enough for a young kid to stay engaged in. Perfect! As much as I love Candy Land...it's not often that I'm up for three more rounds. I was the one who wanted to keep playing Skip Bo. We have played many times since. It's a new family favorite. Here's to more treasured card game memories...

5. Now, this is a big deal! I have been resisting this moment for at least two years. I officially made the switch this week from my paper planner to my Google calender. Joe has been asking me to do it for a while now. I knew it was time. It really has made life so much easier and helps Joe and I communicate about our busy schedules. If I need to make an appointment, I just have to open the calender on my phone and not only do I see mine, but Joe's schedule overlapping right onto mine. Ohhh how this is already helping with miscommunication and over scheduling! I can even make it really colorfully coordinated.

6. I just shared a list of my current kid's book favorites on our family blog. They make good additions to a library visit or to give as a gift to a special kid in your life.  

7. Have you heard about the new movie that's coming out in theaters on May 9th? Mom's Night Out is "an endearing true-to-life comedy that celebrates the beautiful mess called parenting." Everything I've learned about the movie indicates it's a fun, laugh out loud comedy with a powerful message that will help mom's gently connect with God's truth and perspective about motherhood. They share about the heart behind the movie here. It sounds like a great movie to go to with friends, but also a completely family friendly movie that everyone can relate to! It's not just for women. I'm only bummed I won't be able to see it opening weekend. Not sure how long it will be in theaters for, but I'm hoping I have a friend or two who might want to see it the following week? (hint hint friends)

8. Need an idea for dinner tonight? Pasta Milano is a favorite I discovered a couple of years ago. It's what I'm making for dinner tonight. This Macaroni Grill Copycat recipe also makes a great freezer meal. I like to double it and freeze one for later. It's a restaurant quality pasta dish. A great meal to share.

9. Then, I found this. The glitter band. Could there be a more perfect accessory to remind me to embrace grace and glitter? My good friend, Ashley, and I made them our BFF bracelets excited they would remind us to embrace Jesus and His work in our lives daily. Embracing grace and glitter! I love it!

etsy shop: kaitlinkendalldesign

10. Running is not my favorite thing, but the idea of getting over it and accomplishing something like a 5k has been a goal of mine for a while. I'm not looking to become a marathon runner, because I've learned to EMBRACE the fact that I just don't love to run. In college, my friend, Julie, would get so excited when she decided it was a perfect day for a run. I would watch her in amazement (and confusion) as she would return from a six mile run through the rain (no big deal) totally energized and feeling good. For a while, I thought I just needed to train myself to love running that much. While training would definitely help to some degree, I've learned that the look on Julie's face after a really good run is the same look on my face after a really good (insert intense aerobic dance class here). Zumba, please! So, I've become ok and learned to embrace the fact that I don't love running as much as other forms of exercise. BUT, there is something to be said about getting over my mental barriers and running for longer than three minutes. I might not be interested in running for recreational purposes, but to overcome my own personal roadblocks....yes!

I've always said if you want me to sign up for a 5k, your best chance is a color run because let's face it...the run has to have some fun incentives (like making me all colorful) for me to be excited about it! Long story short, my dear friend Heather, eliminated any chance I had of making any more excuses by surprising me with early birthday gift. She signed me up to run the Color Me Rad race with her in October.  The website says...Color Me Rad: Your excuse to let loose. So, here goes...no excuses...I'm preparing to let loose! And so excited to get geared up with friends and RUN a 5k together. Thankful for sweet friends who know me well!

The Raindrops

What if God IS answering our prayers, just not the way we think He should? What if we are looking for God's mercy in the wrong places? What if our greatest disappointments or the aching of this life are revealing to us a greater thirst this world can't satisfy? What if the rain, the storm, the hardest nights are His mercies in disguise?

Laura Story's song, "Blessings" is such a sweet reminder to me of God's presence and mercy in the midst of life's challenges. Take a minute and listen to it here.

These are the lyrics:

We pray for blessings, we pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
And all the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things
'Cause what if your blessings come through rain drops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise
We pray for wisdom, Your voice to hear
We cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt your goodness, we doubt your love
As if every promise from Your word is not enough
And all the while, You hear each desperate plea
And long that we'd have faith to believe
'Cause what if your blessings come through rain drops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise
When friends betray us
When darkness seems to win
We know that pain reminds this heart
That this is not,
This is not our home
It's not our home
'Cause what if your blessings come through rain drops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're near
What if my greatest disappointments or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can't satisfy
What if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are your mercies in disguise

Lord, you are good. Please help us to see!

Spring Eats

One of my favorite things about the seasons are the foods that I associate with them. Spring has finally arrived, so my weekly menus have officially started changing! Lemon, asparagus, coconut and greens are just a few of my favorite spring flavors. Anything that seems light and fresh!

Last weekend, Aunt Cyncy came for a visit and I made her a birthday meal incorporating all of them!  I've made this meal many times and it's one that's worth sharing. This was a new Martha Stewart Dessert recipe, but I have added it to my collection to make again soon. Delicious! It was the perfect meal to kick off spring well! 

Check out the recipes by clicking on the links below. 

Orange Balsamic Chicken (I use chicken breasts when I make it)

Lemon Risotto (I leave out the mint leaves)

Roasted Asparagus (tossed with extra virgin olive oil and s&p and roasted at 400 degrees for 10-15 minutes)

Coconut Crunch Cake   (Despite what it says, the recipe did not take as long as it says to make!)


What are your Spring favorites?

As Long As I Have Breath

I didn't always know God. I knew things about God, but didn't know Him. And to be honest, I didn't always know there was a difference.

As a little girl, I remember lying in bed wondering if God saw me or if he heard my prayers. When I was by myself, my mind would race with questions. Does God have a plan for me?  Does He see that I am afraid? Does He care? Does He see that I'm sad? Does He have all the answers?  I wondered if he liked to hear me talk as much as I enjoyed talking! As a family, we didn't go to church much. I learned bits and pieces about God, but it wasn't something that was emphasized. My desire to know God wasn't something I was taught. I believe God began drawing me to himself as a little girl.

He placed people in my life to show me His love and care for me. He gave me family and friends who taught me and encouraged me along the way, but looking back over my life I can see the ways He whispered to my heart in my most quiet moments. He put the spark there for me to receive the things He wanted me to learn. It was always between me and Him. He didn't just want me to know about Him. He wanted me to know Him and have a personal relationship with Him. He was the only one who could open my eyes to see.

three year old me.

 As young as four, I would talk to God as I fell asleep each night.

When I was seven, I remember being in my room alone and listening to a tape of Bible songs over and over again. I don't know where it came from, but I loved dancing and memorizing all the words. Now, I can see how my mind was being filled with God's truth and I didn't even know it.

At ten, I remember thinking that God must be our only hope. Somehow I knew he was bigger than what was going on in my life.  I wouldn't fall asleep without diligently sharing all of my biggest concerns with him.

My 10 year old birthday party. Check out those glasses! :)

Eleven, I remember being at my best friend's house for a sleepover. I was so concerned that God wouldn't be able to hear my prayers if I didn't say them out loud. The fear in that moment was so real, that I asked my friend, Catherine, if she thought God would hear me if I said the prayers in my head. She assured me he could hear me even if I never said a word of it out loud. I sensed such a deep need then to be connected to Him.

One night when I was twelve, I remember not being able to fall asleep because I was gripped with fear about what would happen to me when I died. My mom came in and did her best to comfort me, but the answer didn't really come that night.  I believe God was stirring my heart for the answers that only His truth can satisfy. I eventually got to sleep, but not before crying out to God for some peace. I asked Him for answers.

When I was fifteen, one of my closest friends invited me to a church youth group she had been visiting. Without knowing what to expect, I was eager to check it out. I made new friends quickly and loved spending Thursday nights with them. At first, I thought I was just like them. I loved God. I had talked to Him my whole life. I wanted to be there. You see, the pastor shared often about Jesus. But one night, I heard him LOUD AND CLEAR. While I knew that Jesus had died on the cross for our sins, I saw for the first time that Jesus died on the cross for my sin and that I needed a savior. I realized that putting my complete trust in Jesus was the only way to know God. It was the answer I had been waiting for. The only way to have the personal, intimate relationship with God that I had been longing for my whole life was to recognize my own sin and my need for Jesus to forgive me.

Up until that point, I didn't think I was that bad. Though I had been aware of and sensitive to God for as long as I can remember, I was content doing my own thing. I would still call out to God in my time of need, but was going my own way with the wrong priorities. I was trying to be a good person, but my life was defined by trying to please and impress people.  For the first time that night, I saw the difference between knowing about God and truly knowing Him. He had been whispering to my heart for years and that night I responded with my whole life.

I agreed with God that I am sinful and I didn't want to live that way anymore. I trusted that God would forgive my sins completely because Jesus died for me. And I chose to follow Jesus and put Him first in my life. In that moment, my life changed forever.

Today, I was scrolling through Instagram when this verse popped up.

(Check out the Between You and Me Signs Etsy shop)

As I read it my breath literally caught in my chest and my heart was overwhelmed with gratitude. In that moment, I was reminded of the many "God moments" I just wrote about. I thought of how my story began. Humbled by the many times I cried out to Jesus and He faithfully bent down to listen.  How patiently He drew me to himself when I knew no better and desperately needed a rescuer. Oh God, I will pray to You as long as I have breath.

Then, I looked up the verse in my own Bible. The NIV said this:
 

God turned his ear to me before I even truly knew WHO I was praying to. With so much grace and mercy, Jesus rescued me. I will call on Him as long as I live!

I love Him, because He first loved me. 

Where do you see God's fingerprints on your life?

Friday Favorites: Trader Joe's

In 2012, Trader Joe's opened in near us. I had friends who were excited for months when they heard the news of the new location. I had friends who took trips to New Hampshire and returned home with bags full of their TJ staples when there was no store nearby. I was intrigued, but didn't fully understand the hype until I started shopping there myself. Now I totally understand all the excitement.  I can now say I have my very own long list of favorites, but every time I go in there I find new and unique products that we love. I feels so much better about putting it in our bodies too!

The produce is deliciously fresh. The selection of cheeses is amazing. The ingredients are quality at a great price. Even in the snack foods and prepared frozen foods, you can actually identify what you are eating in the list of ingredients in the back. The food has no artificial ingredients and minimal processing. It's real food!

I remember asking lots of friends for their favorites list when I was started shopping there, so I thought I would share my most recent favorites with you. It's not an exclusive list! There are so many gems o be discovered, but here are just a few that I think are worth checking out on your next (or first) trip! 

1. Greeting Cards: It hadn't crossed my mind to check out the greeting cards until the day I needed one and was conveniently at TJ's. First of all, all of their cards are $.99, but most of them look like they are from the fun hipster section at Target. Need I say more? Cards that aren't $4 each that are fun? They don't look like they are cheap-o cards, but instead have fun sayings and unique graphics on them. I've even purchased a couple to frame and add to the cute gallery wall I'm slowly creating for the girls' room.

2. Roasted Coconut Chips: If you like coconut, you need these in your life. Imagine crunchy coconut shavings that are much more substantial than shredded coconut. Not only are they delicious to munch on, but make perfect toppings for yogurt, ice cream and oatmeal. Those are the ways I've used them, but just found this recipe for coconut chicken. Adding that to my menu next week!

3. Ridge Cut Sweet Potato Chips: Really good. And again only have four ingredients in them! Slightly addictive especially paired with TJ's Bacon Ranch Dip or Carmelized Onion Dip. It made my husband a happy man when I brought them home and paired them together for him. After all, chips and dip are one of his many love languages.

4. Lightly Salted Crunch Green Beans: I would buy them more regularly if it weren't for the fact that they are $4 for a very small bag that I could eat in one sitting. They are a delicious snack that satisfies the cravings for salty chips, but is totally a vegetable (not just a veggie flavored chip).

5. Sweet and Sour Chicken: I'm actually not sure that they carry this anymore because last time there was Sesame Chicken in it's place. Either way it is worth noting because normally I don't buy frozen meals in our house (beyond the occasional frozen pizza). I just enjoy making my own with fresh ingredients and then freezing it myself. BUT, the frozen foods section at TJ's is impressive and as I said contains quality ingredients. When we are in the mood for an at home take out kind of a meal, I've found that I can stop a TJs for an Asian inspired dinner. Their Sweet and Sour Chicken tasted better than the Chinese take-out we get from our local spot. I never would have known it was from the freezer. The Sesame Chicken was the same way. We like to pair ours with TJ Potstickers or dumplings and TJ Fried Rice (if I don't make my own). Makes for an easy go-to meal to keep in the freezer when it happens to be one of "those" days.

6. Coconut Cranberry Granola: Delicious. It pairs perfectly with some Greek yogurt. Check out the breakfast below that I've been enjoying lately.

7. Organic Tea Lemonade: Those who know me know that I am an Arnold Palmer connoisseur. It's my favorite. If you blindfolded me and put different brands in front of me, I could probably distinguish the difference for you easily. TJ's Organic Tea Lemonade wins first place. Honestly, it is probably in a league of it's own. Must be something about real sugar and lemon vs. artificial flavoring that takes it to another level.

8. Fresh Flowers: I love love love fresh flowers. I love to have them throughout my house all year long. It brightens everything up, makes life more cheerful (and colorful) and makes home even more homey. Half the time the grocery store selections seem cheesy (I'm not a fan of daisies dyed with neon food coloring) and way overpriced. Just one more reason I love a grocery trip to TJ's...their fresh flower selection that is not only diverse and beautiful, but CHEAP. A large bouquet of purple tulips $4.99. An assorted bouquet of Gerber daisies $3.99. Hydrangeas...$5.99. Sunflowers...3.99. For $10, I can put flowers all over my house.

9. Soup: Their boxed soups are flavorful and fresh tasting! I like a bunch of them, but the Tomato/Roasted Red Pepper is my favorite.

10. Gone Bananas: Amazing frozen chocolate covered banana slices. Perfectly ripe bananas covered in chocolate. Two ingredients...bananas and chocolate. Yum!

11. Fresh Ravioli: Their fresh ravioli choices are unique! We are fans of the Lobster Ravioli and Portabello Ravioli.

12. Nuts: They have a great assortment of nuts. Beyond the normal nuts that I love, I like their Salt and Pepper Pistachios and a couple of their Thai Chili Lime Cashews at a time.


And as promised....

here's what I've been enjoying for breakfast this week: A yogurt parfait complete with vanilla greek yogurt, TJ's Coconut Cranberry Granola, TJ's Roasted Coconut chips, fresh strawberries, TJ's Honey Roasted Almond Slivers and TJ's Chia Seeds.  So satisfying, fresh and delicious.

I'm thankful for Friday and for the promise of the weather finally breaking next week. Spring is ALMOST here!