my pseudo sister, rachel.

Bridesmaid #4!

Rachel isn't a blood relative, but I call her my sister anyways.

She's brilliant, kind, beautiful, and I never thought twice about her being in my wedding.

Ode to Rachel

Girl is a smarty pants,

She makes me super proud!

She makes me do a happy dance

and by her I'm ever wowed.

She doesn't just stop at genius, though;

She's also quite a beaut.

When I brag about my sister,

Her whistle I gladly TOOT!

She's quite the spunky monkey

and makes me laugh like a nut;

She's the good kinda funky

and gets me out of my rut.

This picture will always be funny,

but you had to be there.

It's a memory with my Rachey

that we'll forever share.

Her hair is always a different color,

She likes to keep it versatile.

I liken her to my owl shirt

that used to always make me smile.

You're officially part of the family,

which might make you a little afraid.

I can't wait for you to stand by me

as my 3rd sister bridesmaid.

I love you, Rachel!

You make me so proud!

2012 so far.

If you recall, I made a

list of resolutions a billion days ago.

Then, I added a few more.

Let's update on those, shall we?

1.  I am not sure if I'd call myself a 'running freak,' and school caused about a 4 week exercise slump, but I am hanging in there.  I have been running/jogging/walking more than I ever have in my 27 (almost 28!) years of life.  That counts for something, right?

2.  Big Steve and I have done a better job at implementing date night.  We've had 2 weekends away from Stevie and a couple of nights out on the town together.  That is significantly more than we've even attempted since the little one was born.  Hecks yes.

3.  Spend $100 or less on groceries per month.  Well, I added up the money I've spent on groceries this year and it comes to around $960, which averages out to be about $150/month.  SOOO, that needs some work and is where keeping up with cash envelopes would really come in handy.  Mental note - check!

4.  I've been keeping up with school and focusing on the future 'school goals,' all while not failing chemistry.  Success?  I think so.  Microbiology is right around the corner, though...

5.  Sewing?  What's that?  Needless to say, I haven't made time for sewing...YET!

6.  I haven't taken Stevie to many fun places yet this year on Fridays.  I had so many plans to take him to the museums and to the zoo, but it hasn't really panned out that way.  I have, however, been making more fun at home with him.  I gotta get that kid out more.

7.  I added a last minute goal for the year to not to spend money on clothes.  I've 'window shopped' a lot, both online and in the store, but I've actually been very successful in this area.  I managed to get a hole in my beloved VS black yoga pants, so I bought a new pair at Target.  I also found some shoes that reminded me of my Grandma and purchased those.  That's it, though!  Totaling around $40 for clothes and we're already more than half way through the year!  I am particularly proud of this one.

8.  Channeling my emotions into something other than breaking down and crying has proven to be quite the challenge for someone who is used to crying over everything.  Luckily, God interfered here and gave me the obvious solution:  Him.

I was reflecting on my year and my goals and realized how strange it was that not a single one of my goals included Jesus.  Feeling a leeeetle bit humbled today as I write to tell you that the largest change that has been made in my life has been my walk with Jesus.

Sure, I've managed to stick to my goals, but we so often forget that everything is from Him.  Would I be able to have date night without family willing to watch Stevie so we can spend time alone?  Would I be able to go to school if I didn't get grants from the school to pay for my education?

Perspective is incredible.

I actually have so much to share here, so much that has been laid on my heart, and so much to write praises about.

My relationship with Christ will alter my blogging significantly.

I'll still be my charming, lovely self and I will still share my cooking skillz and $ saving tricks, but with a different ultimate goal in mind.

How cool that my little break from blogging has given me time to reflect on so much more than school and has added so much to my testimony of faith.

Well played, God.  Well played.

I'm feeling pretty excited about sharing it all with you, so stick around!

 So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God. He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time,  but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.

2 Timothy 1: 8-10

spicy shrimp pasta.

Spicy Shrimp Pasta

2 lbs Uncooked Frozen Shrimp

1 cup Water

1 cup Vinegar

4 tbsp Old Bay Seasoning

1/2 box Whole Wheat Rotini

1 jar Alfredo Sauce

1 cup Spaghetti Sauce

2 cups Frozen Broccoli

Begin by bringing the Vinegar and Water to a boil in a large pot.  When boiling, add Old Bay Seasoning and stir in Shrimp.  Cover and let steam for about 3 minutes (or until pink).  This super easy recipe can be found on the back of your can of Old Bay Seasoning.

Meanwhile, bring another pot of water to boil and cook Rotini until al dente.

Drain and return to pot with Alfredo Sauce and Spaghetti Sauce.

Stir in Frozen Broccoli.

I peeled all the Shrimp for our dinner, but didn't add it to the pasta until after I set aside a few servings for Little Steve; it was a tad bit spicy for his tiny pallet.

The Verdict:

Must've been good because Stevie ate every last bite.

In other news - I should be back to blogging regularly starting next week!

I can't believe we're more than half way through 2012.

More than that, I can't believe how well I've done with my New Year's Resolutions.

To be continued...





giving my life to the only One who makes the moon reflect the sun.

HI FRIENDS!

Do you miss me yet?

I miss you, too!

No, Chemistry is not over yet (WOMP WOMP), but I only have 4 weeks left.

Yes, I am wearing a sweatshirt in the Summer, but it has sunshine on it, so it's fine.

I had a great time in Nashville.

Good music, good people, good food.

What's not to love?

I came back for a moment to share some ways God has been working in and around me lately.

Over the last two weeks (that have felt like several months long), two people I love have been faced with some serious difficulty.  Saying 'serious difficulty' is an incredible understatement, but we'll use it for lack of a better phrase.

I've cried, prayed, cried, and prayed some more for the majority of the last two weeks.

I cried when I got the news from both of them.

I prayed for answers to 'why' this is happening.
I cried when I didn't hear anything.

I prayed that I could take some pain from them.

I cried when God reminded me that He is in control and this pain is for a purpose.

I prayed to question why bad things happen to good people.

I cried when God revealed that none of us - 'good' or 'bad' - are deserving of his blessings and grace.

I prayed and PRAISED God for the gifts in my life and prayed to be used in these situations.

I cried when I realized He was already using me.

My sister and brother-in-law got some news that rocked all of our worlds at the beginning of last week, then my sister-in-law got some news that re-rocked it at the beginning of this week.

As unrelated as both things were seemed, I was floored when I realized how much they could get from one another - even viewing one another's pain/circumstances from afar.

I have never during my bumpy, hestitant walk with Christ felt such a need to glorify Him in all things, but it's sure there now.

I'm literally watching everything unfold.

No one, no matter how big or difficult the problem, is ever alone.

Nothing is coincidental with God; it is all purposeful.

My sister and brother-in-law were 'given' the support of people who have been there.
They were 'given' a chance to make her marriage stronger.

My brother-in-law was 'given' the chance to know Jesus more.

They were 'given' friends and family that offered tremendous support instantly.

They were 'given' the chance to praise God in this storm.

My sister-in-law was 'given' 4 children to love and uplift.
She was 'given' communication to put her at ease, if only for a moment.

She was 'given' an opportunity to move and start over (SOON!).

She was 'given' a mended relationship with her mother when she would need her most.

She was 'given' the chance to meet God in this storm.

We are all rich with something and it's very rarely money.

To those who can't walk, a person who runs is wealthy.

To those who have a learning disability, a person with knowledge is wealthy.

To those who can't concieve, a person with many children is wealthy.
To those who don't have a spouse, a person with someone to lay with and love is wealthy.

I've felt very little worry about anything these last two weeks.

I'm not sure if it's because the Spirit changing me or because, compared to others, I have no worries.

Maybe it's a combination of both, but some pretty in-your-face things have happened since I decided just to give it all up to Him:

- the sermon from Pastor Pat in TN was about Joy; finding joy in everything - even in trials

- I didn't pay my car insurance this month and was driving home late Monday and saw a deer on the side of the road.  Generally, I don't slow down.  Maybe because I want to get outta there or because I'm stupid, but something...or someone AHEM...told me to slow it down.  That deer looked right at me and ran straight out in front of my big old Explorer.  I was inches away from hitting him.

- I was feeling a little down about being broke as joke this week because I really wanted to do something nice for Big Steven for being such an awesome Dad and almost instantly got a text from my mom's friend that she had 4 tickets for the Nationals game on Father's Day in a close section AND we get to go on the field afterwards.

That's certainly not odd...

It's God.

I WENT THERE!

I keep going straight back to this passage from the bible every time I think about my sister, brother-in-law, and sister-in-law:

¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. ¹² Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. ¹³ You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. ¹⁴ I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity.

- Jeremiah 29:11-14

What a trip!  All of these revelations during 4 little days.

Until next time, Pfunky Griddle...



temporary hiatus.

I start my Chemistry class tomorrow and plan to take my TEAS test next Friday, so I must say farewell to you all for a little bit.

My class is only 8 weeks long, but it's twice a week from 5-10pm.

This will surely cause mucho stress on my little family, but we're good at crushing obstacles.

Chemistry is my hardest subject; I've never really 'gotten' it, but I must get an A.

Or I will die.

So, prayers and well wishes are welcome!

I'll see you in 8 weeks! 

We will have so much to catch up on!

CIAO!

grievances & sayonara.

After work yesterday was interesting.

And by 'interesting,' I mean 'hell.'

My allergies this year are absolutely ridiculous.

I started with seasonal allergies a couple of years ago and they gradually get suckier and suckier.

I can deal with the congestion and stuffy nose, but my eyes both itch and hurt.

So, I finally gave in (like I've done for the past few years) after 3 weeks of this nonsense and went to the store to get some allergy meds.

I took a sleepy Stevie to the store with me.
Worst.Idea.Ever.

My biggest regret is that I didn't video/photograph the lovely episode because, surely, this will be funny someday.  I'm still not laughing today, but someday I might.
Stevie saw some trucks/buses/car that he just had to have.

The stupid things were $6 each (holy inflation), so I told him he could have one just to get him to stop crying.

Normally, I would never have given in to this type of fit over a toy, but my eyes were on fire - much like right now.

So, we paid for everything and Stevie noticed I'd only bought him one bus.

He was NOT happy and proceeded to scream at the top of his lungs,

"I WANT MORE!!!"

I might have been embarrassed if my left eye wasn't swelling to the size of a balloon and I CERTAINLY would have returned the toy on the spot if I wasn't anxious to pop some pills.

He cried the whole way home, which is only like a minute and a half, but felt like an hour.

When we got home, I had to usher (read drag) him in the door as he kicked and screamed the whole way,

"GO BACK TO STORE!  I WANT MORE!"

Again, I would have gotten this on video if I wasn't about to flip totally out because I can hear my mom saying, "he would never do that, Suzie Q."

Annoying.

Big Steve realized that I was at the end of my rope and stepped in to calm Stevie down.

He even took him out of the room to play and closed the door behind him, which either means he's a considerate lovely man or that I was being a complete lunatic and he was scared.

Either way, the 10 minutes of silence and waiting for meds to kick in did the trick.

In other news, Big Steven and I are going white water rafting tomorrow.

I know.

I am both excited and terrified.

My sister's story about how she witnessed someone go overboard and thought it was so funny didn't reassure me at all.

Pray I don't drown.

If I do, it's been real.

Sayonara, folks.

crock pot sweet & sour bbq pork bits.

Sweet & Sour BBQ Pork Bits

1-1.5 lbs Bone Out Pork Chops
1/2 bottle Franks Sweet & Chili Hot Sauce
16 oz Grape Jelly
2 cups Frozen Corn

Are you ready for this?

Place your Pork Chops (can still be frozen!) in the bottom of your Crock Pot.
Add your Franks Sauce and Grape Jelly

Cook on low for 6-8 hours.

Add Corn 1 hour before serving.

Cut into bits and serve with a starch (we had potatoes).

By the time these are finished, you can cut the Pork with a wooden spoon.  They are THAT tender.

That's it.

No, seriously.