Almond Butter

One of my friends has been working hard on paying attention to the products she uses and eats. I think it's exciting and encouraging that she's finding new ways to be healthy and help her family to be healthy. Let's face it, there are certain things I am not willing to give up (cough, cough Taco Bell), but there are some easy changes that make a big difference. For instance, I eat a peanut butter sandwich every day of my life. My friend told me about almond butter that she makes at home - that way she knows what is going in it. So I tried it and besides being healthy, it is absolutely delicious. David and I are obsessed. Not that I will give up peanut butter, but we are incorporating almond butter in too because of the amazing benefits almonds have.

This recipe is just raw almonds and I added a pinch of salt and about a tablespoon of honey.

First you bake the almonds in the oven for about ten minutes. Then let them cool.

Then you put them in the food processor a handful at a time for 8 to 10 minutes, or until it all starts looking like peanut butter! I think I stopped the processor twice to scrape down the edges.

Ta-dah!

House Projects Again

Yep, we are at it again. I know that I keep saying we are working on things, but we really are. House projects are slow to me - it's like you work really hard, save up for what you want to do, pick everything out, and then have to figure out how to complete them.

We are so very blessed with such wonderful friends. I am so overwhelmed with joy these days. The reason I am bringing up my friends in the same breath as my house projects, is because the two are going hand in hand these days. We are all helping each other make our homes better.

Last week the boys came over and put in three new light fixtures while the girls painting our friend's trim white in their new home.

Here's a look at our embarrassing old fixture in the dining room. I know.

And this beauty was our bedroom light fixture. Again, I know....

And actually I don't mind this light at all, in fact we might use it somewhere downstairs, but this was in our kitchen and gave off absolutely zero light. It's actually similar to the one we ended up putting in our dining room (but our new dining room light is white instead of cream and bigger if you can't tell in the pictures below).

Here are the fellas in action. Please notice Dave and our friend are on stools or chairs, and no, Brady, #8 in red, is not...

Here is the new, bright, happy, wonderful lights in my bedroom and the dining room...Thank you boys!!

Thursday!!!

My favorite night is here again! I don't know if I've said how much I love my new(ish) job lately, but I do. Love it. However, right now, we are down one of our three contract analysts and implementing a brand new contract management system. Yep. It has been a little bit crazy. And by crazy I mean working 11 hour days plus a couple of hours in the evenings, Saturdays, and a little on Sunday. Eek. However, it's all temporary and it is all really good. My teammates are wonderful and our leader is inspiring and encouraging. And in the next couple of months everything will be much more peaceful and calm. Our system will be up and running and our new teammate will be adjusting.

In the meantime, I live for my fabulous Thursday nights. These are the nights that I give myself a break. I leave work at 5, get a few miles in on the treadmill, go to yoga, and then eat popcorn for dinner while I sit and watch Grey's! Life is good.

Lent

Over the past couple of months, our church and small group have been focusing on doing life together. Lately, to us, this has meant letting people know who we truly are and loving them while they let us get to know them. During this season of Lent, my mom is focusing on a random act of kindness and acknowledging those we are thankful for. One day she brought donuts to her friends at work. She is also going to write thank you notes to her friends and other things. 

I love this idea and am planning to do the same. Along those lines, I am going to work, every single day, on being a better wife and friend. My husband, in case I haven't told you, is absolutely A-mAzing. He is the hardest worker I know. He is the most faithful friend. And he has been focused on God and being the best husband. In my small group, the women started reading a wonderful book together that is centered on growing our marital relationships. I have already enjoyed it a lot.

And this week I started praying for four of the characteristics the book has mentioned. I am praying that I can do a better job adoring, loving, appreciating, and respecting my husband. And I want to start there and continue those on to all of my relationships. I don't think a friend that appreciates your friendship talks about you behind your back. If I adore my friends, I wouldn't be jealous. If I respect my parents, I wouldn't be so short with them. If I love my sisters, I can grant them more grace. So every day I am going to pray that I can be a more loving, adoring, appreciative, and respectful friend and spouse.

What are you asking God to show you about your own life or relationships during this season of Lent?

You Said I Do, and I Did Too

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Today is our one year anniversary. One year since the day the best days of my life started. We spent the weekend celebrating. I can't imagine, and I've learned I can't even dream, of what is to come for us. This year has been amazing. More amazing than I would have dared to even hope for.

When David and I got married Sister #2 told me she heard a song about us. It was by Taylor Swift and she wrote a part of it on a frame and put a picture of us on our wedding day in it. It is beautiful and true. And I sing it to myself all the time.

A few years had gone and come around
We were sitting at our favorite spot in town
And you looked at me, got down on one knee

Take me back to the time when we walked down the aisle
Our whole town came and our mamas cried
You said I do and I did too
Take me home where we met so many years before
We'll rock our babies on that very front porch
After all this time, you and I

I'll be eighty-seven; you'll be eighty-nine
I'll still look at you like the stars that shine
In the sky, oh my my my... 

Yum

Um, Yum! Have you had these yet? They are only dehydrated apples with a little lemon juice. Nothing with added sugar or preservatives!