Birthday Wishlist

I feel like the older I get, the harder it is to think of things for my Birthday/Christmas wishlist. Honestly, I feel like I've been getting gifts for weeks.

See, we left 90% of our wedding gifts in storage during last year. Unpacking has been hilariously fun! I couldn't remember any of it, then opening it all just brought such sweet gratefulness for all who got us things to set up our home. What a beautiful picture of community- our house is pieced together by so many lived ones contributing, knitting together our home, sending us their blessings on our marriage. I'm totally blown away.

But since its usually the general consensus to at least put together a few ideas (And no one can judge, this has taken weeks):

My toes are freezing out of my flats.
Maybe a new pair of shoes that have sock options would be nice.

This Dress

Or this gorgeous dress. And somewhere to wear it ;)

Black frames, words or no words.

Isn't this laptop bag so beautiful!
Something stylish to carry my computer in would be great.

Earrings. Kate Spade and oh so cute

How do I still not own my favorite movie on DVD?

And, a laptop. I have the money ready, but it's all the research that is daunting. It's good for me, I'm sure, but if you have ever starting searching for laptops you understand. It's overwhelming. Picking a Mac book would be easy. Maybe that's why they are exploding- you know you are getting a great product with great service, and you don't have to sift through the thousands. 

My frugal mind is very hesitant, so sifting I go! Maybe I'll have a new, lighter computer by my birthday :) Presents to yourself (bought for business) count too, right?!

But mostly, I want quality time. Being up in Bellevue is great because it is so much closer to home than Indiana, but it's still 4-5 hours to get home to family. Looking forward to seeing more of my parents and brothers over the birthday/holiday season. And that's the best gift. :)

Back to the Rain

I grew up in the Northwest. Clouds, rain, grey, moss, ferns, evergreens, mountains. It's in my bones. BUT I was in Indiana all last year where even if it thunders every day for 3 weeks it's only for an hour and the rest of the day is sunny. Now that it's fall time, the grey is something to get used to again. My saving grace has been in the kitchen. It's time to be done with grilled chicken, and move on to more comforting things. Comforting doesn't have to mean sugary baked goods or buttery casseroles though. Here's a great recipe for a healthy soup that will be on my list for next week (if I can't find a way to sneak it in earlier :). For those of you on program, this is 100% Lean and Green approved!

Ingredients

• 2 lbs raw, boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into 1” pieces (should yield four 6-oz cooked servings)
• 32 oz reduced-sodium, fat-free chicken broth
• 2 cups (18 medium) mushrooms, cut into quarters
• 2 cups celery (7 large stalks), thinly diced
• 1 cup (1 medium 2-¾” x 2-½”) yellow bell pepper, cut into 1” pieces
• 1 cup (1 medium 2-¾” x 2-½”) red bell pepper, cut into 1” pieces
• 1 cup (1 medium 2-¾” x 2-½”) green bell pepper, cut into 1” pieces
• ½-1 cup (4 to 8 oz) water (optional, add extra water depending on how thick you want your soup)
•  ½ cup scallions (3-4 scallions), chopped
• 2 Tbsp cream
• 2 Tbsp dried parsley or ¼ cup fresh parsley, finely chopped
• 4 tsp olive or canola oil
• ½ tsp dried thyme leaves
• ¼ tsp black pepper, freshly ground
• 2 cloves garlic, finely minced

Direction

Trim all visible fat from chicken and cut into 1” pieces; clean and cut  mushrooms, pepper, celery, and scallions. Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add minced garlic and chicken; cook until chicken is no longer pink, about 5 minutes. Add bell peppers, celery, and mushrooms. Cook until vegetables are tender, about 7 minutes. Add scallions, broth, water (optional), cream, thyme, black pepper, and parsley. Simmer until ready to serve.

Generational Teachings

In the mornings while I get ready I listen to podcasts. My favorite is Christine Caine. She is an amazing teacher, leader, and she inspires me to think past my own little bubble. 

One thing I've been really pondering on is generational baton passing, thanks to her teaching. At all times we are an older woman and a younger woman. Both of these roles are so important to generational living and passing on wisdom.

As the younger woman, it's time to close your mouth, ask questions, and absorb. Be mentored. Receive the advice. Be ready to learn. These older women have such knowledge to pass to us. Don't miss out because you're too busy telling instead of listening.

And we are also the older woman. Who can we reach out to? Open your life to these younger women, showing and sharing with them the wisdom you have learned. Mentor them. Listen and advise them. Invite them to your table and teach this coming generation about hospitality, love, grace, trials.

Look into your life, at those around you. Who are you ready to learn from and who do you need to let into your world? If the passing of the baton gets dropped or passed too late outside the designated area, we all are disqualified. Let's run this race in beauty, passing wisdom and love accordingly.

Hello Again

During the month of September, we were living in Oregon with family, enjoying a break between Joseph's internship and full time work. I wasn't as close to my computer and definitely missed my routine. The month in a nutshell:

Loved Getting to Train with my Team

Fun Mom time after a year too far away :)

Ran the Warrior Dash!

Picking up our furniture with my mamma! Just us, driving a trailer!

Dates with my love!

Soaking up time on the water.

Wine tasting and grape stomping!

It was a lovely vacation.

And so I'm back. Hopefully to a little more consistency.

No serious promises though ;) One of the way the Lord has been growing me this year is in letting go. I've always needed to be in total control of situations. Planning a wedding helped to break this possibility, and our first year of marriage solidified it. Having another person living in the same (very small) space as you, with different habits, means compromise, not control.

And can I say it feels so good?! I'm more free. And more late. And a little less organized. A little less rigid  I'm also less stressed and whole heck of lot more fun.


And we aren't finished fully organizing and unpacking, but the basics are finished. Here's a few pictures of our new apartment!

It's the perfect place to call home. Comfortable, airy, ours.