I've decided too much of the Food Network can be a good thing

We had two sets of neighbors over this past Friday evening for dinner. One of the ladies is allergic to eggs, which eliminates quite a few things from a dinner and dessert menu when you think about it...so I was in a bit of a meal-planning quandry.

As I was sharing this with Cody, he said, "MOM! I know what we could make for her! Since she can't eat eggs, we can make what I saw on Sandra Lee's show...Semi-homemade. FRUIT KABOBS! It's really easy, you just take a bunch of pieces of fruit, like strawberries, pineapple, melon, grapes, and then you know, put 'em on a stick! That's what you should do!"

So, my five year-old, as it turns out, is a better and more creative meal planner than I. Sigh.

They actually were quite beautiful and enjoyed by all. I also made little angel foodcake cups and filled them with vanilla pudding and topped them with blueberries, blackberries, raspberries and strawberries and added a little whipped cream. Very pretty, fresh, and yummy! I only wish I'd taken pictures.

So...just in case any of you were looking for dessert ideas, you know, my five year-old would be happy to help you.

Happy Father's Day

Wishing all you dads out there a blessed Father's Day!

To Jerry: Our boys are so incredibly blessed to have you for a father. Thank you for the love and grace you extend to them and to me. We love you!

I've been tagged!

Peanut Butter and Jelly Boats has tagged me for a Meme. I love these! So here goes...


Five things I was doing 10 years ago
1) Graduating College. Moving to a new town to start a new teaching job. Oh, and I bought a new car. Almost exactly the same as Steph's!


2) Started dating a fellow teacher (the students found out about it and I couldn't live it down...we were seen at a shopping mall twenty minutes north of the actual school)! I was on a slippery slope spiritually (say that three times fast!), and it would be another year before I reached the end of myself and looked to the One who had my future in His hands.


3) I was working part-time as a singing waitress (yes, you read that right), thus paying for that aforementioned new car.


4) I went on a cross-country trip. We went through every state from Chicago to Las Vegas. In a convertible. We visited every place from Graceland to the Rocky Mountains, to the Grand Canyon to the MGM Hotel and Casino in Vegas.


5) I was living in an apartment that was actually "low income housing" (I was new to the area and didn't realize this. And I was young and stupid. There, I said it.). There's nothing better than coming home after a long night of waitressing and seeing drug dealers making an exchange on your front porch. YIKES! (God's been so good to me!)


5 Snacks I enjoy
1) Tortilla Chips and fresh pico de gallo
2) flatbread and cheese
3) fruit and nut mix from Costco
4) popcorn
5) veggies and homemade dill dip

5 songs that I know all the lyrics to
1) Every Watermark song
2) Every Nichole Nordeman song
3) lots of jazz/big band tunes
4) lots of worship songs (lately I'm totally into Chris Tomlin!)
5) many Italian and french art songs and arias, and every song I've ever taught my students (my head is chock-full of music ALL the time!)

5 Things I would do if I were a Millionaire
1) Give a bunch to the church
2) Pay off our house and probably buy a bigger one
3) Sponsor/adopt needy children
4) Take a great vacation
5) Shop. I know. It's selfish.

5 Bad Habits
1) Picking at my nails
2) Running late
3) Interrupting when I'm afraid I'll forget what I wanted to say
4) drinking coca-cola
5) falling asleep before the movie is over

5 Things I would Never Wear Again
1) jellies
2) Parachute pants
3) cut-off tops
4) panty hose...I know, it's unavoidable.
5) Maternity Clothes!!!!!

5 Things I Like to Do
1) Spend time with family and friends
2) Take long walks with my hubby, kids and doggie
3) Talk on the phone to my mom and sisters
4) Watch movies
5) SING!

Five Favorite Toys
1) Strawberry Shortcake
2) Cabbage patch Kids
3) Barbie
4) I used to love playing super mario brothers with my sister on nintendo when it first came out
5) Puzzles

Five People I Tag:
1) Marc at Strathman Stuff
2) Jaime at Howdy from the Halls
3) Kari at The Powell Place
4) Charity at Chair's Table
5) Jessica at Itty Bitty Bits of Me

She always knows best

So hubby and I have this gig a couple weekends from now to sing for a benefit in Chicago. We have a friend who is in the recording industry and he is representing a lovely, incredibly talented couple who need singers of the back-up sort. It's an awesome opportunity, and he called us to see if we would do it.

The first thing out of my mouth was, "I'm not doing it. I mean, what would we do with the kids, and I'm so out of practice, I mean all I do is teach these days and there's no rehearsal and these people are BIG, I mean they're really BIG and seriously do I really want to go in there and stink? I mean, what if I totally STINK?"

Hubby states, very simply, "He's counting on us. I told him we'd do it."

Ugh.

I grabbed the phone, left a message for mom, and rested, knowing she would know what to say.

Then, I grabbed the next best thing, my ipod and dog, and took a nice long walk to clear my head and start to give myself a pep talk.

It truly was the right thing to do, because as I walked, I was transported to that wonderful place I go when I listen to my favorite vocalists sing in my ears. Over and over again I was reminded how very much I LOVE to sing.

I got back home and not long after, the phone rang. It was mom. Ready for her response?

"Oh for pete's sake, honey, this is what you DO, it's where you live. So what if there's no rehearsal??? You do your best work off the cuff anyway, you and Jerry, and well, you'll be awesome. So take a pill, suck it up, and go sing for crying out loud. There's no question here, just do it. Okay? OKAY??????"

"Okay."

Click.

Yeah, she always knows the right thing to say.

I could get used to this!

I woke up to a beautiful morning and went and sat out on the patio, read the paper, and had a nice chat with our neighbors (who as I mentioned previously were safe and sound!). Dinner tonight was enjoyed outside once again, and afterwards, we decided to go fishing. It was so relaxing...quiet and serene...(we even caught a couple of fish!) and I thought this is definitely something I'd love to do on a regular basis.

I go back to teaching tomorrow (it's been a really nice break), and to kick it off, I attended the senior recital of one of my students this afternoon. She is so talented, playing piano, violin, and being an accomplished vocalist. She honored all of us, her teachers, by introducing us, acknowledging us in the program and giving us flowers afterward. I will miss her so much next year, but it's been very rewarding working with her these last four years and watching her grow.

Do you ever have days when you put your head on your pillow at night and honestly think, wow! This was a really nice day? So often, I'm too tired to even really notice...but I was reminded afresh today that I am so blessed with a great family, good friends and neighbors, a home I love, a job that's rewarding, and a God who loves and watches out for me. Truly, it doesn't get much better than that.