Calm in the midst of uncertainty

It's Friday. Finally the end to a week that has turned my world upside down with uncertainty, confusion and fear. 
Right now, I'm sitting at my desk drinking my coffee and a thousand thoughts are running though my head.
Though there is only one that has resonated above all the others and it has kept me calm when I was so uncertain. 


"God has always kept me safe, there is no need to live life in fear but only to live life that I may glorify Him."


So the first steo I take in living my life in order to glorify HIM is that I simply keep moving. I keep pressing on knowing that the Lord is watching over me with every step I take.  


Yes, I will admit right now I am feeling uncertain about what is going to happen next. 
I'm confused. 
I'm catching myself asking....why? And I know those feelings are normal; I am a human being with emotions just like everyone else. God made us emotion filled people. 
On the other hand, I'm not going to let those negative emotions run my life, not going to let them stop me because God is the center of my life. Even through the trials, the uncertain times He is there guiding me; giving me the hope of all the good that will come out of this. HE leads my life and HE is where my hope lies. HE is my strength that keeps me going everyday.   

Summer Heat

A typical North Carolina summer would best be described as Hot, Humid, sticky Heat. If it is a good day there might be a breeze.
Stepping outside feels like stepping into a giant sauna.
Some days it is simply unbearable and the only thing that you want to do is sit in a cool place and read a book while eating cold fruit with ice cream.

It has been like that especially this past week, WARNING: Heat index over 105 degrees,
and it is not stopping until maybe next week.
Waking up with motivation to get ready and walk to work has been lacking this week but I push on anyways.

So as I walk to and from work multiple times a day, I am reminded about what my army husband tells me everyday...
                  "Hydrate or die Lori, Hydrate or die!"
Thus I proceed to fill up my Camelback when I get to work and rehydrate myself for the next walk home.

Wonderful Wedding Weekend

Wonderful Wedding Weekend is a perfect way to describe this past weekend for Jonathan, I and Beth.
Yes, I included the puppy.
Anyways, we went down east to Pink Hill, NC for Stephen and Nichole's wedding, Jonathan's uncle. If you are unfamiliar with this area of NC, like I was, it is essentially out in the middle of no-where with the only thing around you is farm land.
I actually loved the scenery, it was a nice change from the busy Greensboro.

The wedding was beautiful, simple and the bride was gorgeous! The ceremony had a personal touch to it with the music and the vows spoken to each other which made it special and unique. I will be honest, there were some tears streaming down my face.
Although the best part that made it personal was that the arrived at the reception in a John Deere tractor!
"That is how you do an entrance in the country."
Need I say more? I think not.

The reception was a ton of fun!
First, a full dinner of classic eastern North Carolina barbecue was served with plenty of sweet tea.
As for the dessert, Linda and I enjoyed the display of cakes that we could chose from! Nichole had a unique idea of having a separate cake for each herself, Stephen and Ean that they use for the cake cutting. As for the rest of the guests, there were many homemade cakes of varying flavors made my the ladies in their church. It was a great idea and super tasty! :)

The rest of the night was filled with dancing! There was music that suited everyone's taste and the duo performing was pretty good! I must tell you, the pastor who performed the ceremony was also the keyboard player at the reception!
Jonathan and I got a kick out of that.
Just simply couldn't believe it.
Dancing was fun, especially because Jonathan agreed to dance with me. It was special moment for me and I was so happy. :)

Congratulations Stephen and Nichole! May God be the center of your marriage and may you always cherish each other.

It's been awhile....

Last night, my brother and sister reminded me that I haven't blogged in a long time.
It disappointed them.
I know, I am truly sorry for being gone too long.
I will work on getting better at keeping it up.
For the record, I have missed having the time to blog.

Lately, it has been crazy busy for me and Jonathan especially since Beth came along. Research has kicked up and is seriously in full swing for me, which means long days at work and not much time in the evening. Jonathan is working long hours and recently just started an online summer class.
Though through the craziness of the busy days, we have been able to take some time for ourselves.

For the Fourth of July, we went on vacation to the beach in Norfolk, VA with some friends of ours. It was a blast being able to just relax on the beach, eat fresh seafood outside with a beautiful ocean view, have some play time at the water park and simply enjoy one another's company. It was what we both really needed :)

Also this weekend, we are headed out of town again. Not for a vacation but to celebrate Jonathan's uncle getting married! It will be a beautiful wedding for sure and it will be nice to spend some time with family.

Don't worry pictures will be taken! (I have to make up with this weekend because I forgot to bring my camera charger to the beach.....oops!)

Dreaming

Jonathan is watching NBA basketball Finals and I'm dreaming about what it would be like to be a photographer?

Dreaming of being the one who is able to capture the beauty around us that is God's creation.
One who is able to capture the breathtaking moment that is history but also the details of the simple moments that make up everyday life.
One who is able to capture the personal emotion of someone in a single moment and in that, be able to ensue the same emotion on all who see it.

Original photo courtesy of: Dina Spencer Photography

Though for me it is only a dream.
For right now I simply enjoy giving the photos a unique, distinct flavor such as the wedding photo above taken at our wedding.
I simply enjoy giving the photos a unique, personal story that I can retell later on in life.

Thai Fried "Rice"

Back to the kitchen I go! It has been nice cooking my own food again since the trip. I seriously get TIRED of eating out all the time. It gets boring fast.
Anyways, some nights consisted of just the normal go-to recipes because of what we got from the grocery but Monday night was a different story.
I did my own concoction of Thai fried "rice" and I must say it turned out good!
Very Proud of myself.
Yes, indeed.
Why is rice in quotes? Because I didn't actually use brown rice or even white rice, I used quinoa.

Quinoa is a psuedograin crop, not in the same family as grains or cereals. It has a high protein content, good source of essential amino acids and dietary fiber. From the look of it, it resembles brown rice and the taste is a nutty flavor when cooked. Similar to rice so that it works well as a good substitute. The plus side is that one cup of uncooked quinoa feeds 8 servings and cooks in only 15 minutes!
I love that it is fast, very healthy for you and it tastes good!

Well, Monday night I had leftover quinoa and thus I wanted to use it somehow. I already had planned to grill thai chicken along with roasted bell peppers and carrots.....my favorite!.....but I needed more flavor to the meal. My taste buds were craving it.
I looked up some simple fried rice recipes on All Recipes and found a base I could work from and went from there. (Note: Fried rice is best cooked with leftover rice, not fresh cooked rice.)

It didn't take long. It smelled great while cooking. Jonathanand I both liked it and I think the puppy wanted some as well! She kept watching us as we were eating. Her eyes were saying: "Feed me some please, I want something different than dry puppy food!" 
Sorry Beth, no table scraps for you. 
Though, for humans, I highly recommend buying some quinoa and trying out your favorite rice recipe. You won't be disappointed, I promise. :)

I'm a proud sister

It's been a busy week and weekend since Jonathan and I returned from Charleston! It started with having to restock the apartment with food, get Beth back from our friend who was watching her, she has grown so much in that one week time frame. Then it was trying to establish a routine of getting to work early with the addition of a puppy. Still working on that one. At the end of all that, there were parties to attend which included lots of good food, friends and family.

We were partying because.....
First, my youngest brother Mark graduated from high school on Thursday! He is now heading off to NC State to pursue a degree in Graphic Design from the College of Design.  Mark has grown up into a great man who has a love for Christ, a love for ALL people, a love for his family, but most importantly he has a servants heart. Mark has been blessed with an artistic gift that simply amazes me every time he puts his paintbrush to the canvas. The result is simply beautiful, simple, yet complex. He sees every detail in the picture he is recreating- may it be from a photograph, a landscape or just what he sees through his eyes which is equality, joy, love, hope, hurt, struggle, and the beauty of God's creation.
I know he will be great and do great things in the future wherever God may lead his life. I am so proud of him!

Then, my oldest brother John, who just got recently ordained, is now a head pastor of a church in Lexington, NC. This is a great accomplishment for him and a huge stepping point in his life. I am so proud of him!

Also, my brother-in-law, Daniel turned thirteen on May 21st! We celebrated his birthday like last year where lots of his friends come over and play air-soft war against Jonathan and I cook the fabulous cookies for the boys and the family. [Air-soft war is not the same without the real-life Soldier, Jonathan! :)]
 I have been blessed with in-laws who love and support me just like my family does. It has been fun watching Daniel grow up since I have known him and I look forward to watching him grow up into the man that God wants him to be. I am proud to be Daniel's sister-in-law!

Food, coffee, how I have missed thee

Can you imagine not being able to eat real solid food? Not being able to drink your favorite coffee or tea for almost a week?
Let me tell you it is not good. Especially because I love cooking, baking, eating healthy, and mostly my caffeine boost in the morning.
I know how it feels because I have been dealing with food poisoning since Sunday afternoon. (I think I got when Jonathan and I went out for dinner on Saturday night.)
I have had to only drink liquid calories like milkshakes, fruit smoothies, soup, etc. with in a few crackers and pieces of bread thrown in. All those things are not my favorite foods, I really don't like too much of any of those. I want REAL FOOD like fresh veggies and fruit, meat, a salad, cheese, etc.
Last night, I had to drink a milkshake and chicken noodle soup instead of the yummy meatloaf, steamed veggies and twice baked potatoes that my mom made for dinner. I was craving the meatloaf so bad! It looked delicious.

Though as of today, I can feel it getting better! I can see the light at the end of the tunnel with a real meal awaiting me on the other side of the bright light. I am planning to take it easy these next couple of days so that I will be able to enjoy a wonderful, special meal with my husband in Charleston, SC! 

Only one more day of work until I am on a plane to go see Jonathan again!

These days have made me realize why cooking your own meals at home is so important for your health. You know how it is prepared, how to prepare it properly, and you know every ingredient in the meal. If it is done properly, there is a smaller chance of getting food poisoning or even worrying about how many calories you are consuming in one meal at a restaurant. Also cooking your own meals is more fun, a good stress relief, a money saving investment but most importantly you know it is going to be healthy and that is a good feeling!

Now I want to know your input....

Do you enjoy cooking at home or going out to eat more often?

Do you like to cook healthy or old-fashioned style like Paula Dean? (Paula loves her butter!)

Jonathan and Beth: Double the Surpise

Meet Beth, our new German Sheppard puppy! Isn't she cute?! Jonathan and I just absolutely love her. 

Beth is just one of the two amazing surprises I got this weekend! 

First, Jonathan surprised me on Friday when he called to tell me he was coming home for the weekend! I was so excited, so overwhelmed with joy, that I skipped the entire way home! :) My dad thought I was going to break out into song because I was carrying my tote bag and my "Mary Poppins" umbrella. He arrived that night and I ran out to hug him just as he was getting out of the car. 

There is no way I could entirely express in words how much I had missed him that week as well as how much he missed me. It was definitely a great Saturday for both of us because we got to spend the entire day with each other. Though this morning we had to say our goodbyes again because he has to go back for another week. It was hard parting again but I know that I only have 4 more days until I fly down to see him. 

Now let's talk about my second surprise, Beth. 

We were told about Beth from one of Jonathan's friends when he called on Saturday wanting to know if we wanted a dog. This dog had followed a girl home one day with no tag or sign of a family. She took her to the vet and found out that she was a German Sheppard and only 4 weeks old. Normally puppies don't leave their mother until 8 weeks old which implied that she was abandoned or dropped off on the side of the road. 

It just broke my heart hearing about that. Why would anyone want to abandon puppies like that?!

After meeting her and hearing that she needed a good loving home, we said YES! We had already been wanting a dog for a while but had decided just to wait. Though when this offer came up we took it without question. 

We are both so glad that we were able to get her! She is cute and small right now but just in a few months she will be really BIG! I am excited about that because I like big dogs. 

Here are a few more pictures:

She immediately started playing with Jonathan's toes when wearing his Five fingers! 

We got her a stuffed bunny to play with and cuddle with when she sleeps. 

So cute when she sleeps! :)

Positively Productive.

Productive is the title because that is what I have been today even considering the fact that I have only ONE cup of coffee this morning at 6:35 am. Wow, I am good.
My productive day has already contained hitting up the gym in the early a.m, walking home, doing some laundry followed by heading into lab to get some reactions completed. Now, I am waiting on the files from my computer to finish copying to my back-up drive....something I have needed to do for a few weeks now.
It is slow because I have a lot of files containing various pictures, a large library of music, scientific software, data and of course my school work and research. These are all very important to me and I must save them because you never know when a computer will crash and burn on you....

Anyways, at the end of the day or at moments I slow down from being busy, I realize that when I have my mind set on what I have to do, there is so much which doesn't even cross my mind. In particular, I don't think about how much I miss Jonathan or about how in an hour I won't be going home to fix dinner for the both of us then spill to him about what happened in lab but instead I will be going to my families house.
All the emotions, the twists and turns that follow those initial thoughts are both good and bad.
Good: it shows how much I love him, how much I cherish his company, and shows that he is my best friend because I tell him EVERYthing. He knows my thoughts, he understands me and I feel weird being without him.
Bad: those thoughts can lead to being sad all the time, not enjoying time with my family, and ultimately not putting my trust in the Lord.

So, I guard my heart and my mind for when those thoughts of missing Jonathan come in because they come in often.
I guard my heart and my mind through prayer. Putting my trust in the Lord to keep him safe, to keep me strong, and that the Lord open up my eyes everyday to what He is doing in my life, Jonathan's life, and our marriage.
I guard my heart and my mind by seeing the Lord's blessings and being thankful.
I guard my heart and my mind by anticipating the next phone call so I can tell him about my day but mostly anticipating May 20th because I will be flying down to join him and be able to hug him again. :)

Mixed Emotions

How can it be that I am feeling both happy and sad this week? 
Well, let me tell you....
On one hand, I'm happy because I am BACK TO THE GYM! Back to my normal 4-5 days a week in the gym with more motivation than I had at the beginning of the semester. I'm trying new forms of cardio and swiching up my strength training again.....my body sure is feeling it but I love it! :
Feeling the sweat, the endorphins running through my blood stream, but mostly the intense energy I get after working out feels amazing. Oh how I have missed all of that in the last month (or two?).

On the other hand, I am sad because I know I only have two more days with my husband before he is going to be gone for 2 weeks. :( It is the annual training for the Navy Reserves and I know I will miss him so much!
Though I am staying positive by remembering that 2 wks is nothing compared to what many other military spouses go through and that I am blessed to be able to fly down there the last weekend he is there and drive back with him. So I am spending as much time with him as possible before he leaves :).
Cherishing every moment.
Yesterday was good because we spent the ENTIRE day together! Literally. Just sleeping in late and being lazy then running errands, going to the gym, and ending the day with renting a movie. It was a much needed day and I loved every minute of it.
This weekend will be busy for the both of us because he has drill duty but this time I get to tag along because it is "Family Weekend".
It will be interesting for me because it is my first! Details to come.....

Revamping the old

Yes, I have been changing the design of my blog because I realized that it didn't reflect who I was or at least what I was writing about. I needed to revamp the old and make new....not just the look but also the title.
So I went on a quest to find the right look for my blog and the right name.
Let me tell you, it went through A LOT of changes before now but I think I finally settled on what is truly my design, my interests and what I tend to write about the most.

Let me know what you think!
I hope everyone is having a good Wednesday! :)

Did your blog go through many changes before settling on what it is currently?

Forgiveness with a side of Earl Grey Shortbread cookies

God gives you Christ as the foundation of your marriage."Welcome one another, therefore, as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God" (Romans 15:7)....Don't insist on your rights, don't blame each other, don't judge or condemn each other, don't find fault with each other, but accept each other as you are, and forgive each other everyday from the bottom of your hearts. 

- Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Letters and Papers from Prison

I am currently reading through John Piper's book, This Momentary Marriage. In this book, he continually references Dietrich Bonhoeffer at the start of every chapter. There are so many quotes that I love but I just had to share one....for right now. It is of particular importance to me recently because I am continually seeing the importance of the words forgiving and forbearing with one another. Marriage is a gift of God given from God to us, it is just a small picture of the amazing blessings that God can give us. 

Though it is not all perfect, beautiful harmony between a husband and wife. I can attest to that and I know that any other married couple can share their own experiences of ups and downs. But that is not the importance of this post rather the importance is where Dietrich says: "God gives you Christ as the foundation of your marriage."

I love the way that Piper emphasizes the importance of how Christ being the foundation leads to how we treat our spouse because as a believer "we are chosen, set apart and loved by God" . These are the roots and thus when we believe it, cherish it, and live it then those actions of love as shown in 1 Corinthians 13 and Colossians 3:12-19 will flourish. That "honeymoon" stage as everyone calls it will only continue to grow but in deeper, more intimate ways. 

Simply Beautiful. Is it not? 
It is something that I am continually growing in everyday as a newlywed, praying that our marriage is God-centered and God-glorified through the decisions we make but mostly in how we love one another through everything, the everyday. 


As a side note: 
Since I am done with classes and my stress level has gone down. I have more time to spend in the kitchen, especially in trying new cookie recipes. 
I found this recipe from Whole Foods and I immediately thought of Mrs. Amber Apple because of her love for Earl Grey Tea. Amber, if you are reading this I hope you try the recipe and let me know what you think! :)


I enjoyed the recipe because it is simple, has good flavor and goes perfect with a cup of tea and coffee! I also was in the mood to try this one because of all the sugar desserts that were consumed over the holiday weekend as well as week following! I was in need of a low-sugar dessert.....So here it is:

Earl Grey Shortbread Cookies

1/2 c butter, softened

1 Tbsp Whole Trade Earl Grey Tea Leaves, finely ground

1/2 powdered sugar

1 c all-purpose flour

1/2 tsp salt

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees and grease a 8 x 8" pan

2. Beat butter and tea leaves until smooth and creamy

3. Add sugar and beat until smooth

4. Add flour and salt until just combined (it will be crumbly dough, so don't worry)

5. Press the dough using fingers (or a spatula) into the greased pan and bake for 30 minutes

6. Let the cookies cool, then cut into squares and enjoy!

Finals Week and WAL-MART Club Coffee

It is finals week for the hubby and I but the good thing is that we aren't too stressed out. I am currently working on a take home final for my synthetic organic class and  feeling good about my progress. :) Come Friday at 5:00 pm I will be done with the class and heading back into my "home" called research lab. The hubby has his finals starting tomorrow and all next week.....of which I know he will be great in every one!

Well, due to finals week I have been evermore glad to have leftovers and of course endless amounts of coffee.
Yesterday I attempted to make "Cheesy Gordita Crunches" for Jonathan. You know the ones from Taco Bell that are loaded with very unhealthy ingredients!?
Well, that is his favorite and I was determined to make a healthier version because I am not a fan of fast food chains.( I know I'm a little weird! )
I used my favorite whole wheat tortillas from our favorite store COSTCO, Ortega Whole grain Taco shells, and cheddar cheese with of course my spicy lean taco meat.
I thought they were good! though Jonathan says I should try another way of preparing the shells next time.  Well, today I used the leftover taco meat and made quesadillas on the stove top with my grill pan:
Whole wheat tortillas filled with spicy taco meat and cheddar cheese......SO MUCH Better!

Dinner was ready in 15 minutes! Yes, I wish I could do that every night especially being a wife in graduate school.

Now to the important part where the coffee critic in me comes out:
As my blog indicates I am in love with coffee and I like to try everything once. This past weekend, I ran out of coffee and we happened to be at Wal-Mart picking up ingredients for the deserts. I usually get Eight O'clock Coffee (it's cheap and I like it) but I came across this:
Club Coffee’s Grounds For Health...... http://www.groundsforhealth.org/

It looked interesting and worth trying so I tried the Inca Trail because it is a medium-dark roast. In my opinion, it is a good well-rounded coffee: not too acidic, or bold but smooth. It also had a decent smell when opening the bag....Oh I how I love the smell of freshly ground coffee beans!
On the other hand, I wish there was more depth to the flavor. If I end up drinking down a cup in 10 minutes (of which I did) that means it wasn't a fabulous flavor, but it was alright. I would definitely rank it higher than Folger's, Millstone and Maxwell House.
All in all, for it to be at Wal-Mart and selling for a good cause it was worth the try but it won't be a regular for me when stuck in a bind at Wal-Mart. I'll stick to the Eight O'clock coffee.... French Roast for me please!

Do you have a favorite coffee? Or have a suggestion for me to try?

What is your quickest dinner? I love suggestions!

Easter Desserts

It's Easter Weekend! Time to celebrate the Death and Resurrection of our Savior, Jesus Christ who is the picture of the glorious gospel;
"His Life is a message of hope, a message of mercy and a message of life in a dark world. On the Cross, Jesus paid the price for our sins and in His resurrection he removed the reason for doubt. 
Christ's Resurrection is an exploding flare announcing to all sincere seekers that is is safe to believe."
               -excerpt from Max Lucado


In my families house, Easter weekend always consists of a huge meal and everyone coming over after Sunday morning church. This year, I wanted to contribute by making a dessert.....or two! Thus my baking started yesterday and still going on today.....with a Chocolate Caramel Cheesecake.
Let me tell you about it....
Good Friday we didn't have school so it was nice to sleep in :) But then I was in the kitchen all day baking up a storm. Jonathan helped by cleaning the dishes so that I didn't have a big mess in my way. Such a sweet hubby! I started with making Peanut Butter Bars (tastes like a Reese's Cup) and my famous Lemon Bars.
My dad in particular is obsessed with Lemon bars and wants them almost every week when we come over for dinner.
He always tells me....."They have to be super tart but with the perfect sweetness, Lori." "I LOOOOVVEEE Lemon bars!"
I took what he said, found a basic recipe and made it my own. He absolutely loves them! It usually is a special father's day tradition but this time I am making them early for him. Since they have to set up overnight to be at the perfect consistency, I then went onto making Peanut Butter bars. I was in the mood to try out a new recipe and I had more peanut butter then I thought I did so I made these. We went over to our friend's (J & A) house for dinner and I supplied the Peanut Butter bars for dessert. Everyone loved them and they were a huge hit! Especially with their two little boys. 
So I must share the recipe: Peanut Butter Bars

• 3/4 cup butter, softened
• 3/4 cup white sugar
• 3/4 cup peanut butter (I used natural peanut butter)
• 2 eggs
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 cups rolled oats
• 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

Directions: 

- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a 9 x 13" pan. 

- Cream butter, sugar and peanut butter until smooth. 

-Beat in eggs one at a time. Then Stir in the vanilla. 

- In a separate bowl, mix together the flour, baking soda and salt. Then stir into the wet mixture. 

- Fold in the rolled oats. 

- Press mixture evenly into the pan and bake for 14 minutes (it will start to get golden on the sides). 

- Remove from the oven and add the chocolate chips evenly across the top. Place back into the oven and bak for another 2-4 minutes. (Choc. chips should look "shiny"). 

-Take out of oven, spread the chocolate chips out smooth. 

Let cool before cutting and serving! 

Now I'm off to bake the Chocolate Caramel Cheesecake! I hope you are enjoying your Easter weekend! :)

Vibram FiveFingers : My favorite of the week

Vibram FiveFingers : Barefoot Sports Shoes : Toe Shoes & Minimalist Shoes

These are my new favorite thing of the week! Thus I have to share with everyone that I absolutely love these shoes.

Jonathan was the first to tell me about these shoes because he wants a pair for himself. Although I obviously got them first! hahaha

Anyways, he informed me that there was a lot of scientific research done on these shoes, especially on marathon runners. It talks about how when wearing these shoes it helped them run faster because it retrains the muscles in the foot and legs that we use when we walk barefoot. I also helps with posture and spinal alignment.

I originally thought that I wouldn't wear them because they look....ummm funny. I mean come on it has individual toe pockets and rubber around the top of the toes!? Weird!

Although, I read up myself on the benefits of these shoes. Personal stories of both men and women who wear them and I was convinced that I wanted them....even more when I found a pair that was brown leather aka. the KSO Trek!

As for my personal story, I have back pain due to a pinched nerve in my right hip thus standing for a long period of time and other things such as walking and hiking aggravates it. When that happens, which is almost everyday, the right side of my back starts hurting and eventually leads to not being able to feel the entire right side of my body. It is like lifting a ton of bricks when I am walking.

My PT told me to build up my core muscles (legs, abs, lower back, hips) to reduce the risk of aggravating it as often. It will eventually heal on it's own.

Well, that was two years ago and I'm still continuing my weights to build up my muscles. Though I am still experiencing pain in my back and so I though it must be in the shoes I wear. I was right! Wearing these five fingers have greatly reduced my back pain everyday. I am so happy that I can be in the lab working all day and not be in pain. :)

I recommend that everyone go check these out! (Click on the link at the top of the post)
Especially people who are athletes, runners, hikers, or have some spinal issues. You will love them!

Words of Encouragement

Recently, the Lord has been laying some things on my heart. Things that I needed to get right, I felt convicted about. Although I won't go into details because those are between me and the Lord but I do want to share some words of encouragement that I have collected over the years.
I have a blank book where I have random quotes from people, from books I have read written by John MacArthur an Beth Moore (etc) but 3/4 of the book is scripture verses. All these I have collected are words that are encouraging to me no matter what is happening.....

Read these carefully, I hope they are encouraging to you as well :)


"You and I obviously do not seek out adversity just so we can develop a deeper relationship with God. Rather God, through adversity, seeks us out. It is God who draws us more and more into a deeper relationship with Him.....
Sometimes we will be able to see how we are profiting, at other times we will wonder what God is doing. One thing may be sure of however: For the believer all pain has meaning; all adversity is profitable. There is no question that adversity is difficult. It usually takes us by surprise and seems to strike us when we were most vulnerable. To us it often appears completely senseless and irrational but to God none if it is either irrational or senseless. He has a purpose in every pain He brings or allows in our lives."
(From Trusting God: Even when Life hurts- Bridges)


When we abide in Christ the fullness of His joy invades our humanity (John 15:1-11)

"You have told us, Lord, that your beloved rests securely on you, that you shield Him all day long and he rests on your shoulders (Deuteronomy 33:12)- that though the mountains may move and the hills shake, your love may not be removed from us, your covenant of peace will not be shaken (Isaiah 54:10). Oh, satisfy us in the morning-every morning- with your faithful love so that we may shout with joy and be glad in all our days (Psalms 90:14)"
(From: 90 Days with the Beloved Disciple-Beth Moore)

Do you have any words that are encouraging to you?

Saturday plans & random facts

IT IS SATURDAY!
I love the weekends because sometimes we have plans while other Saturdays we don't and it is nice just to relax.

Although this weekend there are plans set, Jonathan is taking a "man-day" and taking a 20-mile hike with a friend and my brother, John while I am going shopping with my mom and my sister!
This hike that they are doing is from Hanging Rock to Pilot Mountain, NC and is a section of the massive Appalachian trail.
I would love to do the 20 mile hike if I didn't have a pinched nerve in my hip that gets aggravated easily. The most I have done is a 7-mile "strenuous" hike (as the Smoky Mountains considered it) when we were on our honeymoon. I love hiking very much and we did it a lot while we were dating but my hip can only take so much before my entire right side goes numb :(
My PT says I need to strengthen my core and leg muscles so that it doesn't get aggrevated as easily. Rest assured, I am working on it and is my main focus in the gym. It is just taking a REALLY LONG time.

Anyways, like I said I get to go shopping. It should be fun and a nice break for me since I am still writing my research proposal that is due Monday.
I'm excited though! Cathy and I are determined to take mom to Red Mango for fro-yo because we are obsessed with it.

Also, since I have some new readers (other than my family) I thought I should share some random facts about myself.....don't worry it won't be an incredibly long list...
1. I have epilepsy: have been diagnosed since I was 7 yrs

2. I have two tattoos- one is a lily (symbolizes my testimony as a believer & follower of Christ) and the other is two doves (symbolizes the marriage covenant I made with my husband and God)

3. I am obsessed with fruit and peanut butter: it is a staple in my diet. I don't go a day without either :)

4. Lilies are my favorite flower

5. I am in love with movies and collect DVD's- my collection is over 250 movie copies but I also subscribe to Netflix. Ask me anything about a movie and I will have an answer for you :) My favorite actor is Humphrey Bogart

6. I can't go to bed without everything in it's place and the dishes cleaned. Seriously, I can be falling over asleep but I will still clean the dishes- OCD just a little?!

7. If in a restaurant or shopping, I sing and dance along with the music EVERY TIME. I don't care if people see me....I like the music :)

What are your saturday plans?

Share a random fact about yourself!

Big Brother's Ordination, haircut, & another busy week

So this week has been a really busy one and it is only Thursday!
Haha, well last week was busy too only this time I was able to get some more sleep.
More beauty sleep that is for my presentation I had yesterday. To update, I did a great job and my research advisor was proud of me! I was super nervous because this is one of the two presentations I have to do for my Master's degree....the last one will be for my thesis. I will cross that road block in a year....


Anyways, other things big, happy things happened over the weekend at which I must share with you.


First off, I got a haircut last weekend! 
I chopped off my long "Rapunzel brown hair" for a shorter, lighter look for the summer.
Now let me tell you, this is a new look for me....
I usually cut it off right at my collar bone and then add layers. Nothing special. Although this time I did the Shoulder length bob (where it is shorter in back and is longer in the front) and also parting it on the side rather than the middle. 
"OH GOSH THAT is different TOO!!" lol 

I love it, so does Jonathan which is a big deal because he loved my long hair! 

Now you have to tell me what you think!!

Here is a picture of the before and after the new hairdo for your viewing pleasure :)

I'm the one in the back right....look at all that hair! With my awesome siblings and niece Ryland. Check out her face, it makes me laugh every time.....we taught her everything she knows. 

The new hairdo!

Also, this weekend my oldest brother, John, got ordained into the Baptist Church! I'm so proud of him! This a huge step in his life and I know that the Lord will continue to open up more doors for him. 

It was great being able to be there for him on Sunday with the rest of my family and friends. 

So I want to share a little about my brother because I love to brag about all of my siblings :)

John has surrendered the Lord's calling on his life to be a pastor since he was in high school. It has been a long journey to get there but what I saw in him was that he never gave up. He always knew that it was all in the Lord's hands and so he waited patiently. John is very humble man, kind, funny, genuine and is love for his family and friends is one that emanates from him through his actions and words.  Most importantly, he has a passion for studying God's word,  a passion for growing in his daily walk with Christ and sharing the gospel with others. It is in witnessing that he has no fear, no shame, no doubt in what he believes and he will share everything he believes and knows. His roots are grounded deep in scripture- his roots are planted where the truth is. I greatly admire that in him! Growing up, he was a great example for me and he still is as I too continue to grow in my walk with the Lord. 

I love him so very much! Here are a few pictures that I snapped during the service.....

laying of hands....pastor's wife

laying of hands....pastor

Presenting the Study bible that reads"Rev. John C. Malek"

Look at all that FOOD! (there is more, I just couldn't get to it all!) So good too! that is what Baptists do every time - bring lots of Food

I hope everyone is having a good week! :) 

Mexican Cheesecake

As you know, I love to bake. I will try pretty much anything, at least once. Although my specialties are cookies and cheesecake. Anyone who has eaten them always comes back begging for more. I have studied and experimented on all different types of cookies (& the ingredients in them) as well as cheesecakes to ultimately perfect my technique.
Side note: if you want a perfect, no-crack, creamy cheesecake it is all in the mixing part and the cooling stage. If you want more details, send me a comment.

Anyways, the point of this post is that I found a new cheesecake recipe! It is SO GOOD :)
I am not the type to share my special deserts but I am going to share this one......
It is really easy, quick and delicious to make but first let me tell you a story behind this finding.....
Last week, hubby and I went to our friend's house (J & A) to watch a movie, eat dinner, entertain their cute boys and just spend some time with them. It is always fun going over there and fixing dinner because A and I split up the meal....and when that happens the meal is spectacular and our husband's love the food! In other words, it usually contains a food item or two that neither of the men get on a weekly basis. :)

Someone usually has a plan for dessert but this time we didn't! It was a tragedy considering that A and I have the biggest sweet tooths! Luckily, we found this recipe in no time, went to get the ingredients and it was done in an hour for our eating pleasure :)

Here is the recipe: I hope you enjoy it as much as we did!

Crust Ingredients:
2 cans (8 oz) crescent roll dough (split)
1/2 c butter, melted
1/2 c white sugar
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 c sliced almonds (optional)


Filling Ingredients: 
3 pkgs cream cheese (8 oz), softened
1 1/2 c white sugar
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract


Directions:
1. preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. Mix/ blend filling ingredients together until smooth
3. roll out 1 can of present rolls onto a 9 x 13 baking dish, shaping the triangles into rectangular squares. 
4. Spread the filling evenly onto the crescent roll crust. Top the filling with the other can of crescent rolls, again shaping the triangles into rectangular squares. 
5. Melt the butter and drizzle over the crescent roll top
6. Mix together the remaining sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle on top of the melted butter. 


Bake at 350 for 40-45 minutes or until the top is golden brown. Let cool for a few minutes then serve!

Home is where the heart is

Home is where the heart is.....home for me is with my husband and also with my family. As for this post I am thinking about my family.....in particular my sister, Cathy.
Cathy, my beautiful, loving sister has always been one of my consistent readers to this blog even when I had no idea she was reading. It felt really good that she cared to read my random thoughts and post about life and food haha. Every month I look forward to our sister date of movies, chocolate chip waffles and maybe some shopping :)
Though the main point that I am writing this post is to tell all about Cathy, who she is and everything that she means to me.

This is how we roll! :) She was my maid-of-honor at the wedding. Beautiful and perfect!

Cathy is a beautiful, strong, independent, loving, caring, protective, loyal, funny and intelligent woman. Those are only a few of the many words that I use to describe her. On the outside she may come across as tough and quiet but inside she is full of love, care and compassion for others. A deep love that overflows when it is penetrated....
She is my older sister by 5 years but growing up we were so different from one another that we weren't very close until I reached college. Even though we were different she was always there for me when I needed her, especially the times when I needed her the most. Looking back on it now, I can see the Lord's work in our lives. I can see why it wasn't until we were older for us to become closer because we specifically needed each other but in different ways....for different purposes.

Through the years I have seen her go through her share of beautiful, amazing glorious times full of joy but I have also seen her go through rough times where it seemed that there was no light at the end of the tunnel. Though as is said in Jeremiah 29:11, scripture reminds us there is a light at the end of the tunnel and I saw how my sister fought through it with all the strength that she had along with the help, guidance and love of our parents, family, friends and her relationship with Christ. At the end, she was a stronger woman in so many ways but mostly she was stronger in her walk with the Lord.
I am incredibly proud of her and the strength in which she possesses is one that I admire greatly. I thank God everyday for her because the bond that I have with her is one that could never be replaced.....she holds a special place in my heart and in my prayers.
I love her so much and I could probably go on for days about the woman that she is and how special she is to me but I must stop at some point....

Cathy, if you are reading this I LOVE YOU VERY VERY much! :)

Laughter is a sweet cure for stress

This week has been crazy stressful because it is back to the "real-world" of finishing up my 3 presentations and working in lab.

As an update, Washington D.C was great, relaxing, fun and full of amazing food that we both loved! I also got to see my best friend, Lauren! I have missed her so much!
Anyways, these presentations are all due within a week of one another and I am constantly busy and completely stressed out. For one thing, I am thankful that Jonathan is there to listen to me, give me a shoulder to cry on and build me right back up by treating me as if I was in basic training. I'm serious in that. My husband has become my drill sergeant by pushing me to the limit and making sure I stay motivated.
"It's all about just doing what you need to do and staying motivated.....don't let stress rule your life!" 
"Let go of the doubts, fears, insecurities by crushing them in the face!" 
Well, one of the ways that I have been relieving some of the stress is by laughing! Like in watching a comedy, joking with my husband or friends, or laughing at funny pictures. I absolutely love taking funny pictures with my family and my husband! Don't worry they aren't embarrassing funny....just purposefully funny.
I'll share a few of them that always make me laugh.....I hope they do the same for you.

These are of my beautiful niece Ryland. She is crazy, fun, loud and has an infectious smile and laugh. I wish I had gotten to see her this week because she always makes me feel so much better. 

"Lori, come play with me...ooo let me see the camera!" "PLEASE!"

 Oh to be a little girl again......

Jonathan never seems to take a good picture. That is the truth. He will admit to it. It always comes out with him with a crazy face or looking like he is half sleeping. It is funny! We both end up laughing at it! Here are a few that make me laugh the most....

Jonathan is like a little kid.....he loves Chicken McNuggets!

AH crazy hair! 

He made this face behind my back! lol

I love this crazy man! He always finds a way to make me laugh :)

And lastly, my family and their love for the Mac iphoto application! hehehehehe

Spring break! well not really...

Spring break is this week but it is not really spring break for a graduate student in chemistry. Whether it may be catching up on classes, finishing grading for the teaching labs or working in research lab, there is always something to do. For me, it has been a busy week of working in research lab all day all the while trying to finish projects and presentations for my classes. I am stressed to my max!
Though I am starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel because tomorrow we are packing up and heading out to Washington DC!
I am excited to just get away and spend a relaxing time with my husband. :) We are both in need of this, school is just wearing us out right now.
Why Washington DC? Well, because we are both in love with the city, museums and road trips. Plus it is not far and relatively cheap if you know how to shop around on hotel prices.

As for tonight I am going to de-stress by baking something delicious and watching LOST with the hubby :)
I think I am going to make those peanut butter protein bars I found on Peanut Butter Fingers . They look absolutely delicious! and I LOVE everything peanut butter.
Oh, I can't wait until tomorrow......but first I have to finish my lab work and go make dinner, it is my favorite Thai peanut chicken stir-fry!

A tribute to my hero

This week has seemed really long to me!? Maybe because it was the week before spring break and we are planning to go to Washington D.C. (can't wait!) or it was most likely because I was sick for three days :(
All I did was sleep for those days and I had to miss my classes. I absolutely hate missing classes but my body won the battle....this time. My strength is back though and I am feeling better. Jonathan helped by making sure I ate by going out to get me chicken noodle soup and a milkshake :)

Anyways, I wanted to share a bit of information that the Lord placed on my heart this week. Good information.
So that it all makes sense, I must begin by telling a little bit about my wonderful husband Jonathan.
Before I met him in November 2009, he had served in the Army 2nd Batallion, 3rd Infantry Division for 3 years with a 15 month deployment to Iraq. The deployment was from June 2006-September 2007.....

Dwell on this, I hadn't thought about those deployment dates much at all until the other day....
This is one of those moments where the Lord speaks to my heart gently reminding me that HE is there watching me, guiding me and protecting me because I am HIS child.
Growing up in church and in a household where my parents were my source of my spiritual guidance, I had been praying for the man that I would someday marry since middle school. I knew that God had only one perfect man set out for me to marry. It would be in his time that HE would join us together when HE had us both ready.....
Thus this brought me to the point of thinking about those deployment days. I remembered that entire year for me because I had just started college, no boyfriend, and I was focused on school and growing in my spiritual walk. Everyday my prayers consisted of praying for my future husband: "that the Lord continue to work in his heart to mold him into a man of God, preparing him for that time in which we will meet but most importantly protect him and keep him safe....wherever he may be."

I didn't know it then but I was praying for Jonathan.

In that moment of realization, I was amazed. :)
We both went through a lot before we met one another but it was all in the Lord's plan....
"You see, until you are ready and the one I have for you is ready… I am working even this minute to have you both ready at the same time… until you are both living to, which you will, however imperfectly, reflect your relationship in me. First give me time to heal your wounds, console your heartaches, and ease your disappointments. Find me time to erase the painful memories of the past. Give me time to heal you and make you whole and complete in me."


Jonathan has a shield given to him by his battalion and it says on the back:
THIS COIN IS PRESENTED TO A HERO, A MAN WHO WILLINGLY HAS DONE MORE THAN ANY MAN SHOULD EVER BE ASKED TO DO. 


Jonathan is my hero, my inspiration, my best friend, my husband and I love him more than anything in this world. Everyday I am thankful for him. He is my true, sweet, undeserving blessing given to me from my Lord.

For all who are reading this I ask: Who is your hero?  

National Peanut Butter Lover's Day!

From reading the blogs that I follow today, I have found out it is National Peanut Butter Lover's Day! 
This is simply amazing and really cool! I have never heard of this day before but it definitely made my day because I am in love with peanut butter :)
I will eat anything with peanut butter in it, anything dipped in peanut butter or eat it just plain out of the jar. My guilty pleasure is Reese's Cup and peanut butter TWIX :)
I am so in love with it that if there was nothing left on earth for me to eat except for peanut butter sandwiches I would be happy! Seriously, I wouldn't go hungry.
My favorite is natural peanut butter because it is healthy for you and the taste is SO much better than the processed stuff. Every morning for breakfast, I eat an apple and a banana dipped in peanut butter. So good! plus I'm also a creature of habit. hehehe

I also love to bake with peanut butter :) I have made a variety of things such as a peanut butter chocolate chip chessecake, peanut butter cookies, peanut butter oatmeal raisin cookies, dark chocolate cake with peanut butter frosting.....the list goes on and on. You name it, I have made it (or will make it!).

You should get my point by now: I love PB, simple as that. Check out this blog post: Healthy recipes that include peanut butter

http://blog.foodnetwork.com/healthyeats/2011/03/01/10-ways-to-love-peanut-butter/