It's A... BABY!

Josh and I's announcement of the year... we're expecting a sweet addition in January! Talk about the best Birthday gift ever! We have been waiting for God to bless our sweet family with a baby and He sure did have the best plan ever <3 Here's the story of our amazing weekend:

On the weekend of May 10th we left to go to Lynchburg, VA for my college graduation ceremony. It was also Josh's Birthday that very day, and the next day was Mother's Day! So, long story short- It was already turning out as an awesome weekend! On the morning of the 10th it was my graduation day and Josh's 23rd Birthday. While I was getting ready (at the CRACK of dawn!) to head over for the graduation ceremony- I decided I would take a test just to see. I don't know whether it was because of the heartburn that woke me up (that I would learn was my first pregnancy "symptom"), or what, but who decides to take a test at 5AM on their graduation day?! Evidently ME! So the test was taken... and it was positive! Talk about a tear-jerker! We were (and are) SO happy to be adding this sweet little baby to our family! 

The day flew like a whirlwind and the whole time I was walking in graduation I just thought "the baby is with me during graduation" "I am pregnant". It was surreal- the ceremony was awesome and tiring. And it was one of the best days of my life <3 Later that night we went out to dinner and shared the great news with both sets of parents and my younger brother- they were all so shocked and happy- it was awesome!! 

Now I am 11 weeks pregnant with this sweet peanut and we are still on cloud nine <3 

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” Jeremiah 1:5

Cinnamon Vanilla Granola

Mmmmmmm! This week, sitting on my counter, is this yummy granola I made to top my plain-Jane vanilla yogurt! I don't like the fruit on the bottom, or any of those fancy greek yogurts, etc. I just love plain vanilla yogurt! But I always feel its lacking my need for texture. I love to add bananas or berries (FRESH) to it, but for an extra kick I whipped up some super easy granola. To my calculation here is what I put into it (I eyeball EVERYTHING ;) So have at this recipe, you won't be sorry!

Cinnamon Vanilla Granola

• 4 cups quick oats
• 1/2 cup pecans
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1 cup butter
• 2 tablespoons cinnamon (Ok, I love the stuff!)
• 1 tablespoon vanilla
• Any other add-in you want will work too! Craisins, raisins, nuts, sunflower seeds, etc.

I mix all of these together in a frying pan, making sure the sugar, honey, and butter are melted together first. Once everything is combined thoroughly I spread on a cookie sheet and bake @ 350 for about ten minutes. This is something you need to be watching. Because you do not want it too soft or burnt, you are looking for a toasty feeling on the edges, when it dries it will get fully crunchy! I usually turn the oven off and let it dry out a bit more while it sits in the oven with the door part-way open. It will cool quickly- then store it in an air tight container and enjoy!! :) You will love this addition to your yogurt or just to eat as is! I have even eaten it with milk poured over it! 

Vegetarian Tacos

Vegetarian Tacos!

Today I made the most delightful vegetarian tacos! I am fasting from meat for the Lenten Season (which is over on Sunday!) and have been searching for ways to avoid meat (which, after weeks now doesn't seem as hard as first imagined). Do I miss meat? yes. Where these just as good as any other dish that has meat? yes! So without further ado- here's my recipe!

Here's the "normal" stuff I put on it:

• Taco Shells (obviously)
• Sour Cream 
• Taco Sauce
• Lettuce
• Shredded Cheese

Here's the filling ingredients (In place of meat):

• 1 Cup Cooked Quinoa (any way you like to prepare it! I put with two parts water and a little butter and salt, then boil til cooked)
• 1 Can Black Beans
• 1 Can Whole Kernel Corn
• Taco seasoning to taste (I like lots and often make my own)
• Crushed Red Pepper Flakes

I take all of these ingredients and dump together in a frying pan, cook for about 10 mins until fully heated, and ENJOY! Yumm! And I had all of this in my kitchen already :) Happy Vegetarian Cooking!

Canvas Quote DIY

See that canvas? Yep, I finally got the guts to make one, and there it is! I love it! So here's the breakdown: SUPER EASY!

Supplies:

• Canvases from Walmart (8x10 have 2 in a pack for around $5) 
• Paint Pens (also from walmart)
• Acrylic Glossy paint (only 0.50 cents a bottle! You don't have to get glossy, the regular will seem more like matte and the glossy is more like nail polish)
• Paint Brushes (any really, or even a sponge if you want a dfferent look)

So I took my canvas and painted just one coat of mossy green color. It dried pretty quickly. One coat made mine look unfinished but I like that rustic feel so I left it that way. These dry pretty quickly!

Then I used a ruler and simply free-handed with my silver paint pen the song Lyrics! I got the bold paint pens but if you wanted a finer print they have those too! The flower is also free-hand with purple and yellow.

 Now something else you can do is use stencils for the writing and also stickers painted over and then peeled off. I am hoping to try this soon and show you! You could also use your children's hand prints or even put tape on it and paint to then peel off for stripes! :-) Happy DIY'ing everyone!!

Following God's Will and Reaching the Brokenhearted

So, long time no blog- this is ALWAYS my problem! I try to keep up with the blog but I eventually forget! So update: We bought our house and moved in in December- woop woop! My new job is being a home health aid! I love it! Ok that's the extent of the news! ;) So here's a little call to action/testimony for everyone:

Being a home health aid has brought me tons of joy! I followed God's prompting in my life and it is returning to me tenfold! Obviously going from a management position to a home health aid, in the world's eyes, is not an "upgrade" - but in God's eyes following His will for your life is ALWAYS an upgrade! Praise His name! 

The job of a Home Health Aid is to go into the houses of others, (usually elderly) and help them in daily activities such as housekeeping, cooking, dressing, bathing, companionship, etc. It's pretty awesome if it is your calling in life :) During this job you meet so many different kinds of people and hear SO many ddifferent stories, which are all awesome! But there is sadness in this line of work. I sometimes meet some people who are all alone with no family left. This breaks my heart! A dear woman I recently saw has no more family left except a distant cousin far away. Her best friend recently passed also. She has never been married or had children. Her pastor never comes around anymore. And she has many health issues. You can see into her eyes the pain she feels in life everyday- the pain of loneliness. But in those few hours we come to see her she smiles. Her eyes light up through the hurt and she feels friendship and love. How awesome is that? If only we could be there all the time and help her loneliness vanish! But every time we come to see her she feels that love and friendship just once more. 

So my call to you is why not befriend the lonely? Love on the poor and heavy-hearted? God commands us in the Bible to care for the widows and the orphans and to love and cherish all!

 

"He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds." Psalms 147:3

Let God work through your life today and touch those that are Brokenhearted! Simple gestures like a smile, a brief hello how are you doing, offering to help with house cleaning, bringing someone a meal or baked good, visiting those who are unable to come to church, creating an event in a nursing or assist living home, writing to someone who has recently lost a family member.  The possibilities are endless!! Letting God work through my life has brought me nothing but JOY and love to my life- let Him use you too- you will NOT be sorry!    

DIY Grocery Bag Holder

So this Christmas I have decided to go homemade more than usual in an effort to be more personal and money wise for gifts! For me personally, I LOVE getting homemade gifts for any occasion and I just hope others feel the same about mine :) So one of the many items I am making this year is something I have been thinking about for a while: a grocery bag holder!

                                                          
Items you will need:

• Thread to match fabric (I usually go with white so I can use it for multiple fabrics)
• A 22"x17" rectangle of fabric (I taped 4 sheets of printer paper together for the pattern)
• 3/ inch woven elastic
• Ribbon, twine, etc. for top hanging loop

Once you have all of these materials it is simple! 

• On each "short end" fold under 1/2 inch hem, press, and sew on both ends
• cut two pieces of elastic, 10" long each
• Stretch these pieces of elastic 1/2" inch below hem and sew. (Hold the elastic stretched out to the end while you sew, this is sometimes tricky but you'll get the hang of it soon, once you are done they will be scrunched up on both ends)
• Then fold entire garment insider out with raw edges together. Stitch up entire side
• Flip right side out and then attach small ribbon loop near one top end of garment and wa-la! You are finished!

I Don't Want to be a Jonah

     Have you ever wanted something so badly and never understood why God hasn't given it to you yet? Have you ever wondered why God has us go through things in life that break our hearts, make us frustrated, or baffle us? Sometimes I am like this... actually it is a lot of the time (At least I'm honest, right?) 

     It makes me want to yell at Him and tell Him why my way is so much better and how I have this whole plan worked out for why everything will go "perfectly". Many times you just CANNOT see a better way or a better reason to be patient no matter how hard you try. It gets rough because, if you are like me, you have very little patients to start off with. 

     Do you think it was easy for Jonah to listen God's command when He told him to preach a touchy subject to Nineveh? Obviously not because he ran from God, trying to get away from His command. He did not like the job God gave him so he ran from it most likely thinking life would be fine if he just ignored it. Little did he know what God had in store. He sent a mighty storm to tussle the ship he rode on. Then after much controversy Jonah said he should be tossed overboard because he was the reason this storm was brought about. We then know he was swallowed by a great fish and had to live in it's belly for many days!! And not until Jonah repented and praised God was he released from it's belly by the mercy of the Lord!

     So for Jonah, I am sure his plan included almost NONE of the things God had in store for him. But yet we see that God had a bigger purpose for Him- he helped the people of Nineveh to see their wrong ways and repent to God. Later on Jonah STILL complains about things and God scolds him yet again. 

     I do not want to be like Jonah who is always complaining and second guessing God. I want to be obedient and patient in all things to see the Lord's ways and purposes for everything He does in my life. I am still learning, boy am I! But what I do know is that life is most definitely not just about me- God also has purposes that are to affect others and be an encouragement to them, even if I downright despise the way it's done. 

     "The mind of man plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps." Proverbs 16:9. This is my very favorite of all the verses in the Bible. It helps me to remember that the Lord is in control of everything in my life. As much as I think I know- do I know more than God? (I don't think this requires an answer ;) )
  
     Have a great week ladies!

~Love, Alicia