enjoying the process » loving the journey, not just the destination

Maybe I’ll start blogging again…

I like blogging better than FB and IG, but it takes longer. So for now I’ll just post when I can. Here are a few of the photos I’ve been editing lately.

IMG_4131-155IMG_4192-219IMG_4240-267IMG_7714-36IMG_8103-79IMG_8130-103-as-Smart-Object-1IMG_8150-123IMG_8194-167-as-Smart-Object-1IMG_8208-181IMG_8222-195

December 19, 2017 - 10:11 am

Abby McCollum - I love your pictures. So cute! By the way my name is Abby. I met Keagan in my class at gormen. I am in fourth grade. I would love it if you would blog again. Because i love your pictures!

December 19, 2017 - 10:19 am

Abby McCollum - I really hope you got my messgae. Say hello to Keagan for me! Your pictures are super cute. I really like them. Football is a really tough sport if you think about it. I really like your frist video! Super super cute!

December 20, 2017 - 4:20 pm

Abby McCollum - I keep looking at these pictures soooooo cute! say hello to Keagan fo me

December 21, 2017 - 10:25 am

Abby McCollum - I really enjoy your Pictures! How’ve you been?

December 22, 2017 - 12:11 pm

Abby McCollum - Could you blog again? It would be so nice. I enjoy your pictures! I want you to know your house is really nice! I have one brother and two sisters and our house is a mess!

January 2, 2018 - 10:44 am

Abby McCollum - I think you should blog! Because even though people are mean these days old people like to rember when they were young!! so i hope you are not sick. My Mom,Dad, Hannah, Chloe, and Nathan got sick last week. Their all better now. Hope you guys are alright!!!!!

January 18, 2018 - 4:40 pm

Abby McCollum - Sorry for not commenting you guys later! Busy around here. So not to be bossy but i really want you to srat blogging again!! Please!

January 18, 2018 - 4:44 pm

Amy McCollum - I am so sorry about Abigail! Why don’t we become friends! My phone number is 909 241 6816. Hey why don’t Chloe and Hannah have a PLaydate! 3:00 on Tuseday!

Endurance.

I was reading my Bible this morning in Hebrews 12… “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses (Moses, Joshua, Rahab, David, Samuel, the Prophets), Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily entangles us… and let us run with ENDURANCE the race that is set before us.” Now, I know nothing of endurance on a sports level. I’m a quitter, I’m weak, I give up easily, my mind can easily sway me into stopping early, giving up, “it’s too much, it’s too hard.”

But my husband is the exact opposite. He is competitive, he’s a doer, he’s disciplined, he can train his mind and his body to do anything. He’s such an amazing example. And physical endurance and discipline definitely spill over into his spiritual life. What you see is what you get. He doesn’t talk about doing it- he does it. He leads our family, he prefers us, he ALWAYS puts our needs/ wants first, he goes above and beyond to protect and take care of us, he leads us spiritually, he trains our kids physically, he delights in the things we delight in, he never complains, he seems to not grow weary (even though he’s up at 4am every day!), and even after all these years together, he still treats me like I’m the only girl in the world. He is the nicest man I know.

So I was happy to spend 3 days in the desert with him, cheering him on and delighting in one of the things he delights in. A 6 hour, 2 man race in Temecula. He rode a total of 31 miles in the hot sun, up and down a tough, rugged course and still had a smile while BBQing hot dogs and carne asada that evening. He has endurance. He is such an example to me.  Sorry for all the gushing, but I really like him a lot.

IMG_3710-60IMG_3720-70IMG_3775-125IMG_3805-151IMG_3832-178IMG_3863-208IMG_3927-265IMG_3975-313IMG_3980-318james

 

January 28, 2014 - 12:01 am

Melinda Cassol - Love it!

Shepherd’s Pie.

So, I made Shepherd’sPie again tonight and we all loved it…. again. THe first time I made it I mentioned it received 8 thumbs up. THat almost NEVER happens in my house. So I’m sharing the recipe here since some of you have asked for it.  SIde note: Sorry that some of my words aren’t properly spaced and sometimes my caps lock sticks- I may have spilled a glass of wine on my keyboard at some point on our road trip : )

shepherds-pie

*I double this because… well, we eat a lot.

2 cups chicken (I used a rotisserie from Costco) chopped
1 cup chopped carrots
1 cup chopped celery
1 cup chopped onion
2 bay leaves
1 tsp dried thyme
2 cups chicken broth (I always use Trader Joe’s Organic chicken broth- yum!)
1/2 cup frozen green peas
2 cups leftover mashed potatoes

Preheat Oven to 400 degrees

Saute onion, carrots, celery, bayleaves, thyme in olive oil for a while (I sauté for a while because I like my veggies soft , but if you like them crisp sauté just a few minutes). Add chicken and chicken stock- allow broth to boil, then simmer for about 5 min.- let the liquid reduce just a little bit. Remove bay leaves, remove from heat then add the frozen peas.

Transfer to a deep dish pie plate or shallow casserole dish placed on a baking sheet (it will spill over). Spoon mashed potatoes over the top and make an even layer with the back of your spoon. I add fresh shaved parmesan cheese to the top, too.  Bake at 400 for 20 minutes until top is brown and filling is bubbly. ENjoy!!

 

January 28, 2014 - 12:03 am

Melinda Cassol - My husband won’t eat this but I love it! BUT…he will be down in so. cal. for a few weeks before we come so I think I will make this!! Looks so yummy!

B l o g s   t o   V i s i t