Cooking and Meal Planning

I like to cook, especially when I have people to cook for. Cooking for one is always a challenge and I have found that cooking for two is as well. After reading my best friend's blog (Lindsey) I was inspired by  her post about budgeting and saving  money. She has lots of inspiring and encouraging posts that I continually enjoy reading and look forward to reading. One aspect she wrote about was to plan out your meals for the week. I've heard this was a good idea to save money and be a little more health conscientious but had never sat down to do it. I have planned out last weeks and this weeks meals. Grocery shopping has been much more hassle free. I have made one trip each week. I know it's only been 2 weeks, but it's a start. I have started a weekly menu folder and printed off the week's meals with the recipes. I plan to collect plenty of recipes to then mix and match for the up and coming weeks. I tried a turkey meatloaf recipe that I would not recommend. But at least I tried it. I have found that I also enjoy the time in the kitchen preparing meals. It's also a nice time for Dan and I to share together, he's a pretty good helper :) So here's to preparing healthy, easy and yummy food!

Long time no blog

It's been a very very long time since I've written anything. There's a lot going on and then again it seems like it's same old same old. I find I am constantly distracting myself when I am home from work. Watching Netflix, packing (a necessary thing at this point) or just doing meaningless things. This is one of my constant battles: taking time for silence and meditation. I know the benefits of doing it and yet I continue to keep myself busy rather than taking even just 10 minutes to sit quietly and/or pray or spend some time in scripture. Why is it so hard? Am I afraid I won't like what I hear? Is there nothing meaningful I think or feel? What keeps me being "busy"?

I am looking forward to moving into the house but I've had a twinge of sadness leaving behind my first grown-up, on-my-own apartment. There are lots of things I won't miss like: ridiculously high rent, far commute, loud neighbors, speed bumps, mail center. Moving always brings bouts of adjustment and a new mindset. The furnace at the house has been out a lot lately and no one seems to know what's wrong. But we have a house, shelter, space heater and a pellet stove to keep us warmer than we otherwise would be on the street. So in these early months to years of buying and owning a home, I realize that it is a time of building character and endurance.

Quiet time is good, it is necessary. It is refreshing.

Christmas 2011

Dan and I celebrated our first Christmas together since we met. We had dinner and opened presents with Dan's immediate family on Friday the 23rd then headed to Ft. Wayne to celebrate with my parents, Brielle and of course, Maggie (Brielle's dog). I would say both celebrations were a success. It's good to be with family. Mom made all of our favorite traditions and Brielle made our newest tradition Buche de Noel.

Big Happenings

This has been a big week for Dan and me. Wednesday Dan made a delicious steak dinner complete with candles and rose petals in order to ask me to marry him. I said yes! I spent the rest of the night calling family and friends to share our exciting news. Dan closed on our new house yesterday morning. He moves in next weekend. When my lease ends in February, Dan will move out of the house and I will move in. We are planning a wedding for October of 2012. We are super excited and thankful!!

A few days of fun

Since my last day at Drake was Tuesday the 23rd I have a few days off before I started my new job on the 29th. Dan and I went to Nashville, IN yesterday and visited a lot of neat shops with handcrafted items and what not. We also got to visit with a couple that worship with my parents in New Haven. We had a great dinner at the Farmhouse restaurant in Bean Blossom, IN. How cute! All the vegetables are grown there and the peach tea tasted just like I was eating a peach. Today I got to visit one of my best friends Lindsey and her family. Her husband just started at the police academy in Louisville. We had a great lunch with some delicious gyros then headed to Cherokee Park for a walk and some play time with her precious little girls Kaylee and Grace. They are both very good and generous with giving hugs and are always smiling. They are such a joy to be around and it's easy to see why when you know their parents. It's been a great past 2 days of visiting and spending time with some of my favorite people.

New and Exciting Things

After accepting a position at Children's I found out my good friend Erin and her husband bought a house and she had 5 interviews for classroom teaching positions. She wasn't expecting to even be able to interview for classroom positions when they moved to Houston due to budget cuts. However one school district was able to re-hire for positions they actually could afford and those people already had new jobs which led to postings for new candidates. Among other good news my best friend Lindsey and her husband Logan accepted a position in Louisville which has been in the making for quite a few months and are moving next weekend. Another friend of mine Sarah is leaving her overly stressful and dangerous job for a much better one. My best friend Kristin and her husband Matt have also bought a house. It seems like a lot of changes with jobs and homes/moving as been going on this past week. It's exciting for all of them with answered prayers. When it rains, it pours blessings.  

Perlman Center

It's official...I have accepted a position with the Perlman Center at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. My last day at Drake will be August 23 and then I start at Children's on August 29. I have waited almost a year for this position and the timing is finally right. God is good.