Warmer Inspiration

During the months of November and December, I'll be one of the first to bound out the door and marvel at the beauty of snowflakes dancing toward the ground. After Christmas however, my desire for snow is complete and I am ready to move onto the next season. Unfortunately, January and February usually have the last word. They most certainly have this year with an unusually large quantity of snowfall. In response to today's snow that fell consistently during the day, I am posting a little picture inspiration to get my mind on warmer weather and the beautiful vibrant colors of summer. It won't be long until the summer months arrive and the bright sunshiny yellow sunflowers will be blooming back home!

Savvy Saver

Since I had the day off today, it seemed like a good day to make a trip to the grocery. I must admit that grocery shopping is not on my list of favorite activities, but it was much more enjoyable when I was able to take my sweet time and peruse the aisles. After placing the last few items in my cart, I strolled along the row of checkout lines trying to determine which would lead me to the quickest exit route. You know the game we all play. Well, let's just say that I wasn't a winner today. I chose a line with only one customer ahead of me, but after putting my groceries on the belt, I realized that this fellow shopper was apparently stocking up for the end of the world. After reminding myself that patience is a virtue, I began to watch the process going on between the customer and cashier in front of me. My attitude changed to one of respect when I noticed that the woman had first of all brought a number of reusable shopping bags and that she was quite the coupon clipper. She was not only environmentally conscious but also financially smart too! I will say that I only occasionally use a coupon, but I have to admire those who take the time and have developed the skills to deduct a large sum of money from their bill. I think I will make it my goal over the next few weeks to begin searching for coupons before going to the store. We'll see if I can turn myself into a savvy saver after all.

P.S. - Advice welcome and wanted from any skilled coupon users!

An Old-Fashioned & Classic Girl

As much as any other person in my generation, I'm appreciative and used to the convenience in our society. I quickly Google a product I'm looking to buy and with a few clicks of the mouse, it will be shipped to my house in days. After a long day I may not feel up to cooking so I pop a Lean Cuisine in the microwave instead as a satisfactory substitute. However, I do have an appreciation for a slower and more old-fashioned way of life. As one of the women in a Bible study at church confirmed one evening when discussing the average age of the participants, I fit in well because I am an old soul at heart. (I'll take that as a compliment.)

I find this quality of myself to show through in my shopping habits as well. When looking for clothes, I am more likely to lean more toward classic as opposed to cutting edge and trendy. I jokingly tell my mom that her style is more hip than mine. I was also shopping online for a tea kettle as a Christmas gift from my dad to me just the other day. For starters I realize that perhaps a tea kettle is a strange item for a girl in her 20's to even be shopping for; however, shopping for it I was. As I browsed through websites and pictures, I found myself drawn to more classic models as opposed to the sleeker and more modern versions. As of yet I'm still on the search for the tea kettle I have pictured in my mind that is coupled with a good set of reviews for durability by other purchasers. Suggestions are welcome from fellow tea lovers.

A few models that have sparked my interest (the jury is still out for me as to whether they will be of the best quality):

*(Le Creuset Whistling Teakettle)
*(Copco Cambridge Tea Kettle)

In addition to going the old-fashioned route when it comes to drinking tea, I also had a couple of discussions with both my brother and my boyfriend concerning the gifting popularity this year of electronic reading devices such as the Nook and the Kindle. I am very intrigued by these gadgets, yet as an avid reader I feel that I would almost be cheating on my love of books by joining the ranks and adding it to my wish list. Call me crazy, but there is just something about physically curling up with a blanket and an actual book that evokes relaxation and peacefulness in my life. Perhaps if I were a frequent traveler or businesswoman I might find multiple uses for it in my daily life. No, the teacher in me and traditional nature of myself draw me right to the bookshelves of the library or my favorite bookstore, Barnes and Noble. Maybe down the road I will be convinced that one of these would be useful in my life, but for now I am going to stick with my usual, the preferences of an old-fashioned and classic girl.

The inner battle of a reader: traditional or technological?

*(One of my favorite classics, Pride and Prejudice.)
*(Although quite impressive, I'm not yet ready to convert to the Kindle.)

That One Sweet Silent Night

And there were shepherds living out in the field nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord."
Luke 2:8-12

The Christmas season is definitely in full swing with only about a week and a half until the 25th arrives. The last days of school leading up to break have been keeping me busy and Christmas shopping has been happening slowly but surely. It has been a wonderful holiday season full of festive activities. Amidst it all, I refuse to be caught in a whirlwind of simply secular celebration. The message at church this past Sunday brought me back to a passage I have read and learned about since I was a small child, that of the shepherds who received news of the first and most precious Christmas gift. It's easy for me to breeze through such a familiar story, but I think this would be foolish. Instead, I want to share why I believe this is such an unusually beautiful piece of the Christmas story.

It was a routine, regular night for these shepherd men. I imagine that they were fairly simple men, perhaps quiet as they laid beneath a blanket of starry sky. What a sweet, silent night. All of a sudden, God sent an angel to appear to them with a jubilant message. This in itself astounds me. If I were one of the shepherds, this alone would have been the experience of a lifetime. God had sent an angel to speak a special message to me. Wow, an evening to remember and tell about for generations. God was only getting started. This angel preceded to share with the men news that would change the course of history. God had come to Earth. He had sent His Son, Jesus, to live and walk among His people, to love us, to teach us, to heal us, and to save us. Emmanuel, God with us. The shepherds quickly left to find this precious baby, their Savior. I can only imagine what it must have been like to have the opportunity these men were given, to gaze into the face of a beautiful baby knowing that He was my Lord. Thinking about it in these terms, it's no wonder that so many Christmas songs have been written, each attempting to capture the beauty and holiness of this wondrous night, the first noel.

This holiday season, take a moment to appreciate the depth and meaning of that very first Christmas when God sent us a gift like no other, a baby to save the world.

All In the Family

This weekend I was blessed by a wonderful evening with my dad's side of the family. My dad and his five brothers and sisters had planned a surprise 80th birthday dinner and celebration for my grandma. Let me begin by saying what a deserving woman that my grandmother was of this evening. I continue to be in awe of her dedication to her family and home. I have never been over at their house during a meal time when my grandma didn't have some meal prepared always followed by a dessert. Oh, if only I had that same dedication and time for cooking in the kitchen! How I wish! Maw Maw is also a continual source of love, support, hugs, and words of wisdom for her many grandchildren. I hope that I am able to be that to my children and grandchildren down the road someday too.

As I sat at the restaurant with my uncles, aunts, cousins, various relatives, and family friends, I couldn't help but realize how blessed I truly am. I know we most certainly aren't perfect, but to have so many people to lean on, to love, and to be loved by in return is an amazing gift. As the event neared its end, I watched as my grandma sat at a table with her last living sister and other female relatives. Their peels of laughter could be heard echoing throughout the restaurant. It brought a smile to my heart to see that despite the years, their bonds still make them young sisters at heart.

This post isn't a very long one, but I just wanted to reflect on how much I appreciate my parents, my brother, and our extended family and family friends who feel a lot like family. Don't wait until the holidays to spend time with them and show them that you care. Embrace the wonderful blessing of family today.

Bon Appétit!

I like to think of myself as someone with a wide variety of interests. Maybe I just can't make up my mind about my interests and hobbies, but I prefer to call it a hunger for experiences, knowledge, and life. Over fall break, I spent a wonderful afternoon with one of my dear friends. We began our outing by strolling around the zoo and checking out the wide variety of animals. On a whim, we decided to head downtown to see the new cultural trail which contains various pieces of glass artwork commemorating important individuals in our country's history and their contributions. Although the time on our parking meter was ticking away, we decided to pick up the pace and make a quick stop at the South Bend Chocolate Shop on the the circle before heading back. After perusing the display of chocolate covered fruits and treats, I bought some delicious dark chocolate covered tart cherries. Yum! This brings me to the topic of this post. As we retraced our path to return to the car, I discussed with my friend just how much we truly love food. We have come to the conclusion that some people simply like food while others truly enjoy the qualities of unique dishes and ingredients. I am most certainly a member of the latter group. Now that we have branched out of the small town in which we grew up, we have an array of delicious restaurants right at our fingertips. I told my friend my idea of making a list of the many restaurants we hope to try so that we can begin checking off one a month or so. (I know I'm such a list maker. Make fun if you wish, but that's just how I operate.) This post is dedicated to this endeavor and the first of the city's many restaurants that will begin my list of must-try locations.

1. The first restaurant, which I will actually be trying out tomorrow evening, is called Creation Cafe. It is located along the canal downtown and has piqued my interest in passing recently. I hope their dinner creations are as creative as the restaurant itself seems to be!


2. The second restaurant on my list which also happens to be my second upcoming restaurant stop is Napolese which has been deemed "an artisanal pizzeria." Okay, that in itself sounds delicious...count me in!

3. Greek food is one of my favorites, and a particular restaurant of this cuisine which I've been wanting to visit is Indy's Santorini Greek Kitchen. Unfortunately, I heard on the radio a few weeks ago that their building was damaged by a fire. Hopefully I didn't miss out on my opportunity to try their excellent dishes.

4. My list is nowhere near finished, but this one currently tops it off. I recently walked past a very interesting building that housed the Bourbon Street Distillery. It is located on the corner of the street and appears to have two stories, outdoor dining available, and music. It looks to be a relaxing environment in which to enjoy this Cajun and Caribbean cuisine.


To my fellow food appreciators out there, let me know if you want to join in on any of these excursions or if you have other recommendations. My quest for Indy's unique dining spots has only begun...... bon appétit!

Leaving the Nets Behind

Have you ever heard or read something that just sticks with you all day long, maybe for weeks, or even keeps coming back in your mind a few months down the road? For me, this started back this summer while I was working at church camp. The theme of our summer there was "In His Steps" and focused on learning to follow the example that Jesus set out for us. During one particular camp session, a good friend of mine who happened to be camp pastor that week spoke with the campers about the calling of the disciples. Mark 1:16-20 says:

As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." At once they left their nets and followed him. When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.

That verse just stops me in my tracks. What beautiful and total FAITH. These men seem to be spending their day hard at work doing their job as fishermen when a man calls out to them to leave it behind and follow him. Did they stop to give a clueless stare? Did Simon and Andrew have a chat about it? Did James and John consult their father for advice? I would have loved to have been sitting there along the lake shore to see this scene play out. It says that "at once" Simon and Andrew obeyed. They dropped exactly what they were doing, the familiar, and faithfully followed our Savior.

It makes me wonder what I would have done had I been sitting by the sea casting my net into the water. Had Jesus walked by and asked me to leave it behind and simply follow Him, would I have done so without question? Knowing me, I think I would have asked a few questions, requested a few days to think it through, talk it out, and weigh the options. Oh, to only be more like those faithful men. They must have known that this invitation came from a man like no other, the most wonderful individual to set foot in our world. In their faith, they found the One worth leaving everything else behind for.

Thankfully this wasn't a one time deal for those select men. They may have had the opportunity to follow Him, fellowship with Him, and learn from Him in person, but we too have the opportunity to answer when He calls to our hearts, "Come, follow me." I'm so thankful that He is still inviting. I'm so thankful that He doesn't make it a one time invite and RSVP with no changes. He keeps knocking at hearts and waiting, inviting us to set out on the adventure of a lifetime with the Savior of the world. All we have to do is drop the nets and follow in faith.