Quiche

Last week I was able to cook a lot more than usual, and that makes me happy. I explained to a few of my friends back home that the thing I miss the most is cooking for 12 people every week. Funny story, they said they missed it too! :) So glad my cooking is appreciated.

So, my mom always cooks quiche for Christmas holidays... and quiche is something I love. It is just about the only way that I will eat eggs. I just cannot stand the texture of eggs... so, yeah, I don't eat them.

So... quiche is something that you can throw a bunch of ingredients in... just whatever you like! I chose to put ham, cheese, and fresh bell pepper in mine. This picture is before baking, just so you can see all of the ingredients. I layered mine and then poured the wet ingredients over the top... However, I do feel that it would work if you mixed all ingredients together and poured into the pan.

It is easy and I was actually able to just put together what I had and it turned out to be a great meal. I love easy comfort food. I love trying new recipes, and I love to call on my ultimate cookbook, my mom. She can just throw stuff in a pot and it turns out to be great... This was my first time making quiche and I was so happy with how it turned out. Now, quiche may seem like girlie food, and maybe it is. But I believe that this is great as any meal, from breakfast to dinner. Just choose hearty ingredients or light ones depending on your mood and time of day. 

Cooking truly one of my favorite things to do!

First day of Spring 2011

Yesterday was my first day of classes for Spring 2011. After much anxiety and heartache about starting it was finally time. I was deeply worried that this semester will turn out as horrible as last semester truly was; that I would be stressed beyond belief, too tired to stay awak in class, and just overall weary and unhappy.

Matthew chapters 6 and 7 are some of my favorite Bible passages.

25"For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26"Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? 27"And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life?

Praise be to the Lord! I went back to these familiar verses and passages and was able to calm my heart and soul. Also, as my theme verse for this time in my life is Jeremiah 29:11, I have been reminded of a verse I treasured throughout my earlier teen years...

9"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9

What powerful verses God has given to me through this time in my life. Isn't His LIVING word amazing??

So yesterday I started my routine all over again. I got up at 5am, got ready, packed my lunch and left for work. (This hasn't changed the past month, and I am so blessed to have such a great job!) 6am greats me with so many wonderful men who I am so lucky to work with and for. It was our first 'normal' day back from the weather and the office and shop was buzing. I then left at 10:30am to go to my 11 o'clock class. It was great! The professor is so much more organized than my professor from last semster in the first half of this course; and he seems to have a great since of humor. After class I then returned to work for another two and a half hours before leaving at 2:30pm to go to my next class. This class seems to be a relatively simple class, and we shall see how it goes. My interpretation of Chinese accents has been greatly strengthened through my time here in Tuscaloosa.. something I never thought I would end up saying. And this will be my Monday's and Wednesday's.

My schedule seems to be a bit calmer this semester.. even though I start every day at six I am done with school and work by 4:15pm! Hooray!! So my nights again will be filled with homework, and I am making the most of this time without it. But God has truly calmed my heart about this semester, and I know that I am working toward His plan. I am so thankful for all He has richly blessed me with!



Prayers Needed

Please pray for one of my dear friends. She is a senior at Troy this year, and has been in the band with me and we became close my senior year. Last night, after she got off work she was abducted from outside her home and stabbed 15 times. She was then dropped off at a house in Bullock County. Praise be to the Lord on high that she was able to find someone and get help. She is now in a Montgomery hospital in stable condition. Please pray for her, her family and her friends. I know crazy people act stupid and have bad things happen to them, but she is a great girl, who doesn't drink, and was just getting home after a long night of work. All prayers and thoughts are greatly appreciated.

2011 College Retreat

I am so fortunate to be considered a part of the amazing college group at Ridgecrest Baptist. This past weekend we had a college retreat in Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge, TN. We had a wonderful time in our cabin, named Renewed Spirit. This was the theme of our weekend. Renewal, before school starts and life gets even crazier. This is the beautiful view of the mountains behind our cabin on our mountain. Now that was scary! Traveling up the icy roads in the church bus! When parked in downtown Gatlinburg there was so much ice the bus was sliding out of it's parking spot!! But the majesty of the Lord was all around us... what a beautiful place to workship!

We were able to go to Ober Gatlinburg on Friday and were actually snowed in and couldn't leave the mountain on Thursday! We had a great time running around the mountain and sledding down the icy roads. It snowed the entire time we were up there, and we thought we might not be able to make it home yesterday. Well, we changed our plans and left earlier in order to beat the weather to Tuscaloosa.

We made it back to Tuscaloosa just in time to see the roads piling up with ice and many cars in ditches. My car was a popsicle!! All the rain that was falling was freezing and piling up on the roads, so of course our cars were covered in the ice. I was able to use my ice scraper to clean everyones' windshields. What a sight!! It was neat to see... but I am glad it doesn't happen that often!

So, now I am sitting and waiting to go in to work. Everyone is freaking out in the south and even Troy has cancelled classes. HAH! You can tell we don't have weather like this much in the south.

The University of Alabama employees are expecting a delayed start, but we will know for sure around 10am. That is when we are all going in. :) So, have a safe and wonderful Monday! If you must get out, drive slowly and be careful! Especially on bridges!

My first book review

I decided that over the break I would rekindle my love for reading... After starting college and becoming so busy I have seldom been able to just sit down and read a book. So, while I was on my week long break from my job, I decided that I was going to not only read, but finish some books I have been able to start.

Twentysomething girl has been the first book on my list of many! The book is letters and biblical truths on moving into the real world. The book gives accounts of what women wish they had known before entering the 'real world' and things that they thought they had 'done right' upon entering the 'real world'. It is a book that can just be read outright, or read in chapters for a more devotional format. I did the later and loved it! Each chapter focuses on a different issue when coming into the real world. Issues such as job hunting, relationships and moving to a new town are all discussed and backed with Bible verses to support.

Twentysomething girl is an easy read with many letters from women across the country in all different walks of life. This book first sparked my interest because it is written and compiled by a lady who resides in Birmingham, AL and many of the letters are from girls who grew up in Alabama.


This is a book that I plan on purchasing for all my girlfriends who will soon be graduating from college. It is an amazing inspiration and encourager for entering into the 'real world'.  In a time full of change I feel that anyone could use a good pick me up and know that they are not alone. 


One of my favorite quotes from the book is: "The only thing that has been a constant in my life since graduation is change." How true this is!!! I hope and pray that every young woman, and man, seek first the kingdom of God in their new adventure into the fast paced crazy life of the 'real world'.

2011 Milestone

Today on my travels back to Tuscaloosa I found myself approaching a certain milestone. My lovely car has been in my possession since about halfway through my freshman year of college, and today January 2, 2011 about sixty miles outside of Tuscaloosa, my car hit the 100,000 mile mark. Silly isn't it? But I have put a lot of miles on my little car.. and it has a lot of memories under those tires. So, as minuscule as it may seem, this meant a lot to me, and I took a picture for all of you to see!

My return to Tuscaloosa was bittersweet. I had a wonderful time with my family this Christmas break and one week just didn't seem long enough. However, I am here with clothes washed and halfway unpacked, ready to start back to the daily routine. Spring 2011 excites me, as well as scares me, as I traverse into my second semester of graduate school and the 'real world'. It will be tough but rewarding, and oh, how time will fly. 

I am still working on getting my room put back together after having to move rooms and pictures are sure to come when I am finished putting my pictures back up and such. I plan on completely deep cleaning my apartment this week after work. We will see how that goes. ;) But for now, a preview of beauty... a Christmas present given to me by my sister Donna is now a wonderful new decoration in my apartment.

Isn't it beautiful? Decorating makes me want my own home more and more... But I know that with time I will be able to buy a home, and so much more. For this year I am working on focusing more on God's plan for my life, rather than making my own plans. Because I know, He has my best interests at heart! 

Happy New Year!

Happy 2011!! 2010 will definitely be a year that I will not soon forget as I continue my journey into the 'real world' of life after college graduation.

A few blessings from 2010

• I experienced friendship like never before, I learned who my true friends were and spend the time of my life making memories with them my senior year of college
• I was able to have a life changing experience by interning/teaching at Pike County High School... the lessons that I learned and the friend that I have gained.. the trails that we both went through that semester and the struggle that still carries on is something that has truly changed me, forever.
• On the same token, I have loved and lost, and also seen what it was like for someone so young and so dear be diagnosed with cancer, and two months later, lose the battle that would ultimately break a young girl's heart. 
• I experienced the 'real world' of moving to a completely new city, knowing absolutely no one and nothing
• I have found a church, a place to worship and call my home
• I found an amazing job... I honestly never thought my job throughout graduate school would be so AMAZING! 
• Did I mention, I went to graduate school?! Haha, a concept that I had only dreamed of came true in shocking fashion! After setting up interviews with around six school systems I ended my job search to pick up my life and move. Tuscaloosa has become my home, and God has so richly blessed His path for me.
• I ventured out and have now tried out two, very different, hairstyles and love the joys of growing up and becoming my own person.
• I watched a friend lose her true love to cancer, another friend have a dangerous surgery hoping that she might one day be able to live a normal life, a friend lose his job, and another friend struggle to find a job... But, with all this hardship and heartache God is still in control and is continuing to work in the lives of these people.
• I am learning to trust God more and more each day... After all, my life has been turned upside down this year... But God's ways are not our ways, and I firmly believe, when we make plans, God has a good laugh; because in the end, He's got it all taken care of.
• I ALMOST FORGOT!! I ran, yes, ran, a 5K!! Talk about something I never even thought about doing... and loved it!

I, and my coworkers, have been so blessed to have a week off from my job. I was able to come home on the 23rd and I will return to Tuscaloosa tomorrow to go back to work on Monday. Having this time to spend with my family and catch up with a few old friends has been wonderful! I have even slept until 7:30am most days!! (I know, I lead a sad, sad, life! haha) Sleeping in, reading a good book, just spending time at home with my family and visiting my friends has made this Christmas vacation one of the best. The new year has already started with a wonderful Crimson Tide Bowl victory with a school record and a BCS record being set. ROLL TIDE!

I am excited to see what God has in store for 2011, and I am praying that each of you are richly blessed. May God bless you and keep you.. you are a wonderful creation of His! Seek His will diligently and daily, and above all, choose to spend some extra time this year with your Father... after all, He longs to be with you!

Christmas time is here

There is mistletoe hung in my office, Christmas carols playing on my Pandora and so much joy in the air. However, let us take the time to remember those hurting this time of year. For those who have experienced loss, of any kind... Christmas and many other holidays just pound in the hurt. I have many friends who have lost so much this year, and who have been through so much. Don't force others to put on a happy face, accept the hard time and comfort those with the love of Christ. Make sure in your devotional time to pray for the sick and hurting... pray that the joy of Christmas may become vivid even through the pain.

Lord, please bless the hurting... those who I must not name.. as much as I have to be thankful for dear Lord I just pray that you would immensely bless these beyond compare in this season. I pray that you would lead and guide them with your comforting hand dear God and that you would wash their sorrows and give them comfort like only you can.

Brr!

For the past three weeks it has been a nightly struggle to live in my apartment. I say nightly, because I am only home to sleep. HA! But seriously, I live in the back bedroom of my apartment and conveniently enough the heat has yet to be able to make it back to my room.

Thankfully I work at a maintenance shop and discussed the problems with the guys on the management team. Only after a short conversation, I had an answer my apartment maintenance man couldn't seem to think of. The duct leading to my room has collapsed, therefore keeping air flow from coming into my room. Now, the sweet maintenance man lives two floors above me and has tired time and again little 'handy-man' fixes for my room, all to no avail. I explained to him what my managers had said and he agreed that it sounded like the right problem. However, as in all mass built apartment complexes, there is no way to get in between the floors to the ducts.

The wonderful guys at work borrowed a thermometer from the AC shop so that I could record the temperature in my room for physical evidence. My room consistently stays at least 5 degrees colder than the thermostat setting and this morning at 7:45 I woke up to a frigid 64 degree room temperature. This is after the sun came up, mind you... and that heats up the room.

I have since adapted my simple pajamas of a t shirt and shorts to sweatpants, a long sleeve shirt, a sweatshirt, and socks. Some mornings, like today, I still wake up cold... However I can't smoke my other roommates out of the house by continually turning up the heat for warmth that only goes into their rooms.

My roommate Emily graduated yesterday, and I am to move into her room as soon as possible. My apartment said they cannot fix my room, so my only option is to move. I am just thankful all I have to do is move across the hall... Thankfully my college minister at church and a few other people are going to help me with the move, I only have a few big things, other than that... I don't have much stuff. :)

Warm and fuzzy news of late? My study buddy and friend Anne Kimball got me a WoodWick candle... I have never had one, only seen them at friends houses... and I am so happy to have it! It has a literal name as the candle bears a wooden wick, when you burn this candle, it crackles like a fire. I absolutely love it!!

I'm BACK!!!

Finals are over and I am back to life!! The question many people have asked me is, 'Was it what you expected?'

Honestly, six months ago I was ready to give up my dream of graduate school, marry the man I love, and just become a teacher with a wonderful home and family. And this has been a constant struggle throughout this semester. But I come to realize that Sean only helped me grow closer to God; and that our decision not to hinder each other's individual dreams in order to have a life together has truly blessed each of us!

Sean is my best friend, and I love just talking to him whenever, and picking on him. He is always there when I need him, and definitely there to help when something goes wrong.. with my car or something... that I am not quite sure how to fix.

This semester hasn't been at all what I expected! I thought that I was busy in undergrad... MAN! was I WRONG! Throughout my undergraduate career I was involved in my major, band, my music fraternity and so many other things including friends and family.... Looking back, so many people told me I had no time... Hah... if only you could have seen me this semester.

Let's recap. I go to work every morning at 6am (where I am now, typing this) and I work... then I get off work, go to class until about 6pm, then I go home or to Starbucks to study. As my luck would have it, EVERY last one of my finals were yesterday... So, I took the day off work, got up, got ready, started dinner in the crock pot, and did a few last minute preparations for my tests. The first test felt great, and after spending literally 20 hours a week on this one class, (yes, I logged the time!) I am proud to say every second of my hard work payed off and I earned an A in the course! Now I am waiting for my other grades to be posted... and hopefully that will be by Friday.

I can honestly say that I am truly blessed, and truly thankful to have gone through all that I went through in the major change in my life. I am blessed with a wonderful job, an amazing school at which to obtain my education, and a great church that makes me feel right at home. This semester has definitely been a growing process, and I feel God working in me. As I continue to seek His will for my life each and every second of my day, I know that He will protect and care for me, and He will give me everything I need.

I am done with my first semester of Graduate school! It was definitely harder than expected, especially with a full time job. And it more than exceeded the amount of time that I thought I would ever spend studying or working on material for a class. I have never in my life had every second of my life so deeply engrossed in something that I didn't have a second to breathe, until now. But I am a stronger person for it.

I believe in full effect that now that I understand how things must be done next semester will go much smoother. I am excited for a month of just working... when I get off work, I will be done with my day! I am planning on starting my Christmas shopping, reading, and just relaxing! I am so excited and so happy to have time to be blogging again!