A New Stage

As school prepares to start back SOON (crazy how fast summer flies), I would normally be preparing to start back too.  However, since I won't be going back to teaching this fall...things are a little different around here.

I've entered a new stage of life.  The next five months of life are going to be....interesting.  It's kind of like I'm having an identity crisis!! I no longer teach, I don't have any kiddos to take care of (yet), I no longer have a house to keep up, and I have no regular job of any sort!  And that leaves me with, well, a good bit of free time.

Now, I'm not really the best with free time.  I kind of go crazy!!  I like being busy and having things to do.  Everyone wants to feel like they have purpose, right? So this is throwing me for a loop!

I have talked to a few wise women and have received great pointers.  "Be intentional" is what I keep hearing.  And that's just what I plan (and hope) to do!

I also want to remember that my PURPOSE is in CHRIST.  He's my rock and my foundation.  I was challenged by Danny Forshee's message in being the LIGHT and the SALT.  I want to make the most of these next five months.  After all, I won't get them back.  I only move forward from here.

So while this is a new and different, even somewhat challenging, phase of life, Christ is my hope.  I want to make the most of every moment and opportunity to share Him.

And....If you need to be tutored in Spanish, or want to be the subject of a free photo shoot, or need some babysitting, or wanna just meet for coffee...I'm your girl!  Oh, and I'm the queen at doing laundry, so I can hook you up with some clean clothes too ;) haha.

Oh, and because I love posts with pictures....how about a picture from the beach last August...when we got our talk on about going overseas, and got the ball rolling on this process.

Who knew this is where we'd be a year later? I'd say only the Lord :)

Sugared Up Pup--Lollipup

My sweet hubby went to the bank the other day and returned with a sucker (or lollipop) for me.  Now I like sweets, a lot, actually.  But something about a bank pop just doesn't do it for me.

Soooo...what do you do with an unwanted sucker?  Why, give it to your pup, of course!  That's just what we did.

I know, I know, bad parenting...

But it sure made for cute pics.

Now that is one CUTE lollipup...but I may be a lil biased ;)

Lake Loveliness

On Wednesday we spent the day at the lake with the youth.  It started out as a rainy, dreary morning and didn't look too promising.  However, as the day went on, though it was still a bit overcast, the rain held off and it stayed nice and warm!  It ended up being good lake weather!

Some fishing took place, some boat riding, and a good bit of diving happened while there.  But TUBING was what REALLY happened :)  It had been quite some time since I had tubed.  Can I just say that the next morning I woke up feeling like a sore, old woman!?  It was worth it though.

Sadly, I didn't take the camera on the boat for fear of it going overboard, so there are no tubing pics.

I did get these though,

And I must say I am ever so ready to hop back on a boat and feel that wind blowing through my hair again....ahhhh

A little of lately...

Here's a little of what it's looked like around here lately...

A good bit of studying and sermon-preparation (look at the contemplation on that face...he's in deep thought land)

Lots of fruit consumption...yum

And another yum.  That would be a frozen yogurt outing!

And working on some photography skills.

There's also been a good bit of laundry, some coffee dates, Slovak studying, work (for some people ;), and lots of other odds and ends...

And...yesterday was a fun day at the lake with the youth.  Fun post coming on that soon. By the way, I'm fairly certain one of my favorite feelings is the wind blowing through my hair on a boat.  Ah, it's perfectly relaxing.

Isn't summer great?

Stuffed Zucchini

Our recent trip to the Farmer's Market yielded a lot of veggies around here.   Which meant there were two zucchini's staring me in the face daily...something had to be done.

So I went to town making some stuffed zucchini.  It's an easy and delish dish (that has a nice ring to it :)

Here's the low down--

You'll need:

Zucchini to cut in half long-ways (depends on how many you're serving-- I used 4 zucchini and it made 8 servings)
1 package ground turkey
approx. 1/2 cup of salsa
1 onion
1 clove of garlic
1/2 teaspoon red chili pepper flakes (or to taste)
Brown rice (I used 2 minute ready cups)
1 cup shredded cheese (plus some for topping the zucchini)

Here's what ya do:
1)  Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
2)  Wash your zucchini.  Cut them in half lengthwise.  Scoop out the inside leaving a little around the edge for your boat shape.
3)  Sautee the onion and garlic.  Then add your ground turkey.
4)  Once turkey and onion is finished, mix with the rest of the ingredients in a large bowl.
5)  Line zucchini on a baking sheet and stuff with the mix.  Top with cheese.
6)  Bake for between 25-30 minutes.

Oh, and I think these would be "cuter" if we called them boats.  So I think I'll change the name to ZUCCHINI BOATS.  Wow, I'm a dork ;)