Tuesday, July 31, 2007

Leaving Church by B.B. Taylor


The other night, while riding out a caffeine buzz, I finished Leaving Church. Wow! What a great book. The author has been named one of the top ten preachers in the United States. It is her story of finding herself and leaving her love and her profession, being an pastor. While I can identify with the point of her devotion to working for the church, I think the book is one that others who are find themselves defined by their work in anyway.

Monday, July 30, 2007

Photos

I have a photo site down where my links are. They have various digital photos I've made since I got my first digital camera. The big part of those photos are our wedding photos. So check them out on the right side.

Sunday, July 29, 2007

Netflix

We recently defected to Netflix as blockbuster decided to cut down on the amount of in-store rentals you could do. We also like the streaming video option more than the in-store rental exchange thing.

As we probably have a few friends who have Netflix please become a friend with the link below.

Become a Netflix friend!

Friday, July 27, 2007

swimming part 2

I am reading a book called Leaving Church - where the author says:

As hard as I have tried to remember the exact moment when I fell in love with God. I cannot do it. The Divine Presence was strongest outdoors...(God feels like) my father holds me up in the swimming pool teaching me to float. As frightened as I am of getting water up my nose. I gradually relax into his open arms, trusting him to bear me up. ONe day he will let me go, but so far he hasn't. Until he does, there is no better feeling in the world than resting on his open arms with my body half in and half out of the pool, the sun in my face, and enough water in my ears so that I can really hear is my heart. Barbara Brown Taylor

A theological reason to like swimming....yippee!

Thursday, July 26, 2007

swimming

I love swimming always have. I have gone the last three days straight to the local pool to swim and I went several times last week as well with plans to go tonight.

That's all....I love it, enough said.

Wednesday, July 25, 2007

fun with leftovers

So, I must admit I am indeed having fun with leftovers...I love figuring out ways to use up stuff...and the last two days have been good days for that. Yesterday, I chopped an onion, threw it in some broth (leftover) to brown, threw some broccoli (meaning to use for awhile, frozen), and then added rice and for the liquid a mixture of milk and broth. After that was all done, I cut up the leftovers veggie burgers and regular burger and mixed it in. Jim loved it - and I was impressed with the difference in taste with the creamness that the milk in the rice made (fat free milk, even).

Today, I was flipping through a magazine before I threw it out and saw a recipe that I thought I might like to try sometime - the more I thought about it the more I realized I could make it tonight with a few changes. So, here is the recipe I made.

Salad:

About a cup of diced cukes, a handful of diced onion, 1 diced jarred bell peppers, about 1 1/2 cups canned tomatoes, and one diced avocado and a bit of salt.

Hot Dish:

With a bit of wine act as oil - I added about 1/2 lb green beans (frozen, Trader Joe's) and about 3/4 lb of shrimp to a hot pan. Once cooking was on the way I threw in some garlic, some beef seasoning, and some ginger. Once all warm and wonderful smelling -

I took a scoop of the salad and a scoop of the hot stuff and served over baked tortilla chips. (The orginal recipe was to be served as tacos - but we still had the chips from the birthday party.) Wow was it good!

Highly recommend the whole thing but the salad was awesome.

Tuesday, July 24, 2007

Harry Potter

Sorry...Jim usually keeps this blog updated, and he is investing his time in his Homer Puzzle and his Harry Potter book.

The Homer puzzle is cool; and I like the fact that my husband reads so that is fine by me!

Monday, July 23, 2007

weekend

We had a crazy weekend including Jim's 27th birthday party where he got Omni Mash Prime and got to open his Homer Simpson puzzle - that is way cool, even for me.

When I asked Jim what he wanted at the party he said burgers - so I decided that I would make several kinds
A. Chicken burgers with thyme, oregano, rosemary, vinegar, garlic and a bit of olive oil
B. Regular burgers
C. Heart Attack Burgers - hot sauce, worchester, diced cheese hot dogs and bacon and cheese on top.
D. Chicago Diner Burger- mushrooms, oatmeal, soy sauce, garlic, onion, flour - these are really good for my first try at home made veggie burgers.


We also had watermelon, grilled veggies, chips, and ice cream and cake.

Wednesday, July 18, 2007

Redeye Chicago...

We've been posted in the local free Chicago magazine called "The Redeye." Krista responded with this after an article about a company advertising to pay for the engagement ring if someone proposed on the blue line.

Here's the quote:


CTA wedding day

My husband and I did not get engaged on the CTA, but I love it, so when he read your article ("Nothing says 'I love you' like the Blue Line," July 10 column by Kyra Kyles) he said to me: "I wish I had thought of that."

However, we did take the CTA from the church to our wedding dinner, along with about half of our wedding guests--15 or so--and our photographer. The best pictures from our wedding are actually [on] the CTA.

Krista Dutt, 30, Pilsen

Heres the link to redeye's website with our quote

Sparkpeople

I joined this website that helps track fitness and nutrition goals - I like it and it is helping me so far.

My friend, Chris, recommended it to me.