In Houston, not working

Today I celebrated my first Saturday in a month where I was actually in the state of Texas (and better yet, at home) and/or not working. This celebration included a trip to the scrapbooking store with Lisa and Erin (I only spent 3 dollars!) and then to Chili's for lunch. I dropped by Pam's to have her sign a thank you card and then came home and went RUNNING! I ran 3.5 miles today and felt pretty good. Lisa and I are going to do a 5k fun run in The Woodlands on 11/10. I won't make my 1/2 marathon goal by January, but there is a 1/2er in Seabrook in March and I will be shooting for that.

So that's the play by play of my day...how was yours?

New food

So lately I've been having trouble finding food that sounds appetizing to me, so I went digging online for some new recipes. I found a spinach-artichoke lasagna recipe, a Morrocan soup, Indian dahl, and a recipe using quinoa. Quinoa is a South American grain (kinda a cross between rice and couscous). I made the quinoa dish tonight and it was really good (corn, black beans,quinoa, and cilantro). Yum! I just pulled the lasagna out of the oven...it smells good. I about tripled my spice collection with my trip to the grocery store today. I could only buy the garam masala and tumeric in bulk (they were really cheap though...)...same with the red lentils...so I now have enough to last me about ten years...I hope spices don't go bad...

Jana's Wedding

Can I tell you how much I love PA? So much! It was beautiful weather (albeit a bit chilly on the wedding day!). I'm so going back for lots o' visits- I so want to buy some Amish furniture and see the Strasburg train museum, not to mention spend some time in Philly.

The trip was just great! Jana is pretty much another sister to me and it was so awesome to finally meet her friends that I have heard so much about and get to meet her sister-in-law and her nieces and nephews. Her family and Scott's are really close (all the guys work together) and Scottt's older brother Jason and his wife Heidi have just about the biggest servants hearts I have ever seen. I really enjoyed getting to know them. I could go on and on, but I know that many of you are dying to see the pictures...so without further ado...

Jana's Wedding

Happy Birthday Monica!

Happy 22nd birthday to my sis! Hope you had a great one! Love ya!

Projects

So I've got 4 projects in mind...

1) To finally build my bookcases. My parents and Grandma gave me Home Depot gift cards for my birthday...back in February...for the sole purpose of building some new bookcases (my current Walmart specials didn't travel so well to Texas...one is permanently canted about 10-15 degrees). Anyways, I was digging through a bunch of Wood magazines my Dad gave me. I thought I wanted to build two mission style cases, but now I'm not so sure. My Dad likes to give me tools for Christmas...I have a router and router table and a biscuit joiner that I haven't even opened yet...but I will! Soon hopefully, now that the weather is starting to cool off, I can actually tolerate working on my balcony.

2) Designing and making this year's Christmas cards...I only managed to get about 10 done last year- due to my late start and a mission in December...this time I hope to send them ALL out!

3) & 4)Two books I just purchased: War and Peace and Moby Dick. War and Peace will be my second Tolstoy (Anna Karenina is awesome by the way). Same with Melville (although Billy Budd was pretty horrific). To be honest, I don't have great hopes about Moby Dick. I have yet to meet someone who actually liked the book...but for literature's sake...I'll suffer through.

So, those are my projects. I'm realistic enough to NOT put a deadline on them, but hopefully in the next few months I can check them off.

What projects do you have on your list?

Refreshed...kinda

So after two overnight shifts this weekend, I headed to my friend Pam's house to sleep for a few hours before she and the girls from our girls discipleship group returned from church. I cannot tell you how much I enjoy spending time with these young ladies. They are such fun to be around and always have so much wisdom, regardless of what we are talking about. This time, we had the girls listen to message that was given at Fusion called "Come and Drink". We gave them questions to answer about it and the discussion that ensued was just led by God. So amazing. Ladies, I appreciate your friendship, sweet spirits, and laughter! It was a good dose of fellowship that hit the spot. Thank you!

Jen, Allyson, and Corrine

Joy

Kiana, Sandi, Lauren, Karmetra, and Cassia- chowing down

Wedding Summary

I had SUCH a good time this weekend! I finally got to meet Ajay and think he is just perfect for Kaylene. Really nice guy and fun to be around. Congrats you two!It did snow on the day of the wedding, not a lot, but it did. The sun came out at the very end, perfect timing for some outdoor pictures. (Click on the picture below to go to the whole photo album)

Kaylene and Ajay's Wedding

Kaylene and Ajay's friends were a riot to hang out with. It was so nice to meet Naomi and Kirsten, who I have heard much about.

Me, Naomi, Kirsten, and Kaylene

And their air force buddies! I haven't laughed so hard in a long time...they greatly enjoyed singing the 80s tunes that were played. Nothing like watching a bunch of guys in mess dress singing Bon Jovi's "Shot through the Heart" at the top (and I do mean top) of their lungs.

I caught a ride back to Vegas with Mickey, Jen, and Jon and we walked around the strip for a few hours (first time I've been to Vegas), went to a small car show in Caesar's Palace, then it was off to the airport.

New York New York and the strip

1968 Shelby GT 500...
So added to my list of places to go: South Dakota to visit Ajay and Kaylene (although I was already planning this-howver, they are deploying in January), England (to visit Kevin and his wife Kristen-Kevin flies the KC-135- I don't think he has ever met anyone who got excited about that! I think I made his day :) ), Kirsten and David in Florida, and Naomi and Mark in Colorado...whew, let the frequent flyer miles begin! New friends are fun!

Leavin' on a jet plane

Well, I do know when I will be back again, but I am greatly looking forward to getting away from work and hanging out with my good friend Kaylene at her wedding in Cedar City, Utah. Checking out the weather...there's a 40% chance of snow on her wedding day! Will make for some beautiful pictures...but I'm slightly concerned about my hide in that spaghetti strap dress! Yikes! Glad I checked, because I wouldn't have thought to bring a coat...sweaters yes...coat, no...

On another note, I ran 2.5 miles and power walked 0.5 miles this evening. I shaved a few minutes off of my time, hence why I couldn't run the full 3...slow but steady...

I'll blog about the wedding when I return...yay for 4 day weekends...although I really don't understand why we celebrate Columbus Day...he ran into the wrong piece of land!

3!

I ran three miles this evening! I'm not going to tell you how long it took me (yeah, that is definitely a pride thing), but I just wanted to see if I could "go the distance" (hmm Cake anyone?). Slowly but surely, I'll increase my distance and my time...

I added the Frazier family blog to my links. They are my friends who moved to India last month. Looks like they are adjusting well. God is good!