Before we go any further, I have to say that you all crack me up! Here I go taking the time to write a thoughtful post on blogging numbers and then you all get riled up on my post about sports bras! This is why I love blogging as I do. I can write whatever my little heart desires so we have some fun…and still think a little too. Hint Hint: You just wait for the fun that’s coming your way around lunch time today. It’s a goody!

Last night we had another Grow Group session at church. Grow Group is basically a small group of twelve of us that meet together on a regular basis to share a meal and then dive into some discussion on our recent sermons to hopefully dig a little deeper and grow a little more in our faiths. It’s a fun time and does that thing of building relationships which you all know I love so much.

My friend Danielle who acts as the host of our group ran with the idea of a themed salad bar for last night’s dinner. This week’s theme = Santa Fe salads!!

Everyone contributed a couple different ingredients to help put together a great selection for a build your own Santa Fe salad. You know I chipped in some avocado and pineapple. Mmmm mmm mmm. It just wouldn’t be right without them getting invited to the party.

And a party it was with all the fabulous flavors.

Mixed greens, creamy avocado chunks, tomato, pineapple, corn, some cheddar cheese (still obsessed), and some red beans for protein. I used two heaping scoops of salsa as my dressing – one scoop of fresh black bean and corn salsa and one scoop of an artichoke garlic salsa. Mmmmm mmmmm. I lurve a good salad!

After getting food in our bellies, we finally got to the more in-depth discussion part of the night. You know we were talking up a storm while eating too, but part of the night is learning and growing with each other.

We’re studying the fruits of the spirit right now in our worship services and this week focused on patience. You know I don’t like getting all preachy up in here, but I think this topic is one we can ALL relate to so I figured why not touch on it a bit?

A few things stuck out to me in our convos that really hold such truth:

• We spend so much time hurrying from one part of life to the next that we can end up not fully living and allowing life to pass us by…missing the chance to notice our blessings and do the #1 thing we’re meant to do – LOVE!
• You have to practice patience! You can’t just expect to have it one day. You have to actively pay attention to what sets you off and then choose patience. Over and over again until it becomes more natural. <-- Have a feeling that is easier said than done!
• Have an attitude of understanding. A lot of our impatience comes from selfish desires. If we try to understand where someone else in the situation is coming from, we may gain an attitude of grace and more patience. Lord knows I have to practice that every time I’m around my father. He can get my teeth grinding in less than 5 seconds if I don’t remember he is his own person with his own “unique” qualities.

And lastly…this quote really struck a chord with me:

I have to be patient in so many goals I have for myself – being a good mother, making progress in my fitness, studying for personal training (Courtney – I know you relate!), and those goals I have for this little space on the ‘net. Hmmmm….I have a feeling God wants to teach me lessons in patience. He must know I need it!  

• What topping would you have to contribute to a Santa Fe or taco salad?
• What situation/person gets your blood boiling, making it harder to be patient?

Ahhhh, the joys of blog updates and CSS coding. If you visited earlier and happened to get my lined background showing behind my text (making things very hard to read), please forgive the coding updates. Things should all be in working order now, without any random headaches or a need for “may cause seizures” warnings. Thank you for your patience!

Let’s do lunch, shall we?

One of the best parts of having a toddler to feed is having toddler inspired food. Snack plates for lunch yesterday and grilled cheese for lunch today!

Although not just any grilled cheese. I don’t really do the two plain slices of bread and floppy square piece of “cheese” thing. I need more substance (and nutritional value) to my sandwiches than that. And so does this wee one.

I made us amped up grilled cheese sandwiches using fresh bread from the grocer bakery (aka ingredients I can understand – whole wheat flour #1), slices of sharp cheddar (not fake squares of congealed “cheese”), thick tomato slices, and a hefty spread of hummus.

Not your typical grilled cheese, because it’s even better! Simple and satisfying. Just like childhood.  

My recent food choices aren’t the only things reminiscent of childhood. On the way to our family gathering for Labor Day this weekend, we had to drive through a small town, country area that had house after house after house on land with pastures full of cows, horses, and the occasional chickens. It quickly sent me back to childhood.

When growing up, I used to regularly go horseback riding when visiting my grandparents in the North Georgia Mountains and would always dream of growing up and having my own stable with horses. I would live in a large estate and get to ride my horses every day.

I remember whenever we would drive up to my grandparent’s house we would pass by similar places and I would easily spend the hour car ride daydreaming of the day I could live in such a place. Clearly this was before I understood that pesky little thing called money. But it was always so fun to daydream! And I found myself doing the same looking at all the land with horses on the way to my sister-in-law’s house on Sunday.

It’s funny how our dreams change, huh? Now I don’t aimlessly daydream about such things. Instead I dream big on trusting that God has a plan for me and going after my passions. I dream about being a good mother to my children and having a strong family unit in our many years to come. Still mighty good dreams to have, but it sure was fun going back to that childhood innocence of dreaming looking at all the horses. Although now I know I wouldn’t want to own horses. I have enough trouble as it is trying to get my dog to love me!

Sigh. One of these days I will get you to love me, Roxy. I will!

• What was one of your daydreams from childhood?
• What food from your childhood do you still love?