Celebrating Life

”Celebration when your plan is working? Anyone can do that. But when you realize that the story of your life could be told a thousand different ways, that you could tell it over and over as a tragedy, but you choose to call it an epic, that’s when you start to learn what celebration is. When what you see in front of you is so far outside of what you dreamed, but you have the belief, the boldness, the courage to call it beautiful instead of calling it wrong, that’s celebration.” [Shauna Niequist]

Celebrating life when times are good and fun and everything is going my way – I can do that easy – no problem. But celebrating my life when I am ready for a change, bored with my job, and wanting a puppy so badly now that is a challenge for me. I can slip into a dark place so easily. Things aren’t going as planned so my, what I like to call ‘sulky heart’ has set in. Now I’ve had roughly two bad days because of my sulky heart – sulky heart NO MORE!

1. Today is warm and breezy and I can take a walk and breath in the wisps of the spring air. It’s rejuvenating and let’s my mind take a break in the middle of my busy day.

2. I have a husband who loves me despite my crazy ‘dark place-ness’. He sat on the floor with my yesterday and calmed me down, held my hands, and reminded me that God has a plan. Who made me breakfast this morning when I almost cried when I didn’t have enough cereal to eat (thanks to gluten-free my breakfast choices are very limited). Yes, he is amazing and most definitely my best friend and the lover of who I am (even when I’m a crazy person)

3. I’m thankful for chocolate frozen yogurt and lots and lots of sprinkles at the airport when we were feeling so blue. It definitely helps sooth the soul and the little kids that live inside us. Multi-colored sprinkles can still make my day much better

4. Most of all – I celebrate that I have a God who love me enough to die for me. To take on my sin and the sins of the world so that I can be made right with him. We no longer have to sacrifice lambs twice a day and talk to a priest – you have a direct line to the Creator of the Universe – the lover of our souls – and the sacrificial Lamb Jesus Christ. It blows my mind to think about the sacrifice that He made for me!

5. I have family that I can talk to about everything – when so many people have bad relationships with their parents, brothers, and sisters I have the best family in the world. With family like this life doesn’t seem like such a large mountain to scale. (Of course, I normally am the one making a mountain out of a mole hill)

6. My elephant scrubby brush – how could you not celebrate this amazing cuteness?

I have so much to celebrate – so I’m going to beat my ‘sulky heart’ but celebrating all the blessings I have been given! What are you celebrating today?

I want... no I NEED!

This is what is on my mind... every single day. We are not in a position to have a baby and that is okay with me for now. But I need a fuzzy little animal to love. Our fish Charles is just not cutting it! I try to touch him and we swims away... it's like he doesn't even love me!

So here are my thoughts for when we can get a puppy! Hopefully this summer I'll have a sweet little guy or gal to cuddle with on the couch, take a walk, greet me with a wagging tail when I come home!

This is a Golden-doodle! This would be one of my first choices - we have decided, after living in a hair free environment, that we want a hypoallergenic puppy! These are adorable and don't actually look like a hypoallergenic dog... poodles! ICK!
This is a Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier - also an adorable hypoallergenic puppy! I LOVE them! But against myself - as I have said always...at least after the aftermath of a spawn of satan cat or as others called him Tigger - that I do not want a cat! But oh do I want a kitten... a little grey kitten named Annie. But my kitten would be more like a dog - loving, obedient, pottys outside, doesn't bite or scratch me, and loves me all the time!

Okay.. so can I have one now! I cannot keep going to Petsmart and playing with the puppies on human society days! I keep naming them and then get teary eyed when I have to give them back.

I'm flexible - I'll even settle for a ... cat! *gasp*

Life as of late

Yes, it’s been a long time my kindred spirits! I think my brain has been slowing turning to mush over the past couple months – but what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. Right? Hopefully right! Haha Busy doesn’t even begin to describe it but I’ve been blessed with some fun things along the way!

Starting with the most recent – We go to see our dear friends Jon and Emily get married last weekend! Thanks to their beautiful wedding, of which I directed, they have restored my wedding movie watching! I haven’t been able to watch a wedding movie since Michael and I’s wedding last May. I don’t know why – I think I might have been tired of watching the same movies over and over but now I’m back! I loved being a help in directing their wedding! I honestly loved it – maybe I’ll do it again for someone else… maybe I’ll do it for fun or maybe for a side job! Who knows!

It was wonderful to see the joining of two very special lives together on Saturday. The pastor made a comment that brought me to tears during the ceremony – I don’t remember the words exactly but – He said that you will be together, side by side, until one of you releases the other into the arms of Jesus. And my heart broke a little – in a happy and sad way. It’s unimaginable to live in a world without Michael… and that is where my tears began to flow freely. Of course I was already crying because that is what I do at weddings! It’s a bittersweet thought, to live faithfully by each others side, fighting the everyday battles, drinking in the sweetness of life, basking in the love of the other, laughing together, holding each other when life gets the better of you, and then letting go when it’s their time to go and be with Jesus after spending a life full of loving the other. (I’m tearing up as I write this, I’m such a sap!) But this is where my romantic mind goes when I hear a comment life that.

Here is a picture form our Winter Retreat with our Youth Group! God did amazing things in their lives this weekend – I was bless to be able to share in the lives, their hurts, and their triumphs!

Okay, on to a funnier note. We spent Spring Break in Florida and after being trapped in an office building since June my poor skin has not seen much sunlight.

I realize now that my belief in not wearing sunscreen has been utterly wrong. Never in my life (at least when I put it on, I hope my mom took better care of me than I do myself!) have I worn screen on my body – other than my face. Well – I should have put it one. Three weeks later… I’m still peeling. L I have never ever had sunburn like this one – and now I will forever more wear at least a little sunscreen when I first visit the sun. My poor burnt skin didn’t get to see much sun after that although I did have a nice time, sitting under the shade of a palm tree, and reading about L.M. Montgomery.

Here are some fun facts about the women and her life who imagined Anne into existence:

- Anne of Green Gables is rumored to be written about someone L.M. Montgomery knew – an orphan girl what taken in by an elderly brother and sister in Cavendish when that had originally wanted a boy

- L.M. Montgomery is said to be exactly like Anne except that she didn’t have red hair

- Before her death she wrote The Blythes Are Quoted – it’s about Anne – it’s stories from before the war and after the war! It’s an unknown gem – I’m reading to slowly so I can let the beauty steep in. There are poems written by Anne and Walter throughout. It’s beautiful and you need it! Here is the link! The Blythes are Quoted

A Pearl On My Career String

Well it's been an interesting ride here a Liberty... God has blessed me with a job that challenges me on a daily basis and at times I feel like quitting my doggie-paddle and just downing but it's something like this that makes me feel special. My name Candace Lumpkin in a news article about my app... well at least the work i put into creating this app. :) So I'm proud... it's one line but hey!

Read here!

Baby Mae

Oh how much I am in love with new 2^nd cousin… it’s my first time ever meeting a second cousin! Thank you Britt for letting us hold and cuddle with your sweet daughter Mae!

So enjoy some pictures that will melt your heart… she certainly melted mine!

I think I now have a little bit of baby fever but I know that God will give us our own sweet baby when the time is right! Something to look forward to right?! Please give me patience Lord!

It's Complicated

Can I fully recommend It's Complicated with no reservations? No... but off the record YES! So funny, real, and for the cook inside me inspiring. Every time I watch something to do with cooking or a cooking store I get inspired. In It's Complicated Meryl Streep makes Croque Monsieur and Chocolate Croissants - I'm now inspired to be a french chef even more. My pipe dream... to go to Le Cordon Bleu! Yes to crack eggs with one hand, make pastries from scratch, make creamy sauces - and never feel bad about eating it! Like I said it's a dream... so I'll make fun and creative delicious food in moderation.

So this week my cooking challenge to myself is Croque Monsieur! I will NOT feel bad when I partake in this yummy French dish!

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 2 cups hot milk
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• Pinch nutmeg
• 12 ounces Gruyere, grated (5 cups)
• 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan
• 16 slices white sandwich bread, crusts removed
• Dijon mustard
• 8 ounces baked Virginia ham, sliced but not paper thin

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Melt the butter over low heat in a small saucepan and add the flour all at once, stirring with a wooden spoon for 2 minutes. Slowly pour the hot milk into the butter–flour mixture and cook, whisking constantly, until the sauce is thickened. Off the heat add the salt, pepper, nutmeg, 1/2 cup grated Gruyere, and the Parmesan and set aside.

To toast the bread, place the slices on 2 baking sheets and bake for 5 minutes. Turn each slice and bake for another 2 minutes, until toasted.

Lightly brush half the toasted breads with mustard, add a slice of ham to each, and sprinkle with half the remaining Gruyere. Top with another piece of toasted bread. Slather the tops with the cheesesauce, sprinkle with the remaining Gruyere, and bake the sandwiches for 5 minutes. Turn on the broiler and broil for 3 to 5 minutes, or until the topping is bubbly and lightly browned. Serve hot.

Halloween Pictures

So they are a little late but here are the Halloween pics! :)