Love it

A gift from Eric a few months ago for my birthday. I just love it.

From here.

Good Stuff Maynard

Recently added four new wonderful albums to my playlist entitled "Good Stuff Maynard" on my Spotify account.

Mason Jennings- The Flood

Mason Jennings-Minnesota

Avett Brothers- The Carpenter

Mumford and Sons- Babel

Not sure when I decided it was a good idea to start incorporating my mom's favorite phrases like "good stuff maynard!" into my own repertoire. The other day, I was entertaining Eric by bringing out some of her most often used including "Home James! And don't spare the horses!" said to my dad just about every time we got in the car after church. Also, any time I would moan about my need to go shopping due to having nothing to wear, she would say " Well, just put a raisin in your belly button and go as a cookie!" Really mom?? And whenever my 15 year old self would let her know how unfunny that was, she would say "now don't go getting your britches in a twist".. and most recently she was telling me about something to do with useless anatomy on a tom cat. 
Pretty special lady. 

My Most Favorite Dorks

Sweet Potato Sausage Soup

It's been starting to get a bit chilly around here and since I'm still hanging on with tightly clenched fists to my shorts and bare feet, I figured I needed something to warm me from the inside out. Go figure, the day I made it, it got up to 70 F and I should have been outside grilling. Regardless, this hit the spot. Perfect for Fall. 

Sweet Potato Sausage Soup

Adapted from Smitten Kitchen

When I first started to add all the ingredients to this soup, Eric and I both agreed that it seemed much too healthy. BUT we both ended up loving it, the added cheese didn't hurt. Also, every bit of spinach was worth it, adding the perfect texture. 

Makes enough for a dutch ovenfull.

3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
15 ounces of chorizo sausage broken into chunks
2 medium onions, chopped
2 large garlic cloves, minced

1/4 cup of garlic chili sauce

2 tablespoons of Sriracha sauce

1 tablespoon of red pepper flakes
2 pounds red-skinned sweet potatoes (yams; about 2 large), peeled, quartered lengthwise, cut crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick slices
1 pound white-skinned potatoes, peeled, halved lengthwise, cut crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick slices
6 cups low-salt chicken broth

1 1/2 cups of parmesan cheese, divided
1 9-ounce bag fresh spinach

Heat 2 tablespoons oil in heavy large pot over medium-high heat. Add sausage; cook until brown, stirring often, about 8 minutes. Transfer sausage to paper towels to drain. Pour about half of the oil from the sausage out. (I know, gross, but it adds alot of flavor.) Add onions and garlic to pot and cook until translucent, stirring often, about 5 minutes. Add all potatoes, garlic chili sauce, sriracha sauce, red pepper flakes, and cook until beginning to soften, stirring often, about 12 minutes. Add broth; bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until potatoes are soft, stirring occasionally, about 20 minutes. Using potato masher, mash some of potatoes in pot. Add browned sausage and 1 cup of parmesan cheese to soup. Stir in spinach and simmer just until wilted, about 5 minutes. Stir in remaining 1 tablespoon oil. Season with salt and pepper. Serve with parmesan cheese on the side and top as you see fit. Don't forget some good crusty bread straight out of the oven. 

Oh you were hoping to see a picture of that little guy I like to hang out with??

Apparently, he has been sneaking dutch ovenfull's of soup. By the looks of it, he isn't too pleased with me broadcasting this. Already has an attitude..kids these days.

Thankful

If somehow you happen to be the only person that is not my mom reading this blog, and you haven't heard the news, I have an announcement:

 And

It says “Easy Bake” on the front..

Can you connect the dots?

Yep. After a lot of waiting and praying and learning about Him, we have been overwhelmed by His undeserved blessing.

And now, being only 7 weeks away from my due date, I can sit back and see how perfect His timing is.

So often, while I was waiting I was reminded of this:

“Child of weakness watch and pray, find in Me thine all in all.”

I feel that the Lord was so tender with me through it all, not dealing with me harshly in my discontent, but gently. Reminding me time and again how blessed I already was, how blessed I was with a wonderful husband, family, friends, and all the comforts life can offer, how could I think I needed more?

And now, I am so thankful for that waiting period, for the tears, because I feel that I caught a closer glimpse of who the Lord is and His deep love for me, for Eric and I.

This all can sound very trite as I think of so many friends and loved ones who still are waiting, but either way, I am reminded that the Lord is good, and sometimes we can only fully understand that in hard times.

“It would have been enough, but You blessed us more.”