Be An Angel!

Today is “Be An Angel” Day!  It was started in 1993 by a woman named Jayne Howard Feldman who was inspired by angels to create this day.  Basically, it’s a day to do an act of kindness for someone else.

I decided to use today to celebrate the angels in my life.  :)

I picked out six women that live nearby.  I thought instead of sending an email, I would send a card through “snail” mail.  So, yesterday, I wrote each of them a card expressing the joy, insight, encouragement, and love I have received from each of these special ladies.  Then, I mailed them off so they will hopefully receive them today.

I have learned so much about God’s love and grace from these women in my life, that I hope to emulate in my life as well.  I am so blessed to have their love and encouragement!

Hosting the Holidays!

I love Easter, and it’s different because it’s one of the holidays that we spend with friends instead of family.  The closest family to us is about six hours away, so it’s hard to travel in such a short period of time, especially since it is busy season for my husband.  The first few Easters we lived here, we spent celebrating alone.  After we bought our house, we made the decision to use this house to host and reach out to others.  So, for Easter, we host to other people in our lives who live too far away from family to celebrate this holiday with them.

This year, we were blessed to have Seth, his wife Tiffany, and Josh over to our house.  From left to right it is – Josh, Michael (my husband), Seth and Tiffany.

I made lamb, twice baked potatoes with greek yogurt (a Martha Stewart recipe), asparagus, and my family’s recipe for rolls.  (The potatoes are not in the picture, as they were staying warm in the oven.)

Then for dessert, we had the chocolate covered peanut butter eggs and carrot cake cupcakes.

I do tend to go a little overboard in the food department.  :)

Then, we dye eggs together.  I thought it would be a good idea to only dye 5 eggs (one each), since I’m not a big hard-boiled egg eater.

Oh!  We have one other tradition that my husband and I do for each other.  Easter morning, we make each other a basket filled with yummy treats and gifts.

Hope everyone had a happy Easter!

Friends are like Family

Four years ago, my husband and I packed up what little we had after our wedding and moved six hours away from any family we knew.  It was such an exciting and anxious time in our lives.  We knew no one, and no one knew us, but it wasn’t that way for very long.

We plugged into a local church about 10 minutes from our little apartment.  It was there that we met our new family.  One of those new family members was my friend, Lori.

We met Lori and her husband in our first small group.  Lori and I had both been nannies in the past (although my nanny experience is much more brief that hers was) and also shared life experiences.  We bonded over laughter and tears.  We are so blessed to have them in our lives.

As time went on, we celebrated the birth of their first son, and then their second son a year and a half later.  We moved about a mile and a half away from each other.  Every Friday, I drive over to that sweet family’s house to have lunch and share life.

Besides, who could say no to a lunch with these precious faces and their wonderful mommy?  She inspires me with her gentle passion and fervent love for God.  She is one of the first people here to really make me feel like I am home.  When we start our own family, I know they will be welcomed just like we were.  :)  And they will be loved.