My Famous Hubby

For all of you who wonder what my sweet husband does all day, here's a snippet you might enjoy!

Jared's company, Pharmagra Labs made the news last night and there's even a little soundbite from Jared at the end. We sure are proud of you and the work that you do, honey!

Uh-oh!

Well, it's official, Maxwell has his first scar!

I got a phone call yesterday around 11:30 that Maxwell had fallen on the school playground and cut his head. My initial reaction was, "Oh, well, these things happen!" and said I'd get there as soon I could, thinking that school was about to let out at noon anyway. The director then told me I better get down there quickly as the cut was very deep and would need stitches. Gulp.

After a quick call to Jared, I got Cornelia up from her nap and raced out the door. Max was SUCH a trooper and wasn't even crying by the time Jared got to him. We met at the ER where we waited around with tummies growling for Max to get fixed up. Seven stitches later he was ready to roll. The doctor and nurses were all so impressed with how well he did and we were very proud of our brave boy.

Maxwell's mantra for the last few months has been one of his memory verses from Sunday School, "Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid!"

Thank you, Jesus, for protecting Maxwell yesterday and for giving him courage. Thanks, too, for giving Mommy and Daddy peace. We needed and felt it! Amen.

Baja Grilled Fish Tacos

About a year ago I sent out some feelers to see if anyone would be interested in a Cooking Club/Coop/Swap. A year later, we have all been blessed! Here is a yummy recipe that I have made for the swap a few times that is absolutely delish! Hope you enjoy it as much as we have!

Baja Grilled Fish Tacos

(from Don't Panic More Dinner's in the Freezer!)

1 1/2 lbs. tilapia, striped bass, or similar mild fish

1 tsp. kosher (coarse) salt

1/2 tsp. pepper

1 large sweet onion, finely chopped

1/2 c. fresh cilantro, chopped

2 small cloves of garlic, minced

1 tsp. ground cumin (or more to taste)

1 tsp. dried oregano

1/2 c. olive oil

1/4 c. + 3 T. fresh lime juice

1/4 c. fresh orange juice

Serving Day

cooking spray or oil

salsa or pico de gallo

tortillas, heated

red onion, chopped

cilantro, chopped

avocado, diced

cabbage, finely shredded

lime wedges

Baja Lime Cream

1/2 c. mayonnaise

1/2 c. sour cream

2 T. fresh lime juice

1 tsp. finely grated lime zest

1 T. sugar, or more if needed

salt to taste

pinch of cayenne pepper

Cooking Day

Gently rinse fish fillets, then pat dry with paper towels. Sprinkle both sides of fish with kosher salt and pepper. Set aside. In a medium bowl, combine the remaining ingredients (onion to orange juice). Place one third of the marinade in a small freezer bag and set aside. Pour the rest in a gallon freezer bag with the fish. Let the fish marinade in the refrigerator for 20-30 minutes before freezing. Keep both bags together for ease on serving day.

Serving Day

Thaw fish and extra marinade completely. To grill fish: spray grill surface with cooking spray to keep fish from sticking. Fish may also be grilled on a sprayed stove top griddle pan or broiled in the oven 4" from heat, 5 minutes per 1/2 inch of thickness or until fish flakes. Grill fish over medium heat, turning only once, and basting fish with extra marinade while grilling. Once the fish is cooked, coarsely chop. Assemble fish tacos using your choice of serving day condiments. Top with a drizzle of Baja Lime Cream.

Is it really Febraury?

I realize that it may be cruel and unusual punishment for my dear friends and family in the Midwest and New England to be posting this photos, but maybe you can see it as incentive to come visit us in balmy North Carolina instead of a "haha, we don't have snow" type of deal. That said, proceed with caution, fun in the sun ahead!

This past week has been glorious-- we're talking 60s and even low 70s! So we decided to head outside for a little fun in the sun. Ruby set up the kiddie pool as a playpen for Cornelia and loaded it with all kind of toys. The whole lot was/is filthy, so baby girl still hit the tub as soon as we went indoors, but she sure had fun!

Yes, you are seeing correctly. Maxwell is bare-chested, with swim trunks on... in February! The kids begged to put on their suits and I figured I'd let them figure out that it really isn't THAT warm outside. Max never did figure that out. He just said, " Wew, I do have my undaweaw on Mama." :)

Ruby was forced to admit that it was a bit chillier than she had originally thought, so she went for the sweater plus swimsuit look. I think it works for her!

For those of you that are digging out from yet another blizzard, have hope! This will be you in three or four more months! Hahahahahaaaaaa! (Okay, that last part was just mean.) But seriously, the daffodils are poking up a good 4" and it's beautiful. Thank you, Jesus, for spring!

Flashback Friday

For the past few months I have been scanning in the thousands of slides that my parents took of my sisters and I in our growing up years. It takes about 2 minutes per slide (not including the part this lowly human needs to do, like loading and unloading slides, and saving them with some sense of order) so needless to say, it's a big job! I had hoped to have it all done by Christmas and made into a snappy DVD for my sibs, but alas, it didn't happen. Now we're shooting for summer solstice!

I've decided to use Fridays as a day to highlight a photo or two from the stash. A teaser, if you will, for those that are eagerly awaiting the aforementioned DVD. Hopefully those that don't share the Armstrong last name will enjoy them as well. :)

Exhibit 1: Circa 1979... My Dad and I. I think it's safe to say crazy hair may run in the family! Hahahaaaa!

Exhibit 2: Circa 1980. I was the child... now I am the mommy--pile of laundry, nursing, hair crazy, amused at the antics of a droopy diapered little girl. Time tromps on, but there's nothing new under the sun!

Have a blessed weekend, y'all. Hug somebody around the neck. Watch that silly kids movie for the hundredth time with your little one. And get outside-- didn't you hear, SPRING'S A COMIN'!

Sesame Pasta Chicken Salad

Oops, well, this week we'll do a Tasty Thursday! Why not! This recipe is SIMPLE, QUICK, uses up some of those dreaded LEFTOVERS and it tastes pretty amazing too...

Sesame Pasta Chicken Salad

• 1/4 cup sesame seeds
• 1 (16 ounce) package bow tie pasta
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1/3 cup light soy sauce
• 1/3 cup rice vinegar
• 1 teaspoon sesame oil
• 3 tablespoons white sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 3 cups shredded, cooked chicken breast meat
• 1/2 cup shredded carrot
• 1/2 cup peas or snow peas
• 1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 1/3 cup chopped green onion

Directions

1. Heat a skillet over medium-high heat. Add sesame seeds, and cook stirring frequently until lightly toasted. Remove from heat, and set aside.
2. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta, and cook for 8 to 10 minutes, or until al dente. Drain pasta, and rinse under cold water until cool. Transfer to a large bowl.
3. In a jar with a tight-fitting lid, combine vegetable oil, soy sauce, vinegar, sesame oil, sugar, sesame seeds, ginger, and pepper. Shake well.
4. Pour sesame dressing over pasta, and toss to coat evenly. Gently mix in chicken, cilantro, and vegetables.

A book that should not be missed...

Figuring Life Out - One Thousand Gifts from Jacob Forrest on Vimeo.

Whirling Around...

Over the past year, as I lumbered through pregnancy, the excitement and exhaustion of a new baby, and sending my two 'big' kids off to schools for the first time, I have been rushing. I have been too busy, most days, to sit back and just enjoy the best days of my life.

Well, I'm putting my foot down. Enough!

Sure my floor may not have been mopped in this calendar year and the sinks may have some toothpaste crud on them, but really, does it matter? Who am I trying to please, God or man (or me!)?

For the past month we have been going through 40 days of awakening at our church. We are awakening to the people around us, to God, and to our responsibilities as Christians to share the Good News. We are awakening to His love. We are awakening to blessing.

What greater responsibility and blessing have I been given, but to cherish my husband and our children. To worry less about the grime and more about the grins on their faces. To discipline consistently and lovingly. And most importantly to lead them to Truth. These sweet children, Ruby, Maxwell, and Cornelia, are ours for such a fleeting moment, but they will always be in God's Hand. What a revelation, as a parent, to embrace God's overwhelming love for your children. To trust Him with their care, their choices, and their eternal future.

Heavenly Father, You are the maker of our souls. You understand our every doubt, joy, and sorrow. You have created this amazing world and you have called it good. You have created each child in Your own image. You have balanced all of creation. Nothing is out of step from Your perfect plan.

Lord God, please fill our home with Your love. Fill it with Your peace. Fill it with Your perfect balance. For your name's sake, amen.

Happy Valentines Day, Y'all!

Because I love you, my friends and family, sooo much I have decided to attempt to hop on the bloggy bandwagon again! What better holiday than Valentines Day, right?!

My life may be a bit full right now, especially with this precious little one who eats ANYTHING and EVERYTHING, whether it's edible or not, but I think it's worth it.

See you back here tomorrow... :)

Valentines at a spy camp

In case you haven't heard of PARI (Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute), it's a site buried in the forest of North Carolina that was a NASA tracking station (the very one that relayed Neil Armstrongs hallowed words) and later a spy station during the cold war and following. It later was rescued (around 2000?) from demolition by a group that made it over into a non-profit center for basic radio-astronomical research as well as educational facility for K through college.

So, what better place for an early Valentines celebration?! Last night our friends Rick and Laurie watched the kids while we got to go enjoy dinner, star-gazing and storytelling at a very retro-cool site with two 85-foot radio telescopes to greet you at the entrance. Dinner was great, and the nerds in us were rapt--listening to the history of the facility, the recent advances made possible there, and visiting the collections of priceless images and data from all over the world. Though our sleepy bodies began to fail us at the late, late hour of 9pm.

Ok, ok, I know it's probably not for everyone, but we had a great time . . . and even had a good report from the baby-sitters when we got home!

(btw, no that's not us in the picture!!)