Roasted Tomato and Thyme Soup

I absolutely LOVE the way Sophie Dahl talks about her cooking. She believes that cooking should be an adventure. I agree fully! This recipe she is preparing, Roasted Tomato and Thyme Soup looks absolutely 100% scrumptious! She also makes twice baked potatoes with chives! My mouth seriously watered as I watched her cook! I really want to be her friend, or at least hang out with her for a bit! I know the video is a bit lengthy, but every minute is so inspiring... at least for this girl!

Enjoy friends!

Bless This Nest

I fell in love with this sweet picture! Definitely a must-d0!

It is well....

Every single sin....

every hurt that we’ve cause another person,
every selfish act, every regret…

… was paid for by Jesus’ suffering and death on the cross. Every one of us is very much loved, treasured and wanted by God. I’m looking forward to celebrating that this weekend. Have a wonderful Easter!

Noticing

Today, on the blog http://www.kindovermatter.com, I read about the Art of Noticing. Here is a piece from the blog:

When was the last time you noticed your life? Not the tasks and the to-do lists and the stack of dishes in the sink. Well, those too actually. But beyond that. When did you last notice how you feel after a meal? How your lover sounds asleep besides you? What your children do when they think you are not looking? How your lungs feel when you first step outdoors?

Life moves fast. Everyone says so. So fast that we spend it before we notice that it’s gone. Like a bowl of m-n-m’s that sit beside you while you watch a movie. You look up, and they’re gone.
What if you could slow things down with something as simple as noticing? What if you realized that you needed rest before you collapsed? What if you didn’t feel like your kids were “growing up too fast?” What if you had time to savor your one precious, sacred life?

After reading this, I felt challenged to think about what I had noticed so far today.... Here is my list (I heart lists, btw)

1. I noticed the weather when I stepped outside.

2. I noticed love and joy as my 2nd grade students read their poems on stage today.

3. I noticed rudeness.

4. I noticed a hug a child gave me.

5. I noticed God calming me down when I was frustrated over a situation.

6. I noticed the wind blowing my flag nearly off its stand.

7. I noticed a baby bird.

8. I noticed the stillness of my home.

As the night unfolds, I await and am interested to find other noticings!

Be Blessed!

andrea

Choice Words

I am reading a (teacher) book called, Choice Words By Peter Johnston. In this book, I am learning about how seriously the language teachers use in the classroom plays out in the development of our children's histories. The words we use everyday, teach them about who they are and what they will become. Our words shape the choices they make and how they learn. To me--- THIS IS HUGE!!! The language I use daily is THE most powerful tool I have. Stepping away from this thought makes me think, "Wow, what and honor." and it also makes me say, "Wow, that is pretty scary."

This book has caused these ideas concerning literacy to shift into my personal life as well--- relationally, emotionally, and spiritually. Relationally, as a wife, friend, daughter, sister, coworker...etc.. my words can uplift and encourage or demean and discourage. Emotionally, the words I say about myself can make or break my day. Spiritually, I can choose to let my language serve our creator or take away from his glory. Vygotsky said,“Children grow into the intellectual life around them.” Therefore, it’s our job, as educators, to try to employ phrases that will increase our students’ sense of identity, knowing and agency. As adults, we are still growing into our lives, and therefore it is still our job to increase everyone's sense of identity, knowing, and agency!

I will leave you with one of my favorite songs by Nichole Nordeman, called Legacy. We can choose our words, our footsteps, and the legacy we will leave for our children.

From Where I'm Standing

From Where I'm Standing.....This is the title of one of my favorite songs. A song from the movie, I'm Reed Fish. This song has been one of my favs for awhile now. For some reason it always puts me into a reflective mode.

From where I'm standing reminds me of the perspectives we all share and how unique they are based on our journey's through life.

Where are you standing right now? What are the things you notice?

I started thinking not only about my perspective, but about God's. Does he see me the same way I see me? Of course not. His eyes catch my every move. His ears catch every sound and my every thought. I pray this week to be aware of God's presence and to try and get a glimpse of his perspective.

Enjoy the song and your week friends!