Words of Encouragement

    Recently, I was G-chatting with one of my best friends and after sharing her excitement about the future and relationships I expressed some words of encouragement to her. Then I reminded her and myself that

"It is important to remind people of their value and importance! Too many people don't know."

 

    That same day, I spoke with another best friend (I am blessed with many) and she and I agreed to continuously ask one another how we can be better friends to each other despite distance and time apart. We encouraged one another through our gratefulness of our friendship.

    And then the next day I was G-chatting another close friend (and yes I love G-chat) and felt called to express to her how much I admire her and support her and her family. She thanked me for my words of encouragement and I was grateful my words carried meaning and love to her.

    And the next time I logged into Facebook and my sister had shared these words of encouragement with me:

 

    It seems as though we all need some words of encouragement from time to time. I am grateful that what I say matters to people and I hope others know that what they say matters to me as well. The old adage "Sticks and stones can break your bones but words will never hurt you" is false. It is a total waste of time to say and believe. Words matter and can hurt people but they can also brighten some one's day, send love thousands of miles away, and show care and support.

 

    Make words of encouragement matter the most. Show you care through what you say. And say it LOUDLY!

Kid President knows what I am talking about.

 



 

What can I say to encourage you?

Christmas photo blast

    I know it is almost the end of January and that talking about Christmas makes me seem a little odd but that is not stopping me.

    I recapped the adventures of my trip home and to Kansas City in my "End of 2013" post but I decided to not include photos since I was already including so many others. Now I have changed my mind, mostly because I am trying to come up with another post that isn't ready and I need a filler for this week. But who doesn't love photos!?

Best friends from high school. Missing just one.

Kids I have babysat since they were born and they are turning 9 in February!

Christmas Eve mass.

Erin officially became a Shaver over Christmas.

Christmas morning stockings.

Gramma and Grandpa Sedmak.

Julie and my favorite St. Louis boys.

Family.

Typical us.

Mima and Papa with their grandchildren and great grandchild. (Missing one granddaughter and two great grandsons (my sister and her boys.))

Cousins and friends forever.

    I am still overwhelmed by the thought of how much traveling I did and how much family I saw and fun I had all within one week but I would not have had it any other way! I don't know when I will be able to go home again which makes me cherish these memories that much more. 

 

And lastly, this was one of my Christmas gifts....get it?....LOVE, HUGS, and COFFEE MUGS! 

Thanks Momma!

(Okay, I am officially done talking about Christmas 2013.)  

Food favorites!

    I will not claim to be the best cook in the house, that spot eaily belongs to Katrina and we all know and love it, but I have been able to cook quite a bit this year. In hopes to not shock family and friends please read this slowly......I.am.really.enjoying.cooking.

    Other than taking two cooking classes in high school, (mostly just to have a break from the heavy course work I was doing to "prepare" for college) my knowledge of the kitchen comes from watching my Momma's "little bit of this and little bit of that" style. I still tell people that Momma's refrigerator soup (commonly known as vegetable soup) is one of my favorties; each time she makes it we gobble the whole thing down even though no two batches are the same. In my house, Momma cooks and Dad bakes...not a bad combo for sister and I! I love going home because Momma cooks what I request and I get to enjoy her delicious food. Always though I am sure to stir something and insit that I helped and therefore get some of the credit for the dish. [One thing I will not do willingly....chop onions! There must be begging and pleading involved.]

    I love when Momma cooks while I am home but while here in Syracuse I have been able to find a happy place when making dishes that my community will enjoy. We split up the cooking and after-dinner-dishes each week so that everyone gets an opportunity to express their cooking creativity.

     Some of my favorite dishes that my community members have made include: Frito pies (made by Liz), delicious fish (made by Paige), fancy grilled cheese (always Brendan), homemade mac and cheese (from Jacqueline), stir fry and Dutch babies (from chef Katrina), and bowtie pasta with veggies (made by Paul) and those are just the dishes I remember right now! We eat pretty well (as in enough food) even though we are on a tight budget. We don't purchase much meat and we do consume a large portion of carbs (because they are delicious duh!) but we try to cook different dishes which adds some "spice" to our lifestyle of simple living.

To further prove that I do cook this year here are some dishes that I have made:

• homemade biscuits and sausage gravy
• turkey and green bean casserole (Thanksgiving)
• chili
• pumpkin soup
• taco soup
• eggplant panini
• garlic roasted cauliflower
• cousous with parsley and tomatoes
• homemade applesause
• Skyline chili
• Dad's coffee cake
• whole roasted chicken (it was donated to us)
• broccoli cheese noodle soup
• black bean burgers
• buffalo chicken dip (the our New Year's party)

    If you have any suggestions of dishes I could make (remember I am feeding 7 people and leftovers are welcomed) please feel free to comment or email me! I hope you are staying warm and well fed friends.