This Advent

I was enjoying some time in the kitchen last night, cooking dinner.  Christmas hymns were playing in the background. I was just savoring the moment - hands kneading dough, shoulders relaxing, humming along to the carols. One of those moments only to be described as peaceful, contented, thankful. Then in the background I start to hear sounds of gunfire, sirens, people screaming. I realized that in the next room Kip was catching up on some news on his computer. I didn't ask him to turn it down. I listened to both simultaneously for awhile, pondering what was intriguing me about the moment. It slowly dawned on me clearly. In our world we see it, simultaneously. We feel it.
Peace and Violence, Beauty and Ugly evil, Contentment and Longing, Righteousness and Injustice ...

This is the tension of advent. 

Advent is a time of expectant waiting. We celebrate the coming of the promised Messiah and remember the many years His people waited for His birth. We remember that He is coming again, a second time, and we wait and long for that day when all is made right.

The things in the news recently have grieved me deeply. The suffering that I see daily in my work has pierced my heart anew. The losses and longing that we all experience and see others carrying are real and difficult. I feel the tension this season: Jesus is here and His kingdom and light are advancing. But there is also so much pain and loss and struggle and sin that remain in our world.

The beautiful news is that Jesus meets us in this tension. He fills these gaps with His very self. He came that our losses and longings would be transformed by the fullness of God with us - Emmanuel.

And He is coming again to complete His transforming work on this world! Whatever heartache we carry this season, may we remember the power of Christ. We pray for His return. We long for His coming. We ask for eyes that would keep turning to Him. We praise Him that there is so much more than this present day, that what we currently see is but a dim reflection of what will be.

In our waiting and longing, may we embrace Jesus, the Hope of the world and our fullness of joy in every season.

Oh, come, our Dayspring from on high, 

And cheer us by your drawing nigh, 

Disperse the gloomy clouds of night, 

And death's dark shadows put to flight. 

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel 

Shall come to you, O Israel!

Oh, come, Desire of nations, bind 

In one the hearts of all mankind; 

Oh, bid our sad divisions cease, 

And be yourself our King of Peace. 

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel 

Shall come to you, O Israel!

We Are Family

Kip had to be at work at 6:15 this morning, so I was up long before the dawn, stumbling around the kitchen making breakfast for him while downing cups of coffee trying to wake up. For all you other non-morning people, you understand. Nothing is harder than getting out of that warm bed!

Now that I have had 3 cups of coffee and counting, I have had plenty of time to read, pray, reflect, eat, pay the bills, and wake up slow. Once I am up, I am happy to be up. And there is something to be said about those early morning, quiet hours.

I was looking through some photos on Facebook this morning and I wanted to post some of my favorite recent photos of our beautiful family. In the spirit of November, the month of Thanksgiving, one of the things we are most thankful for is our family. Supportive, loving, giving, fun .... we can not say enough about our families. If you know them, then you know. They are the best!

My gorgeous sister-in-law, Rachel. She is so much fun and full of confidence and zest for life! She loves others so well and we love her! 

My very special in-laws came all the way up to KY for a weekend visit.  Despite the cold and windy weather, we had such a great time with them. They always make us feel so special, loved, and supported. They are awesome! 

My handsome brother, Michael, and his beautiful bride Sara. So thankful for them! Michael is so kind-hearted, loving, fun, responsible, smart.... Sara is my newest "sister-in-love" and is funny, sweet, and could not be more adorable. We love these two!

Joel. Unique, creative, introspective, encouraging. Has always marched to his own beat and helped others to find theirs.
Our brother and friend. So thankful for him! 

We are family! My parents and brothers on Michael's wedding day.
A special day spent among precious people. 

My best friend, favorite GA fan, dance partner, and handsome hand-holder,  Kip.
I love him a whole lot!

Happy Friday to you and yours. Life is what it is because of the people in it. Celebrate them as the gifts they are. Have a great weekend enjoying those you love!
Love,
Rach 

Colder Weather

The folks back home in Georgia will gasp (as we did) when you read this:
We are already expecting some snow tonight! ... "Just a chance of a dusting" is what people are saying. But the fact that it's October 31st and there's a chance of snow is startling to people who are used to Georgia weather. I mean, I can remember some south Georgia Christmas gatherings where dad was wearing cargo shorts. So this is a little unusual for us! Something I have learned in the few short months we've been here : The weather here is crazy. It's up, it's down, and it changes in the blink of an eye. As one of my patients told me, "If you don't like the weather, just wait 5 minutes. It'll change."

It is taking me back to many a Halloween night as a kid in the midwest, trudging through snow with our pumpkin buckets and winter coats over our costumes. The feeling of my cheeks cold, wind blowing through my hair, is just absolutely rejuvenating. Maybe it reminds me to be child-like, laugh and play more, worry less. So today, as cold and rainy as it was, I bundled up and the dogs and I enjoyed a walk in the rain. They loved it, I loved it, and I'm thinking I'll make it through this colder weather season just fine.

(At least I am saying that now.. We'll see how I fare when there is actual snow and ice on the roads and I have to drive somewhere! Look out for that, world!)

Carrot bread with Cider and Olive Oil (from the Smitten Kitchen)
Another perk of the cold weather - baking is even more enjoyable than usual...
Nothing like the scent of cinnamon and nutmeg filling the house 

Happy Fall from us in Kentucky!

I mean, how cute are they??

Love, 
Rach 

Spicy Sausage Quiche

It is cooling off here in Kentucky, and I have to confess that I love it! The leaves are changing and falling outside of the window, the air is cold and invigorating. It is the kind of weather that reminds me of the fun of growing up in North Dakota. I used to play outside (in the snowbanks) until my mom had to drag me in, cheeks bright red and stinging from the cold. Something about the change in seasons makes me feel like a child again...I still love to take the dogs out and play, not coming back in until my cheeks are flushed and I feel refreshed by the cold, clear air. I am thoroughly enjoying the seasons, a perk of living a little bit more north!

This recipe is perfect for any time of year, but I made it recently and wanted to share it for fall. I use my favorite pie crust recipe, but you could use store-bought as well and make it an even easier dish. You just pour the ingredients into the unbaked crust, bake for an hour, and the outcome is a delicious blend of flavors that remind me of queso dip, in quiche form. What could be wrong with that??
The great thing about quiche is that you can serve it for a breakfast/brunch, or even a lunch or supper if served with a side such as salad or roasted vegetables. We have eaten this at all times of the day and love it every time.

Spicy Sausage Quiche 

Yields: 1 quiche, 6-8 slices 

1/2 lb. ground hot sausage 

2 eggs 

1/2 c. sour cream

1/3 c. milk

1 1/2 c. cheddar cheese, grated

1 can (10 oz) Rotel tomatoes, drained 

9" pie shell, unbaked 

Preheat the oven to 350. 

Prepare the pastry crust in a pie or quiche pan and set aside.

Brown the ground sausage on the stovetop; drain and set aside.

In a mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, sour cream, and milk.

Stir in the cooked sausage, cheese, and drained Rotel tomatoes. 

Pour the mixture into the pie crust and bake in preheated oven for 1 hour. 

Allow to rest for 5-10 minutes before slicing and serving. 

Enjoy!
Love,
Rach

Birthday 27

I am now 27... I think... Does anyone else have trouble remembering what year you are on?
Of no matter, I love celebrating birthdays!

A couple of weeks ago we celebrated birthday. I spent the weekend away from the hospital-- with Kip, my brother Joel, and my parents who came to town for the weekend.  Kip took me out for a doughnuts-and-coffee-breakfast at Nord's (best doughnuts in the world except for my grandpa's). I then made this chocolate cake. (Delicious and uncomplicated!) We had a Parks and Recreation marathon and took the dogs for a walk. Once my parents made it in from Ohio we enjoyed a late night Italian dinner at Buca di Beppo. By the time we were home from dinner to open cards and gifts it was nearly midnight, I had the "P.M. Jollies", and we laughed about silly things until I cried. As the icing on the cake, one of my very best friends had her baby boy on this day, and my heart completely exploded.

We spent the remainder of the weekend together, mostly laughing and thrift shopping.  Enjoying the simple grace of a Sunday lunch, lingering around the table and taking time to listen more and rush less. Reminiscing. Sharing leftover cake. Dogs lying at our feet, in no hurry either.

It was a weekend full of very simple things, yet it was wonderful. Meaningful. Memorable. Why?

It wasn't the high-calorie splurges, facebook posts, or gifts. It was togetherness, love, laughter... the graces of God highlighted in every scene. It got me thinking about birthdays... how they are always good days because you decide they should be. A special day to celebrate life. Spiritually speaking, we can celebrate this every day.

God has been so good to create us all : purposefully, specifically, creatively, uniquely, exactly as He intended. He has given us SO much, not because we are great and worthy, but because He is. There is no one who loves and gives and serves like the Lord Jesus.

 So, I want to love every day like it's my birthday. As children of God, this is the joy of Christ available to us. We are always chosen, beloved, blessed, safe, secure, and loved. We can celebrate every day like we matter, because we do. And those around us do too. What if I approached every day with significance, importance, humility, thanksgiving? What if I treated everyone in a way that made them feel special, reminding them they are precious?

In the mundane times,
in the grandiose moments,
in those freeze-frame still life pauses where everything feels perfect and you just want to remember it forever,
In the painful and confusing,
in the moments where I fail and I know it...
I just want to learn to love each day. It is all grace. It is all good in the hand of a good and faithful God. Let's celebrate life!

breakfast : unashamedly eating several donuts with our coffee 

Late night dinner between two of my faves 

Sitting around the lunch table = the best

Thankful to be their daughter

New Favorites

Those who know me well, know that I have about a million "favorite things". I realize that this takes away from the meaning of the word "favorite", which should bother me, as I greatly value the meaning of words.... But I just can't stop assigning favorites! 

I thought I would share a few of my favorite things (so far) about living in the great city of Louisville:

1. The food! Crazy good restaurants here...a foodie's dream come true. Once we recover from being completely broke, I am going to eat my way through this entire city. 

2. Friendly neighbors and drivers (We live on a busy road, and I have never once had to wait to turn out of my driveway... everyone, literally, let's me turn out in front of them)

3. I can easily walk to: Trader Joe's and Kroger, the library, Phlenn's Bakery (a girl needs her apple fritters), Goodwill, and the farmer's market. All my favorite stops... need I say more? Also, work is 2 miles away, meaning I can sleep in a little bit later in the mornings. 

4. A Jesus/Grace/Gospel centered church, full of people who have been loving on us and making us feel welcome here. Excited to get more plugged in to this family of believers. 

5. Kip is here! Moving anywhere doesn't seem as big of a deal with a best friend by your side 

6. This city is diverse, and it has a definite Midwestern streak... The Midwest is my roots... It makes me feel a little more at home every time I hear a hint of that northern accent 

7. Four Distinct Seasons. I already feel a chill in the air and can tell fall is coming (and it will last longer than a couple of weeks). I love the changing of the seasons, can't wait to experience the fall and winter here. 

Since moving and being out of work for awhile I have had lots of time to myself. It was good and hard at the same time. I finally started work last week, but in honor of my many days spent at home this summer, here's a few of the things that I've done in the past several weeks: 

• Learned how to knit 
• Watched all of the available episodes of Call the Midwife on Netflix. This is the most amazing show!  All nurses (and people in general) will love this show!
• Finally mastered the pie crust.  I have made pies of all kinds - strawberry, peach, Derby pie (in honor of the state of KY and it has become Kip's favorite)
• Learned how to roast my own coffee beans 
• Cooked, cleaned, and helped proof Kip's papers for grad school (most of which were over my head, but I helped with the grammatical component sometimes.)

 The green coffee beans in my new cast iron coffee roaster:
Stir, stir, stir ... 

The finished product! So fresh and delicious!

 Using up the last of our sweet, Georgia peaches...
This was a great peach pie recipe from the Brown
Eyed Baker, one of my favorite food blogs. So yummy, topped with some homemade whipped cream

I used my own pie crust recipe, but the filling and
topping were from the Brown Eyed Baker.
Here's the link:
Peach Crumb Pie Recipe



Have a great week, all!  Enjoy a few of your favorite things, wherever you are. 
Love,
Rach 

Wherever We Go

We have moved again, people. The third time in five wonderful years of marriage.  New state = new blog and I am excited to have this little corner of the wide web to share these experiences with our friends and family. Greetings from Louisville, KY! 

Over the past year, we have spent much time in prayer asking for God's direction and leadership .. and He led us here to Louisville for Kip to pursue a seminary degree at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. The move itself felt stressful, sad, bittersweet, (all of those things people say) as we left what we have known. But in looking deeper, it was also an exciting, personal adventure that we have loved sharing with each other. And an intimate experience with our Savior as we learn how to trust Him more fully. He has already provided for us in so many specific ways, that all I can say, often dumbfounded, is "He is so good! He is more generous, more able, more loving than I ever dreamed!"  

I write this blog post from the same dining room table we enjoyed in Georgia - made by my brother; shared with family, friends, and good food. Where hospitality was learned, lifelong friendships were established, and hearts were opened to each other. As I type and look out across this same table, the familiar dark-stained knots and planes of the wood are comforting.  I think of the faces that have sat around it, sharing love and passing bread. 
The hands that have held in prayer around it. 
The music that surrounded as we celebrated birthdays, holidays, the every day. 
And I smile big to think of it, although it looks different right now (It is currently covered with computers, papers, seminary books, and coupons if that gives you a sense of this new life stage!)

But we know that our Savior has led us to this specific place at this time to provide new memories and experiences. New evidences of His grace. 
We are never alone. We are always loved. We can always trust Jesus' guidance. We can stake our lives on it. 

It excites me to think of the new faces that will sit around this table. I grin to think of all the added memories that will flash through my mind when I sit at this table five years from now. The people that will become engrafted into our lives,  some that we didn't know existed just a few short years before. One day at a time, we are walking forward with the Lord, mostly unseeing but believing that we can trust our Guide. I pray He keeps waking us up to Him, making our eyes wide to take in more of His goodness. As we embark on this adventure, thank you to all who keep encouraging  us in so many ways. You are a true gift to us. You help us keep the faith. 

Adventures are the most fun with those you love... and I am truly blessed to be filled with the One who will never depart, hand in hand with my beloved Kip, and connected to the best friends and family a girl could ever ask for. Here's to the journey! 

 


Love,
Rach