Do not be alarmed!!

I am playing around with my blog a little bit today, it may look quite different than before and it may change yet again in the near future, but it is STILL mommy's blog. Same place, same face, same heart... just a different look.

Just for laughs...

While vacationing on the beach our little blessing conked out in her carrier many a time to the rhythm of daddy's steps and the rocking back and forth of his constant motion. The poor baby practically lived in that thing for a whole week.




Like this.

Or this.

Or this.

Okay, so you can't tell she's asleep by looking at this picture, but she was deep in dreamland there, trust me.



But even though the little darling at barely one year old (b-day pictures coming soon!) couldn't stay awake to participate in our countless fun family adventures

like this.

We still try to include her.



Like this.

We try to be fair like that, you know?

Halibut Quinoa Chowder

Wowee, this recipe was amazing!

I took this recipe and did what I do best-made it my own.

Halibut Quinoa Chowder

2 T organic butter or olive oil
1 large Leek sliced thin and then chopped
2 cups cooked organic Quinoa
2 cloves minced organic garlic
6 Campari tomatoes-halved and sliced thin
6 cups organic chicken stock
2 large carrots-shredded
1 1/4 cups organic milk
3/4 cup organic heavy cream
Salt and Pepper-to taste
1 1/2 - 2 lbs fresh Halibut cut into 1 inch squares
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Crushed & Dried Red Pepper

Heat large pan on med. heat. Melt oil/butter in pan. Add Leek and cook for 2 minutes. Add garlic, tomato, carrots and 1 cup Chicken stock. Once simmering, let cook for 5 minutes. Pour in the rest of chicken stock and Quinoa. Bring to a simmer for 5 minutes. Add milk, cream and salt and pepper to taste, then stir in Halibut. Bring to a simmer uncovered for about 10 minutes or until Halibut is flaky and white. Gently stir in cheese and red pepper until cheese is melted. Then serve and enjoy! Mhmmm.
serves 8

Random Thoughts Thursday

We're home. Satisfied. Happy. Refreshed. Content.

But as we settle in to daily life once more, I can't help but smile as I recant and relive all of the wonderful memories of our trip to the Oregon Coast.

-As we backed our extremely stuffed SUV out of our beach house-our home away from home- driveway and reluctantly hit the road for an 11 hour trip home Wednesday. Many grateful little voices piped up in chorus:

Goodbye beach house. Goodbye ocean. Goodbye sand between my toes.
Farewell to you beautiful sunsets, trees, lakes and tide pools. Farewell sand fleas, fishies, crabs, starfish, sea anemones and crustaceans of every imaginable kind.

Until next year HUGE sand dune that we had such a blast climbing and tiny crab the size of a coin!

Farewell to you fellow parents to many small children, close in proximity, and your laboring of love and driven adventure. Our kindred spirits we will miss you!

Goodbye glorious waves, sea shells, lush rhododendrons, tide pools, drift wood, the tide's ins and outs and sticks.

Goodbye sand toys, castles and mermaid fins, boogie boards, El Dora do, Nintendo 64, daylight before 6am and the beach house garage door opener button inside the garage that when we frequently left on some new adventure, would let our children take turns pushing and then sprint for the car as they joyfully jumped over the censor on there way out so the door would close tightly(yes we're that "over cautious" with our children).

Until next year- My dear Grateful Bread and all of your enormous scrumptious baked goods and Cheesy Peesy Pizza with all of your cheesy goodness. Until then Aquarium, and the good memories of precious family time remembered. Until then quiet walks by the shore.

Goodbye to the many board games played with quick witted little children concluding with laughs downright giggle fits.

Goodbye warm gas fireplace, runs on the beach, gorgeous thick green mossy trees, Sand Lake, crab pot, heavenly Stimulus coffee house with your organic teas and free Wi-Fi.

Farewell destination Lasting Memories.

For now that is.

So relaxing, fun, engaging, special and memorable our trip to the coast was!! Still so fresh and raw is our time there in the intricate fabric of my being. I feel overwhelmingly blessed from my Heavenly Father, beyond words, to have the unwavering love of a dear husband as I do. The calling to mommy my darling kids who bring so much joy to the everyday. A mother, a father, sister brother, many aunts, uncles, grandparents and friends! So blessed!

Forget finding me wasting even a moment on emotional, "look at me" tantrums, imagined expectations, unloving, "fake" unreal friends, silly spats, pride and empty words, or finite ramble, artificial smiles, idle games, meaningless details and arogant riff raff. (and friends, please slap me if I do)
God is good. My family is here. Now. Unbelievers, the countless needy hungry souls are here. Now. Real life. Real, eye to eye and hand in hand LIFE is here now. It's happening right this moment. It's worth putting 100% of my being into and I don't want to miss a single authentic thing.

Joyfully, I lovingly look upon all dear souls part of my humble circle, expectantly soaking up all that I can give from my heart as from the Lord flows inner renewal, protection and life where none could be found. Love where I am lacking. Fulfillment in what I amazingly get to call my own. Contentment in what can only be called uniquely mine.

As we bask in the still fresh memories of a beautiful family road trip to God's beautiful coastal country, we are thankful, rested, renewed, deeply connected and in love and ready to jump into "real" life once again and serve our mighty Maker!