:::it's a beautiful day:::

i'm sitting here at our computer desk inside our bedroom closet.
it houses the computer and all of it's weirdo cords, tons of my husbands books,
and most importantly, it is my secret dust stash.
the bi-fold doors hide all of this nicely.  :)


the house is totally quiet, and the birds are chirping outside my bedroom window.
i am feeling full.  like my cup runneth over full.
i'm savoring it, because as we mommas know, it doesn't happen everyday, even though it probably should.
my sweet husband drug my butt out of bed early this morning.
like, he literally had to pry me out of bed.  for real.
he and i  agreed that we need to get out and start running again.
last year, i found the couch to 5K running program online and completed it!  then i quit running.
i love running.  {so, why did i quit?  good question.}
it is like a happy pill for me, and i love it even more when my husband comes with me.
i may or may not have huffed and puffed up several hills, and been majorly out of breath, and had serious itching problems on the way home, but we did it.  and together!  why was i itching?
day one. DONE! yay! 
he promised, through all of my moaning and groaning this morning, that i would feel great and thank him later. he was right.
thanks, sweetie!

he and i  haven't been able to spend very much time together, alone, lately.
between work, kids, church and visitation, i have been pouting a little about not being able to see him.
one thing is for sure, though, if he can't be home, there's no other thing that i would rather have him doing than serving the Lord and encouraging others.
he is so good with people.  he has a servants heart and i admire that about him.  he loves deeply and people can see that, i think.
we just miss him a lot, too.

 

don't you love our professional running shoes?
i took this picture last year, and those tennies he's wearing are literally from 1996.  no joke.
mine are thrifted pumas and they hurt my toes.
we are quite the pair to behold!
he has since been given a pair of reebok zigs.
something we would never buy because they are so spendy, but yay! for free brand new shoes!
i am petitioning for a new pair.  got any suggestions?

while you think on the shoe question, i have a delicioso recipe to share with you!
can you just hear dora singing, "yum, yum, yum, DELICIOSO!"
you're welcome. i love having dora in my head, too.

>>>--->black bean/sweet potato chili<---<<<

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>you will need<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 small onion, diced
• 2 small sweet potatoes, peeled and chopped
• 2 medium carrots, sliced
• 1/2 red bell pepper, chopped (optional)
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 15 ounce can black beans
• 1 15 ounce can diced tomatoes or tomato sauce
• 1/2 cup vegetable broth
• 1 tbsp chili powder
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1/2 tsp cayenne (or to taste)
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper

i omitted the cayenne{WHOA! hot!} and added a bag of frozen corn, just for kicks!

i also doubled the recipe for my growing tribe.  :)

 

Sautee onions and garlic in olive oil for a minute or two, then add sweet potatoes, carrots and bell pepper until onions are soft, about 5-6 minutes.

Reduce heat to medium low, and add remaining ingredients, stirring to combine well.

Simmer, partially covered and stirring occasionally, for 20-25 minutes, until flavors have mingled and vegetables are cooked.

Makes 5 servings.

and then!!!  just to mess with my head{and gut}, because i'm trying to stay away from breads and such things, my daughter came up with the brilliant idea to make cornbread.  SWOON!   

i love cornbread.

 

i didn't want to hurt her feelings, so i let her make it.
and then i ate it.
THREE pieces. oy.
it was so, so, so good.
find the recipe here.
it's not healthy.  :)

 

as much as i try to fight to keep 'my space' in the kitchen, i know i need to let the girls cook and bake, too.
they are really good at it, and i need to let go of some of that control.
it's hard, though!
they are growing up...sigh.

i hope you make this, because you are going to love it!

oh, and isn't this great?

"It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.

 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

 The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him."

Lamentations 3:22-24

have a wonderful weekend, sweet friends!


xo,
mary

linking up with Becky again!