friend i have never met

i have a precious friend who works in the nashville office of the company i work for. i normally had to communicate with her a lot via e-mail bc we both were admin. our friendship started to begin just by asking how each other was doing after just asking for a work request. we soon realized that we had a love for the Lord in common and we began to encourage one another. she spoke so much truth to me while my husband was working night shift at the police department. i am so very thankful that she cared enough to ask how i was doing all the way from nashville when so many people in my office would not even say "hello." sadly, in the past couple of years, her precious husband became sick with lung cancer and just passed away a few months ago. a little over a year ago, when she found out her husband was not responding to the cancer treatment, an e-mail popped up from her. all it said was, "how are you and your husband?" i immediatly began to cry. i couldn't believe she remembered to think of me and my little problem of being lonely during night shifts while her husband was dying of cancer.

after her husband went to be with the Lord, her home was ruined from the flooding in Nashville this summer.

today another e-mail popped up from her again asking how our move went. i replied and told her that we were great and just praying for contentment while we wait to get pregnant. this was her reply...

"I'm glad to hear all is well. You are right on with trying to be content. Losing Steve has made me realize that it's the small moments that mean the most...we often discount those while waiting on the BIG moments. Grocery shopping together...folding laundry together...bringing each other a cup of coffee or iced tea...those calls or e-mails throughout the day just to say "i'm thinking about you and love you so much!" - those are the things I miss the most - the small things that we take for granted. So, live in the moment, girl. And God will give you the desires of your heart because as you seek him, those desires line up with His will for you."

i am so thankful for the truth and encouragement that this lady is still speaking into my life, even through all of the pain and change she was and is going through.

the Lord uses many things in life to show himself to his children.... even by using someone we have never met.

ANA - UPDATE...

so, i went to a general doctor last week and she tested me for all of the different strains of ANA and i tested NEGATIVE for all of them. so, i apparently had a false positive a few weeks ago. i am very very thankful, but a little frustrated. just a tad. thanking the Lord and praying for guidance as we continue to trust in the Lord's timing for our family!

my birthday update, cheese tortellini in white wine cream sauce recipe and a book review all coming soon. i know you are on the edge of your seat...so stay tuned.

heaven

my heart has been so heavy the past few days with so much death swirling around. a girl from church back at home died over the weekend after leaving an auburn game. and then a guy i new from beach project just died after battling brain cancer for 2 years. my heart just hearts so much for all of the families. what a deep deep loss. but, as someone wrote on FB, it is not a loss. the people that knew them have gained so much by knowing them. and both of the dear souls are praising our Jesus in heaven and being held in his arms. what a beautiful picture. and what a peace knowing that they are with our Lord. the girl's funeral is today and the guy's is tomorrow. please join me in praying for a great peace for these families and friends.

as someone else said, we are all just passing through this world. it was just their time to go home. we all have to be ready and live each day glorifying our Lord and showing others the Love of Christ. this is our calling.

ANA

so, my dr. called to let me know the results of the 6 tubes of blood that he took. he said all of my hormone levels looks great, but there is one concern. he said my ANA level is in the high 30's and the normal ANA level is 7. he wants me to see a regular doctor and then we will go from there. a little concerned, but very thankful we could have a lead on the problem and thankful that he even tested my ANA levels. i have heard that it is rare for a dr. to test for this. i went into looking for a fertility doctor pretty blind since we are new to the area. and i am so thankful for a friend who suggested this doctor to me. i had faith that the Lord would bring us to the right doctor and i know that he is exactly what we need at this time. a little concerned, but very thankful! does anyone have experience with ANA levels?

chilly

it is only early September, and the weather here is already in the high 60's. I haven't experienced the high 60's before late November maybe ever. i am starting to panic a little that maybe my wardrobe is not ready for an actual Fall season. I am in major need of sweatshirts and wind jackets. rain boots. thick socks. sweaters. and hoodies. my closet goes from summer to a little bit of winter to spring. i think it is time to introduce fall to the closet. closet, this is fall. fall, this is closet. you will become very close.

paella

my parents spent two years in spain back in the early 80's. they always talk about those two years so fondly like it was the best time of their lives. their time there really reminds me of me and my husband's time we just spent in DC. i think spain means to them what DC means to us. because my parents' hearts are in spain, i feel very fondly towards the country as well. plus, i was conceived in spain. so, obviously it is a great country.


my parents are constantly trying to find great spanish paella dishes that are similar to what they ate in spain. and i've enjoyed joining in the hunt.

so far, my favorite restaurant paella is found at Cobalt in orange beach, alabama (http://www.cobaltrestaurant.net/). rich. moist. full of flavor and tastes like it has been slow cooking all day.

the other day, creativity came over me and i created my own paella recipe. it has been my favorite homemade paella recipe so far and it is really easy.



Andie's Paella

Ingredients
2 cups yellow rice
1 pound peeled and deveined shrimp
1/2 large onion chopped
3 cloves garlic chopped
1 red bell pepper chopped
2 cups chopped asparagus
1 T lemon juice
1/2 cup white wine
1tsp paprika
2tsp parsley
1/2 tsp oregano
1/4 cup chicken stock - might need a little more

Directions
cook the rice according to directions. meanwhile saute onions, bell pepper, asparagus and garlic in olive oil on low. the goal is not to get the vegetables to cook fast, but to simmer slow so the vegetables absorb all of the flavors of the garlic and herbs. sprinkle with lemon juice, paprika, parsley, oregeno and salt and pepper. when the vegetables are almost done, on a separate burner pour the 1/2 cup wine in a saute pan and let boil till it is reduced. sprinkle a little paprika and salt and pepper on the shrimp then cook them in the wine till pink about 3-5 minutes. be careful to not overcook or they will be rubbery. combine shrimp wine mixture with the vegetables and toss in the yellow rice. gently toss everything together and add 1/4 cup chicken stock as you toss. you can use more or less depending on how moist you want your paella to be.

serve in a big pasta bowl. it hits the soul man. it hits the soul.

peach margarita

on our mini-vacay to branson a few weekends ago, i stumbled upon only the BEST drink i have ever had in my life. describing it as delicious does not even do it justice. i am so glad i took a picture of it. sometimes i just look at this picture and imagine what it tasted like and it makes me so warm and fuzzy inside.

now i am on a mission to find a good peach margarita recipe.