Cecil Fam Visit

Kathy, Zak, and Emily (family friends of ours) stopped by to visit the other night! So fun. We looked at baby-name meanings online and chatted. The kids were full of questions, and it was good to catch up.

" If you have more than one kid, do you think they will like each other?"

"What color pajamas will you put the baby in if it's a boy?"

"What are you going to name it?"

"Do you think 'e will have blue eyes?"

Zak and Em are both hams, and alternately sucked in their stomachs for photos, and pretended to be pregnant. Zak's growing up so fast! I can't believe he's nine now. We watched him when he was an infant, and did informal daycare for Kathy, Johnston-style. I was in high school (homeschooled) and he was so tiny! He's a little less cuddly now, and probably going to be much taller and bigger than me someday, but he still gives good hugs. It was fun to see them!

Packing up!

I had forgotten how much kitchen stuff I had here in CA, packed away from my apartment! Lots of spices and sugar and oil, good staples that I am excited to take to CO. We won't be taking all of it, however! We discovered we have had some "helpers" in the garage... mice who went through my stuff, ate some of it, shredded other bits of it, and left little presents behind, all without my permission. Just thought you'd want to see the carnage! We are making good progress, and will finish packing this afternoon. We plan to load it all onto a truck Monday, then depart for Colorado on Tuesday! Exciting!! It's been overwhelming at times, but my parents are awesome workhorses who just plug away at it, so much so that I feel like I am barely helping! I'm not supposed to lift heavy stuff in my condition, but I still want to contribute (and have... some).

Home, Sweet... Visit

I'm here in California, after flying in yesterday morning! With a 4 a.m. getup for a 6 a.m. flight, it was a long day (about 20 hours by the time I went to bed), but a very good day. Aside from a little turbulence in the tiny plane from LAX to SMX, it was a smooth trip! My wonderful husband packed my bag for me the night before I left (after I laid out all the items on the bed, then crashed on the other side of the bed from exhaustion), and prepared me a nice eggs-and-toast breakfast that morning, and drove me to the airport. He is amazingly good to me, and I am so thankful for him. So privileged to be married to him! My parents picked me up at the airport, and I lost it, almost sobbing in my mom's arms. Mostly because I threw up as we landed (glad it was at the very end!), but also because I was overcome with being "home." It's funny how attached you can become to a place, but I must admit I got a little teary-eyed when I first caught the Pacific in my window when we took off from LAX. It is so soothing to see it again, and to recognize the roads from the air as we came in to Santa Maria, and to get reacquainted with the strawberry fields.

Though this has been "home" for so long, since October 1997, it is no longer completely home because Sean is not here. I find that so interesting! It's familiar, but I've changed. I have a "Colorado me" now, and the "single California me" is a chapter in history. We may end up stationed back here, but that is in the future and only God knows where He will lead us in our life-adventure. For now, I am here to pack up all my earthly possessions, including an abundance of wedding presents (yay!!) and transport them to our home in Colorado. I'm no longer concerned with just me; my concerns envelop us. I am excited to visit with dear friends and my wonderful parents, who are uber excited about my arrival.

God's timing is so perfect! We have waited a long time for our house, but now it is spring; things are green and growing, and I am in my second trimester and have more energy. Back home in Colorado Springs, it is spring break this week, so I am not missing any of my normal activities. When I came back to Santa Maria, I observed it's the same here, but not the same. I am glad to sit back and let someone else do the cooking for a few days (I still offer to do the dishes), and am pleased to have a restful-yet-busy visit with people I miss and love. I am still my parents' daughter and always will be, but I am a married, adult daughter now, so our relationship is transitioning a bit. It's good. I am glad to be here for a visit, glad to be out of limbo (hopefully) and moving toward a goal of having our own home to use as a tool for God (and to be able to nest our little family in it!!). We are scheduled to close on the house on April 2nd, but we are still praying and trusting God for the outcome. I am learning it is wise to hold off on getting too excited until things are for-sure, in-writing secure. True security is found only in God, not in material things or earthly events. We are learning so much through this experience; it's been very valuable. I feel older than I was when I left (which I am, five months older). But I feel wiser too, for which I am thankful.

Italian Zucchini Pasta

I only took one picture of this meal... but it was a pretty good one. :) One of the staples passed down to me from my mom's repertoire, it turned out really well, especially because the can of diced tomatoes I used had balsamic vinegar, basil, and garlic added to it. This meal is pretty quick and easy, with lots of veggie goodness present in the zucchini slices. Love the fettuccini pasta too! And Italian sausage meatballs.... what's not to love.

If all these food posts make you hungry, feel free to stop by for dinner anytime! I would love to lure invite loved ones for a visit!

Montana De Oro (Mountain of Gold)

One of our favorite places to hike or camp, Montana de Oro State Park is absolutely incredible. We love that place so much, we did our engagement photos there! On this occasion in March '09, Josh's mom was visiting from Texas and a bunch of us hiked some trails and took some photos. It's really spectacular when you are able to start out at the beach with awesome rocky outcroppings, then ascend 1400 feet to the top of Valencia Peak (bottom row, second from right), through flower-strewn paths rustling with lizards and birds, all the while taking breaks to contemplate the vastness (and the bright blue-ness) of the ocean. Absolutely beautiful day, and awesome memories with our dear friends.

Yesterday Sean and I were marveling at how quickly we made friends in Santa Maria. And what a quality group of people too! We did Bible study AND fun stuff like barbeques and hikes and camping. We really cherish that season and know it's a rare gift we were given. How often do you fall in with a group of people and feel at home right away? How often are you able to share so much of life with people you just met? They really became like a family, and we love 'em and miss 'em.

Chicken Thighs with Shallots and Spinach

Here is another new recipe I tried this week! Unfortunately, I didn't have the presence of mind to take photos of the "before" for this meal, just the "during" and "after." Sometimes it's okay to just do something and not document it! It was delicious! Another keeper.

Here is the spinach wilting with help from a white sauce made from sour cream, chicken broth (would love to try white wine next time), previously-sauted-chicken drippings, green onions (couldn't find shallots at the commissary), and oil. It was delicious, even though it didn't really look like the picture in the magazine.

Our finished product! Pretty balanced, as far as veggie, starch, and protein. The spinach wasn't even too soggy for lunch the next day. Enjoy!

La Purisima Mission

Over a year ago now, on March 1st, 2009, Sean and I went on a "double date" with my parents to La Purisima Mission, not too far from Santa Maria. It was a beautiful spring day, and we introduced Sean to California missions. I guess he never learned California history in the 4th grade (doesn't everyone learn California history?), where students either constructed a model of one of the 21 missions along the coast, or created a map of CA with all the missions marked. (Salt dough topographical map? Bo-ring!! I made a California cake, with Mom's help.) Somehow I thought that because I had learned California history when I was young, every schoolchild did. Now I wondered, what about all the other states' histories that I was never taught? Am I missing out on important historical details?? Based on how much (or how little) I remember about CA's illustrious history, I'm guessing I can still be a productive adult in society without that knowledge of the other 49 states.

La Purisima boasts stables and a blacksmithy; a replica barracks room showing typical bedding, clothing, and weapons; beautiful herb gardens; and probably a few things I have forgotten. It's been a year since I visited it, after all!

Oh, how I miss my flip flops (or slippers, as Sean calls them). Hopefully we will be able to wear them soon! Miscellaneous revelatory dialectical note: if flip flops are "slippers"... what do you call that wintertime, fuzzy footwear you wear around the house? "House slippers"! I love marriage!

Italian Meatball Soup!

Remember my overflowing pot from the chili post? It happens somewhat often as of late. :) I should try adapting recipes to incorporate my three-quart crock pot!


The beginnings of Italian meatball soup: carrots, celery, and onion (all of which Sean chopped for me, which included tears from the onion-- so cute!); Italian sausages cut into meatballs and fried; all swimming in a base of chicken broth and tomato sauce (with lots of Italian seasoning)

After adding angel hair pasta

Finished product: yumm! It was a little thicker than Mom's usually is.... probably because I used the Dutch oven, added the pasta way too soon (didn't really measure the pasta either), and boiled it a wee bit long (?). Not sure... but it was still delicious and edible, if not "normal-looking." Another day in the life!

One-Pot Chili

My ingredients...

I had to "borrow" Logan's big pot (a Dutch oven, maybe? It has a big metal lid, with a handle that gets really, really hot) because the saucepan I started with was filled to within about 1/8 inch of the top... before I added the pasta and broth. Oh no! Too full!! Minor emergency in the kitchen! I will be thankful when we move into our house and I can have all my pots and pans around me, even the big ones! For now, we are definitely surviving with what we have. No worries there... it just requires a little creativity (and the unknowing graciousness of our housemate, ahem. I sort of raided the cupboards looking for a big enough pot). I wish I would remember to halve the recipe at first, if it's a new one I haven't tried before, to see if it will fit in my pot!

Finished product: not much to say, other than YUMMM. Sour cream was the perfect crowning touch. Cornbread would have been awesome as a side, but we didn't have the fixin's. Oh well! I don't usually put penne in my chili, but it was a nice addition and provided some carbs. Beef, bell pepper, onion, pinto beans, cumin and chili powder, diced tomatoes. Definitely a "you can do this again" recipe.

On a slightly-related note, I am probably far too proud of the fact that people often comment on the awesome lunches Sean brings to work. :) I love taking care of him and sending him to work with something hot and delicious.... but I also love that people know I can (and do) cook. I want to be a good wife, but I don't want to be a self-absorbed, arrogant wife. :) Something I'm working on...

Lemon Garlic Tilapia & Quinoa

So.... I haven't posted in awhile, but now I have a couple food posts all in a row, so bear with me! The other day we enjoyed some gourmet-looking and -tasting lemon garlic tilapia with a really cool new-to-us food called quinoa, a grain the Incas first utilized (supposedly). They called it "the mother grain," according to the back of the box. (!) Quinoa purportedly has more protein than most grains, and provides a "delicate flavor" as a "truly versatile" side dish. The meal was absolutely amazing (if I say so myself), definitely a keeper, and fancy-looking yet easy, always a good combo for a dinner recipe!

Here are our fillets drenched in butter and lemon juice, and sprinkled with fresh garlic and parsley flakes.

Sean helped me cook the quinoa, adding his special touches. The recipe called for toasting it in a little oil first, which produced a nutty aroma and probably enhanced the eventual flavor. After toasting it for a few minutes, we boiled it in chicken broth (you could also use water or vegetable stock) until it absorbed all the liquid. The grains changed quite a bit in look and feel, ending up looking like little eye balls-- part of each grain got translucent but the "germ ring" was still visible. Quite an adventure to cook it for the first time!

Our fillets, flaky and white (and delicious!). Yummmmmm.

The quinoa recipe I selected had onions, lemon juice, and herbs mixed in it, which reminded me a LOT of tabouli I had in Israel. It was a very Mediterranean or Middle Eastern flavor, evocative and pungent (in a good way).

It was a pretty amazing meal! The only thing to make it better would have been steamed veggies or a green salad (to be super, super healthy). But I didn't think that far ahead, and we survived. :) More food posts to come soon!

Fox Run Regional Park

We have discovered a lovely park just three miles from our current home, called Fox Run Regional Park. Although we didn't see any foxes, we did enjoy some fantastic weather with just enough sun to keep us from feeling too chilly, and gorgeous surroundings to fill our eyes. Lots of pretty trees and cool trails. We even spied some tracks, both of animals and cross-country skis. We happened upon a picnic table in a clearing and decided to come back in a few months and have a meal there-- when the table's not covered in snow! It was a lovely day, and we were grateful for the opportunity to get out, move our legs a little, and spend time together.