Italian Soup and a Cup of Tea

So here in Missouri the weather has changed....just like it did last week, and the week before that.  It's ridiculous, really.  Somehow we went from single digits, to upper 60's, back to single digits, and then back to the 60's in the space of four weeks.

Unfortunately, along with that comes aches, pains, and migraines!!!  Thankfully there are things that help with that.

1. I've just recently started trying essential oils.  I've been trying for a more natural resort than the ibuprofen and migraine pills.  Peppermint oil seems to help a lot with the migraines and Clove has been great for the aches and pains.  I am convinced there is some Clove in the Tiger Balm that I'm always reaching for to soothe my back.


2.  Tea always makes me feel better.  There's something about a hot, steamy cup Cranberry Orange Harvest that just relaxes a person.  My newest Tea Charm is just Gorgeous!!  Don't you think??

If you want one of these babies you'll have to check out the Etsy store GlisteningTruth.  She has something for everyone!!

3. Lastly, soup.  Soup of choice for the night Zuppe Toscana!!! And my special gift to you is the recipe!!  Found below!!

2 lbs Italian Sausage
1 large onion chopped
3 cloves garlic chopped
8-10 medium red potatoes sliced
1Tablespoon red pepper flakes
Chicken base or bullion and water or Chicken Stock
1 Quart half and half cream
3-4 cups chopped Kale
olive oil

In a large soup pot, over medium heat, add oil, onions, and garlic and cook until onions are translucent.  Add sausage and red pepper flakes and cook until meat is browned.  When meat is thoroughly browned add potato slices and a half cup of water and cover, stirring often.  This helps the potatoes to steam.  After 5 minutes or so, add the stock or bullion and water until potatoes are covered under an inch of liquid.  Bring to boil and cook until potatoes are tender.  Add salt and pepper to taste.  Bring heat down to low.  When temperature in the pot has dropped so that it is no longer simmering, add half and half to the pot.  Season again with salt and pepper to taste.  You can also grate some fresh nutmeg over the soup to taste if you like the flavor.  While soup is still hot but not simmering, add the kale and submerge it.  It will cause the kale to wilt slightly.

Ladle into bowls and add parmesan cheese to garnish, it's also really great with buttered french bread.

Enjoy guys!!!!   Hope the soup helps you handle the next CRAZY weather swing!!!  I heard it's supposed to get cold again.  Love ya'll!!

Learning to be a Follower

Lately, James and I haven't been able to do much running or walking because we've both been adjusting to new schedules at school, work, and church.  But tonight he felt motivated to go for a jog and I was more than happy to throw on some ratty sweats and move out!!

  We did the first week of the C25K series and it felt really good to be running a little again.  I was breathing hard, my feet hurt, and I had a nagging stitch in my side most of the time, but it was great!! As I ran I was able to focus on my breathing, clear my mind, and just run for the sake of running.

  When James and I run together I tell him not to hold back and run with me because he can push harder than I can right now.  He is always great about walking, or even running, back to me during the walking portion of our outing, though.  During our running segments I enjoy watching him run and spending time alone with God.

Tonight, I asked Him specifically to show me something to help me through this rough patch of the last few weeks...I needed something I could learn from and apply to my life.  It didn't come like a lightening bolt, a light bulb, or even along with any light at all, for that matter.  

It came at the end of our run and it was getting dark.  We had just finished our last jogging portion and were doing a 5 min. cool down/walk back to the house.  James reached out and grabbed my hand and we tried to walk this way for a bit, but when you've just been running it's hard to get your gates matched up and arms swinging in unison so that it is comfortable.  

James has a shorter, faster gate while mine is longer and slower.  In order to walk together comfortably we need to match our inner hips/feet to be stepping at the same time so that our arms can swing in unison.  

As I did a little skip and worked my gate to match his it hit me.  I needed to be a good follower.  We didn't talk, we just walked together on the way home.  I concentrated hard on matching our gates and holding on to him.  It was lovely...

Sometimes we just need to sit back, slow down, and concentrate on someone else.  Especially in a marriage, it's important that we know our roles.  James is a leader, and in our marriage I wouldn't have it any other way.  I want to follow him because I trust him, but I don't want to just be drug along.  I want to follow well, concentrate and focus on him, and do what I can to be a help and not a hindrance.  

I want to apply the same principals to my relationship with God.  He has a plan, I don't need to go my own way and do my own thing, I need to concentrate on Him, study his movements and teachings, and follow as closely and harmoniously as possible to create the most good.  

Something I'm the BEST At

I am the BEST procrastinator in the world.  

I will put anything off, at anytime, just so I don't have to do it right now.  I never understood why I had this huge flaw, but now I think I know.

I heard someone the other day say that some people are DREAMERS and some people are LIVERS....not like the organ but...well, you get it.

Dreamers are people who have all these hopes, dreams, big aspirations, and plans, but they never seem to actually get anything done towards those dreams.  They know their goals, but they can't seem to grasp how to get to them.  When that happens they just....dream.  They dream instead of doing!!!  

Livers are ones who can say, "This is my life. That is where I want to go. This is how I get there," and then they do it!  Livers are people who get things done, they see that you only get places in live through your own hard work and perseverance.  

I am a dreamer.  I want to be a doer.  I'm not even sure if a person can change that about themselves, but I'm going to try.  Starting today I am going to do.  

I heard a quote by an anonymous author yesterday that says,

LIVE by the SUN, 

Love by the MOON.

It means that you should be living your life while the sun is up.  Be like the elderly who get up at the crack of dawn and DO while they can.  And then do your dreaming while you have to sleep!!! Don't waste your sunlight doing time on your dreaming!!