"Folkestra"

Beautiful sun rays after a storm last night

Last night JM and I and another couple went to an art museum to listen to a CD-release show of Bison. They are quite the band. I covet them a little, just because it has always been a dream of mine to play my violin in a band like theirs or with an orchestra that plays with an indie/folk band.
I've always enjoyed going to concerts or shows or plays, but whenever I look around I never feel "cool" enough. There's always people around me that are so stylish and fancy and downright cool.
Despite how "cool" I am, I will always enjoy music - especially the kind that's really music. Not that pop-stuff or whatever people call it these days. My parents raised our family to really appreciate music and I'm so grateful for it. I often wish we had a family band. The problem with me is that I never really listen to the lyrics. I get so caught up in the music that I could rarely tell you words to a song. That doesn't mean I don't like lyrics, I just get stuck on the instruments.
All that to say, music feeds my soul. I feel at peace when there's creative music in my ears. I get that same feeling in other things too! Like this morning for instance, when I took my dog out and it finally smelled like fall after a week straight of rain. You know: that warm, crunchy, sunny and woodsy smell.

"Felt" this Fall

For months I've been gawking over beautiful rosette wreaths handcrafted by the lovely handmadecolectibles Etsy shop. If you remember a few months ago, my lovely husband ordered me a felt flower bouquet from her. I've been wanting to do my own projects and learn how to get creative, so I spent some time looking at her lovely wreaths to make my own. Well it was a project! And, I'd say her creations are worth every penny because it is time consuming and takes much care! My wreath is so amateur in comparison! If you do not have the time to make your own, please visit her beautiful shop and get shopping!

I will probably add more color later but it's almost midnight so I'm closing up shop and calling quits.

Butterscotch Oatmeal Cookies

What a delicious treat for getting in the Autumn mood:

Butterscotch Oatmeal Cookies!

The best part - they are so easy. I simply use the Quaker Oats Old Fashioned recipe inside the canister lid for Vanishing Oatmeal Raisin Cookies with a few changes.

I like raisins but they aren't my favorite in cookies.

Ingredients:

1/2  cup (1 stick) butter, softened

3/4  cup firmly packed brown sugar

1/2  cup granulated sugar

2  eggs (I like to use egg beaters)

1  teaspoon vanilla

1-1/2  cups all-purpose flour

1  teaspoon baking soda

1  teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2  teaspoon salt (optional)

3  cups Quaker® Oats (quick or old fashioned, uncooked)

My addition:

1/2 bag of Butterscotch chips

1/4 cup applesauce

Heat oven to 350°F. In large bowl, beat butter and sugars on medium speed of electric mixer until creamy. Add eggs and vanilla; beat well. Add combined flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt; mix well. Add oats and raisins; mix well.

Drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets.

(I like to use Parchment Paper)

Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool 1 minute on cookie sheets; remove to wire rack. Cool completely. Store tightly covered.

Using applesauce gives your cookies a moistened texture instead of crispy.

I'd say they are similar to the consistency of a Cliff Bar.

This yummy treat is fantastic with a cup of hot tea!

Throw a dozen in the freezer. They will stay fresh.

Happy eating.

Church. What?

Since we've been married, JM and I have been looking for a church home.
9 months later, we think we've found one.
Our search has been a huge frustration.
We went to a church for 3 months that we liked, but it was an hour away.
It was hard to feel a part of the community.

It's so hard finding a church.
Why?
JM and I want to be in full-time ministry.

When it comes to visiting churches, we become very critical (not in a negative way). But there are some really serious issues and questions that we have when it comes to wanting to be a part of a church family.

We've been wanting so bad to get involved, but we haven't had a peace about staying at the churches we've visited. 

In the last 9 months, we've been to 6 churches. And several weekends we were out of town this summer.

We've seriously wrestled with the question: Are we being too picky?

But the reality of it is this: Church is not just a place to visit every Sunday. It's a community. It's a family of believers united with the same heart and mind. It's a place that should be reaching out to those in need; to those that don't know about God. Sunday should be a day to come together and share what God has been doing in our lives all week long. Sunday's message should just add to the fire and passion we are learning on our own throughout the week.

Some topics we've come across in our search for a church community: 

-The music is so powerful, but where's the heart of the message?

-Where is the passion in this community? 

-Why is the website so outdated? Where is the website?

-It's a "pot-faith" dinner, we don't call it pot luck because we don't believe in luck? What?

-15 minutes of weekly news and a 20 minute message?

-The pastor did what, with who?

-You're new, we can tell by the way your dressed?
-Where's the outreach?

It has been an incredible learning experience through all this. What would I have felt in all of this if I had never even been to church before? Would it be weird, scary, uncomfortable, exciting, empowering?

There is always going to be a debate as to how church works. The problem is, we are people and we like things in different ways. So being a relevant church in one place, because that's how "they" do it, will not work in another. BUT, when it's a church guided directly in surrender to the Holy Spirit, I believe it can be RELEVANT.

What JM and I had to really come to grips with is this: We need a church that most importantly is passionate about God and alive! Walking into a church that is not excited about the God we serve is heartbreaking. That doesn't mean there has to be a show and cool things everywhere, but a place that no matter what the building is, what music is being played, what the preacher looks like, there is no question as to why they are meeting - to share God's love.

On Sunday, for the first time in a long time, we felt a sense of peace and community in a church. It's still a bit of a drive (35-40min), but JM and I left church wanting to serve there. We didn't have to discuss our questions and concerns; we talked about how excited we were to finally have a place to serve. 

We felt a huge opportunity to get involved. 

What are some things we liked about it?

In words:

Passion. Diversity. Community. Outreach.

Furthermore,

The pastor used to be a full-time missionary in Spain.

He preaches like my childhood pastor [Everything based on Scripture!]

Their website is interactive and up-to-date.

We saw all age-groups.

Very outreach and mission driven.

Several people talked to us.

The music was worshipful and heartfelt - not a show!

They are starting small groups on a secular college campus.

They have small groups throughout the week.

They have a "Serve the City" ministry that collaborates with other churches and local organizations.

We are really excited where God takes us in this church community! Please pray as we take the next step!

Butter/Margarine/Olive Oil

Well, I've found myself in a dilemma.
Have you questioned butter and whether or not it's unhealthy to cook with or eat for that matter?
I know for a fact the I will never cook with as much butter as Julia Child or my grandmother [though their food may be delicious]- but, we recently bought a few sticks of butter and I'm reminded of why I like to cook with it.
It just tastes so much better!

We've used smart balance, olive oil, margarine - you name it, we've more than likely tried it. But especially when it comes to caramelizing onions or using a frying pan, I really just like using butter better.

We try to stay healthy around here, so butter just seems like a scary word. But I still believe that using ingredients wisely and portion control can and does also contribute to healthy eating. We don't have to cut everything out of our lives. I still use olive oil and margarine, but when I want to use butter, I'm not going to feel guilty about it {but I'm also not going to use more than I need either}.

Has anyone else found themselves in this same predicament? What are the other options?

Mudmaids

On our way back from St. Louis, JM and I stopped at my Aunt and Uncle's house near Chattanooga, TN for the day. They were the closest family to me while I was in school, so I spent most Sunday afternoons with them. JM got very close to them too when he'd come to visit me. I had some painting for Uncle Roy's workshop I had yet to finish, so I offered to finish my job in return for an antique window. I hope to restore and decorate with it.

JM left me in TN to stay with a few of my college roommates for the rest of the week and weekend. I enjoyed walking around campus, reading - currently "Three Cups of Tea" - on benches under trees and grabbing coffee with some old friends. I drank a lot of COFFEE! {Basically I pretended to be a college student again for a few days} And, I also got a chance to visit Dr. Moodley's class and get coffee with him after [my former adviser and professor]. It was really great to just talk about future plans! I really enjoyed being in the college atmosphere again... especially being in walking distance from almost everything. I felt at such a peace (probably because I didn't have a trillion assignments crawling down my back). I love Lee's campus because it changes every semester. There's always something new to look at.

I specifically stayed for the week to celebrate my dear friend Kyle's bachelorette weekend. My old roommates and I signed up for the Knoxville Marine Mud Run in honor of the upcoming wedding. We bought cheap dresses and gave Kyle a lovely wedding dress to wear for the occasion (calling ourselves the Mudmaids). This is the first time since being married that I've spent time with just girls. Yes, I missed my husband dearly, but I really enjoyed spending time with some amazing friends and godly women! We stayed up too late, laughed until we cried, danced and sang the night away, hiked the mountains, participated in the 5k mud run in our wedding attire and most of all prayed for *Kyle and Kahlin's* journey with their wedding just a month away.

What a lovely weekend. I was definitely ready to see my husband after 4 days without him and ready to be home after a week and a half of traveling. 

I flew home Sunday, Sept 11 and had plenty of time to ponder and pray over the day that changed our country so greatly 10 years ago. I was a freshman in chorus class as I watched the second tower get hit. 

My dear Lydia

Having been over 3 years since I visited  Lydia in Missouri, so much has changed since the last time I was there. Lydia and Matt had just moved to MO in July 2008. I went to visit them on my fall break. I was just starting my first semester as a transfer student to Lee University. I was single and content with it. I was thrilled to drive that far west for the first time.

Since the last time I was there, JM and I began dating long distance that December, we were engaged November 2009 and married this past December. It's really wild to think of how fast time really does go by. It felt like I had been there only yesterday. But life has greatly changed for all of us in 3 years time.

We were able to spend Labor Day weekend with Matt and Lydia and get a taste of their lives.

St. Louis really has some beautiful architecture.

Traveling

This really has been the summer of love & traveling. JM and I have been out of town almost every weekend and we feel blessed we've been able to make it happen. We have had to plan ahead and budget tightly and it has been worth it. Currently we are near St. Louis visiting my oldest sister Lydia and her husband Matt. It is almost a 2000 mile round trip. I can't believe it has been 3 years since I have been out here... so it was a trip well overdue!! And, the best part is that I no longer have to travel alone. JM is my constant partner in all things for the rest of our lives! We have hours upon hours to talk in the car, sing together, take turns driving, take naps, etc. Being here with my sister is such a gift in itself. We don't get to see each other much. Last time we were together was the wedding. It's times like these I really treasure. I can't wait to post pictures!!