Sausage Pasta

Looking for an new recipe to get you out of that cooking rut? This one is easy, deliciouso and low-fat.

Sausage Pasta
3/4 pound of your favorite pasta (I use whole wheat angel hair)
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 pound spicy Italian sausage OR kielbasa
1 onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 (14.5 ounce) can chicken broth
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes
fresh spinach
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add your favorite pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain and reserve.

In a large skillet, heat oil and sausage; cook through until no longer pink. During the last 5 minutes of cooking, add onion and garlic to skillet. You can also grill the sausage on the grill, slice and add to pan after sauteing onion and garlic.

Add broth, basil and tomatoes with liquid.

Cook over medium heat for 5 minutes to slightly reduce. Add a few handfuls of fresh spinach; cover skillet and simmer on reduced heat until spinach is just tender, 2-3 minutes.

Add pasta to skillet and mix together. Sprinkle with cheese and serve immediately.

Utterly random thoughts that might somehow explain my absence...

Just for the record, file this one under "completely random thoughts".

It's been a busy fall, but I'm sure the two readers I have left can attest to that fact. A trip to Idaho to visit family and friends kicked things off in September. Though exhausting, it was good to see everyone again. We followed that up with a trip two weeks later to Colorado for Ash and Rajeev's amazing wedding. "For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord...plans to give you a future and a hope" - a quintessential wedding set in the CO mountains was the perfect embodiment of God's promise.

Amongst all the coming and going there was school to be done, too many church activities to count, football practice and games, along with the ins and outs of a family of six. Despite how it all sounds, I am getting better at saying "no"...really, I am.

Emma turned five and lost her first tooth. Football is winding down. One more playoff game and hopefully a trip for Connor to the Superbowl. Yes, football in Texas is apparently a big deal. Basketball season has started up and games begin next week. Hosting Thanksgiving here in a couple of weeks, along with Austin's 13th birthday party. Any idea how much pizza five 13 year old boys can consume?

Oh, did I mention it's only 46 until Christmas. I.will.not.panic!

We must not forget

"Today, our nation saw evil, the very worst of human nature and we responded with the best of America." President George W. Bush, 9-11-01

We all remember where we were the day the World Trade Centers fell. The day the Pentagon became a memorial. The day, over a field in Pennsylvania, ordinary people became heroes. In the days that followed, flags flew proudly and we stood together, united as no other nation on earth could unite. We loudly proclaimed, "We will not forget!".

Life has returned to normal for most of us since that fateful day...at least for those of us who did not lose someone dear to us. We've gone about our lives, business as usual and once again taken for granted that we are safe.

Have we forgotten? Do we feel the same patriotism and connection to our neighbors we did that day? Does our heart swell with pride and thankfulness when we see a soldier in uniform? Does our flag still wave proudly from every corner and building?

Sadly, I believe we have forgotten. The horror we felt as we watched the towers crumble has become a distant memory. The pride that swelled in our hearts as we heard the words, "Let's roll" has faded.

For the sake of the 2,974 lives lost that day, we must not forget. For the sake of the children who will not know a parent, we must not forget. For the sake of the spouses who now sleep alone, we must not forget. For the sake of the parents who have outlived their children, we must not forget. For the sake of those still fighting for our freedom, we must not forget.

For all of them - we must not forget.

originally posted on February 7, 2008

Happy fabulous 40!

I've been musing quite a bit over the last few months about this whole "turning 40" thing. At first I was just down right bummed. 40? Seriously, how did that happen? As I've had time to think about it, I've come to the realization that 40 can be fabulous, depending on how I look at it. OK, I won't go so far as to agree with the Hollywood set who says, "40 is the new 20!" Yeah, whatever...they're just justifying the fact that they're getting older like the rest of us. Next they'll be saying from their walkers through their false teeth that 80 is the new 40!

Honestly though, if given the chance to trade wisdom for a few less wrinkles, I have to say I would keep the wrinkles. Being young(er) may have some advantages, but the lessons learned through living life over the years are worth their weight in gold. I'm a different wife, mom and friend than I was when I turned 30...and that's a good thing.

I've had 40 years of God's amazing faithfulness in my life. 40 years of seeing Him at work. 40 years to get to know Him more personally...and I could live another 40 lifetimes and still not know all I should know. I am thankful He continues to teach and shape me to look less like me and more like Him. And if looking more like Him means I have to put up with more wrinkles looking back at me from the mirror, then so be it.

God's comfort

God does not comfort us so that we'll be comfortable; we are comforted by God so that we might be comforters. Marvin Williams

Where were you Lord?

To everyone who has felt the pain of losing a baby, please take a minute to read my friend Cate's blog. It is an amazing portrait of a loving heavenly Father. One who is there in every moment, every ounce of pain, every second that forces us to question, "Where were you Lord?" If we are brave enough to ask the question about our most vulnerable moments, we will hear Him whisper "Right here".

Dare to hope

The unfailing love of the LORD never ends! By his mercies we have been kept from complete destruction. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each day. I say to myself, "The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!" ~ Lamentations 3:22-24

Do I believe that? Can I look at the circumstances of my life and trace the loving hand of God? When I think of Him, does His faithfulness overwhelm me?

If the answer to these questions is 'yes', then I can certainly dare to hope. Dare to hope for a new beginning. Dare to hope for an end to a difficult situation. Dare to hope for restoration. Dare to hope for anything my mind can conceive...and a whole lot it can't!

God has proven His faithfulness and unfailing love to me in so many ways this past year. If I did not believe He would see me through those dark days, then what was the point of continuing on? If I did not believe He loved me enough to bring goodness out of destruction, then what was the point of fighting? I remember praying on several occasions, "LORD, give me a glimpse of you today." A small prayer with a huge impact. No matter how bad things looked, He never failed to answer that prayer. He cannot fail to answer that prayer. His faithfulness would not allow it.

I love the last part of verse 24 - ..."The LORD is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!" My hope is not based on my circumstances or what possible outcome I might foresee. Thank God for that, especially on those days when getting through another five minutes seemed an impossibility. My hope is based on an incredible God with an incredible inheritance lined up for me.

Yes, because I trust His promises completely, I can dare to hope.