Travels as of late

My best childhood friend, Allison, and her boyfriend invited us to go to Gatlinburg with them the first of March. It was such a fun trip and we are so glad that they invited us! We left March 11 and came back the 15 so was it was a nice mini-vacation amidst the working weeks. Allison and I are as close as you get to non-related twins and she is such a great friend! I can't wait until we take another vacation together :) Hopefully, next time, we won't get the stomach bag when we get home. Allison and I with our "walking sticks"

My sweet hubby posed for a pic while we were hiking

More hiking...

Beautiful stream we crossed

One of the many things Allison and I have in common is that we don't like leftovers. It's not a matter of, "I just don't want to eat them" but it typically makes me queasy if I try to eat them. I'm a big fan of the idea of eating leftovers but I have to find recipes that make for delicious leftovers. One of them, I discovered before the trip so I shared it with Allison and it's amazing! Shrimp/Spinach Pasta

Ingredients: (makes 6 servings)

80z Fettuccine Pasta

2 Cups cleaned medium fresh Shrimp (frozen okay)

1 Cup (8oz) Philadelphia Neufchatel cream cheese

1 Cup (8oz) chicken broth

5oz frozen spinach, thawed

1 Cup Parmesan Cheese, grated

2 cloves garlic

salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Cook Fettuccine as directed on package.

Meanwhile, heat large skillet or pat to medium-high heat.

Add cream cheese and chicken broth, cook stir 3 to 4 minutes until cream cheese is melted and mixture is well blended. Add parmesan cheese, garlic and salt and pepper to taste. Add shrimp and stir until cooked through (if using frozen shrimp, until heated through). Add spinach and stir well. Drain pasta and place in large bowl. Stir in shrimp mixture.

Ad Ins: toss in 2 medium tomatoes for taste and color!

So this past weekend we went to Jacksonville to visit with J's cousins. The weather was beautiful, the company was perfect, the food was delicious and the wine was flowing. We had the best time, stayed up too late and had a lot to drink. It was such a blessing to be with family and to hear them reminisce about their childhood...lots of funny stories that I will not share on my blog, for the world to see. :) Can't wait to visit them again! Unfortunately, the only picture I have is from the car, driving through downtown.

Compartmentalization

Practicing patience and learning to uncompartmentalize parts of my life.

Dailythanks:
-My husband who took great care of me while I was sick
-Visiting family in Jacksonville
-Skyping with Lauren & Kristen
-Spring cleaning & moving to a condo on the beach
-Joy about going to work
-My mom & Don making it safely back to the U.S.
-Beautiful weather
-Delicious recipes that turn out great (like last night's Shrimp pasta, mmm)
-Time for reading (reading Eat, Pray, Love & it's wonderful)
-Dave Ramsey's guidance for finances
-Wonderful friend/mentor/co-worker that texts bible verses to me every day

Thursday showers

Dailythanks:

-for quiet prayer time driving home from work

-for bike rides with hubby

-for setting goals and accomplishment

-for friends that make me laugh

-for forgiveness

-for hubby's positive attitude no matter what

-for our Dave Ramsey budgeting experience

-for my brothers & sis whom I miss so much

The season of Lent is here! Today is my Friday which is always fun but this morning, I woke up & J made me oatmeal which started the day on a great note :) I am looking forward to lunch plans with fun coworkers who always make me laugh.

Daily Thanks

From day one, J and I have been looking for a small group to join to share in fellowship, friendship and bible study here in Florida. Lately, it's worn heavy on my heart that we haven't really found a group to join; the groups we've visited are wonderful people but either much older or much younger and we really don't connect. We've both made great friends at work but there is some disconnect with friendships that challenge us and motivate our relationship with God.

It's humorous most days and I can laugh and think, wow, what challenges and lessons is God trying to teach us because there is nothing here for us! I am incredibly thankful for my job, hubby's job, health, beautiful beach, mini-frequent vacations, sunshine, friends at work, opportunity and flexibility. Hubby and I discuss this and I enjoy our discussions because we talk about the good and the perfect and bring ourselves back to contentment.

Dailythanks:

-Peaceful morning skyping w/ Lacy

-Shannon coming over this morning & chatting before work

-Incredible work seminar

-Quiet time

-Texting w/ Linds after work

-Confidence from idea share w/ the board

-Being asked for advice by a co-worker

-PB&J for dinner with hubby :)

Hubby & I at Disney

Marching into March

An update is LONG overdue and i'm kicking myself for not blogging sooner! February was an incredibly busy month with an unexpected trip to Bham, Valentine's Day and our planned trip to Atlanta for the National Cheer Competition-WOW-thousands of cheerleaders and moms who are just as competitive!

The trip home was a blessing in disguise and we are counting our many blessings that Jonathan's mom's surgery was successful and she has recovered beautifully. Spending the week with Jess was special and allowed us time to just spend together rather than the typical, in and out trips. My dad got to take J and I to lunch which was a treat and we also got to see Kathy before we left. (Sad it was such a short visit but next time, we will plan to have dinner) Got to see Ethan, Mom and Don and enjoyed dinner with them. We had a fabulous dinner with Allison and Adam which made me so happy. Lots of happiness, dinner & family...that's what it's all about.

View of Birmingham from UAB Hospital

Dinner with Mom & Don

Seeing my best friend from Berry College-Alisha-I miss her so much

Jess ready for competition Day 1

Their outstanding routine (apologies for the blurry picture); each group brought tears to my eyes

My handsome husband at World of Coke :)

Everything in World of Coke is so innovative bright

Cocoa Beach on a warm Saturday morning

Pretty flowers J got me for Valentine's Day at work

Things are going to be busier and busier moving forward...we will be moving into a condo in Cocoa Beach come April 1st...homecoming for Lacy & Eric from China and Kersty from France. Everyone will finally be home :) My next posts will appropriately be titled, "wedding festivities galore." Just wait.