Dear blog,
I miss you and all my fellow bloggers. I have so much to say, but no time to sit down and type it. I've got to figure out how to find time for me in my busy schedule.
Until then,
Me
Monday, October 24, 2011
Monday, August 15, 2011
Cheesecake-Stuffed Peaches
I am SOOOO glad I looked through my Better Homes and Gardens magazine last night. This dessert was AMAZING!
(sorry there are no pictures of their heavenly goodness...)
6 peaches, halved and pitted
1/4 cup butter, melted
3 tbs sugar mixed with 1 tsp cinnamon
4 oz cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup sugar
1 egg yolk
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
Preheat oven to 350. Trim a thin slice from the round side of each peach half so the halves will stand flat. Dip peach halves in melted butter to coat. Arrange peaches, cut sides up, baking pan lined with parchment paper. Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.
In medium mixing bowl, beat cream cheese with a mixer on medium speed until smooth. Add sugar, egg yolk, and vanilla. Beat until combined. Spoon mixture into peach centers.
Bake, uncovered, 30 minutes or until lightly browned and softened. Serve warm.
(sorry there are no pictures of their heavenly goodness...)
6 peaches, halved and pitted
1/4 cup butter, melted
3 tbs sugar mixed with 1 tsp cinnamon
4 oz cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup sugar
1 egg yolk
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
Preheat oven to 350. Trim a thin slice from the round side of each peach half so the halves will stand flat. Dip peach halves in melted butter to coat. Arrange peaches, cut sides up, baking pan lined with parchment paper. Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.
In medium mixing bowl, beat cream cheese with a mixer on medium speed until smooth. Add sugar, egg yolk, and vanilla. Beat until combined. Spoon mixture into peach centers.
Bake, uncovered, 30 minutes or until lightly browned and softened. Serve warm.
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Borrowed From a Facebook Post
I promise I will update my blog with what's been going on in my life soon, but until then, I want to share my friend Johnna's most recent Facebook post:
Jacob was a cheater, Peter had a temper, David had an affair, Noah got drunk, Jonah ran from God, Paul was a murderer, Gideon was insecure, Miriam was a gossiper, Mary was a worrier, Thomas was a doubter, Sara was impatient, Elijah was moody, Moses stuttered, Zaccheus was short, Abraham was old, and Lazarus was dead. Now, what's YOUR excuse? Can God use you?
Wow. How powerful is that?! Of course God can use you, but will you let Him? I'm ready God...use me.
Jacob was a cheater, Peter had a temper, David had an affair, Noah got drunk, Jonah ran from God, Paul was a murderer, Gideon was insecure, Miriam was a gossiper, Mary was a worrier, Thomas was a doubter, Sara was impatient, Elijah was moody, Moses stuttered, Zaccheus was short, Abraham was old, and Lazarus was dead. Now, what's YOUR excuse? Can God use you?
Wow. How powerful is that?! Of course God can use you, but will you let Him? I'm ready God...use me.
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Writing from a Prompt
I'm at a Pre-AP conference this week. I've learned a lot of great strategies, but today was my favorite day. Partially because it's the last day and I get to sleep in tomorrow, but mainly because today focused on writing, which is often a neglected art in an ELA. We were given a journal exercise, and after several revisions, I'm proud with the essay I developed, so I thought I'd share:
PROMPT:
Poised. Elegant. Beautiful. She was everything I wanted to be, but wasn’t. I was awkward and nerdy, yet she was my friend. Not my “best” friend, but my oldest friend, my most cherished friend.
We belonged to two different worlds. Hers was high society with private schools, fine dining, and Rolls Royces. Mine was middle class with public schools, home cooking, and minivans. But in preschool, those worlds collided and we became fast friends. Each year, she came to my birthday party. When birthday parties were outgrown, we had unplanned annual reunions randomly around town – buying suits for our fathers or running shoes for our mothers.
Graduation, college, and real life came and we drifted apart. Years came and went without seeing or speaking, but our hearts remained as close as ever.
I saw her again recently, still stunning, gorgeous, and eloquent. It was the first time in two (maybe three?) years…yet there were no awkward silences, no forced moments. We talked and laughed and loved well into the night.
But our separate lives called us back. Hers still high society and glamorous in NYC. Mine still working class and routine in Leander. Still, I know our worlds will collide again. It may be years, decades before we see each other, but in the matters of our hearts, time will not have passed.
PROMPT:
Think about a friend who is unique or special in some way. Who is he or she, and what makes him or her special? Describe his/her actions and appearance to illustrate.
MY RESPONSE:Poised. Elegant. Beautiful. She was everything I wanted to be, but wasn’t. I was awkward and nerdy, yet she was my friend. Not my “best” friend, but my oldest friend, my most cherished friend.
We belonged to two different worlds. Hers was high society with private schools, fine dining, and Rolls Royces. Mine was middle class with public schools, home cooking, and minivans. But in preschool, those worlds collided and we became fast friends. Each year, she came to my birthday party. When birthday parties were outgrown, we had unplanned annual reunions randomly around town – buying suits for our fathers or running shoes for our mothers.
Graduation, college, and real life came and we drifted apart. Years came and went without seeing or speaking, but our hearts remained as close as ever.
I saw her again recently, still stunning, gorgeous, and eloquent. It was the first time in two (maybe three?) years…yet there were no awkward silences, no forced moments. We talked and laughed and loved well into the night.
But our separate lives called us back. Hers still high society and glamorous in NYC. Mine still working class and routine in Leander. Still, I know our worlds will collide again. It may be years, decades before we see each other, but in the matters of our hearts, time will not have passed.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
When I was in school...
Field trips were educational and for a purpose, not just to get out of the school building for a day of fun.
Moms (and dads) drove students to field trips...schools did not pay hundreds of dollars for a bus and driver.
Field day was at school...not some other random location.
Reading was taught through book and novel studies, not by isolating skills.
When we finished the novel, we watched the movie...just to watch it.
We took TAAS, not TAKS, and it's influence on teaching and learning was minimal.
The teacher was always right.
The office was a place that no one wanted to end up.
Phone calls home resulted in a change of behavior.
Disrespect towards teachers resulted in major consequences.
Too many tardies counted as an unexcused absence.
Too many unexcused absences resulted in retention.
If you didn't do an assignment the first time, you got a zero.
If you failed a grade, you repeated the grade.
Students bought school supplies, and kept up with them.
If you forgot your pencil, you were expected to PAY for one at the school store before class began.
...and you know what?
We turned out ok and didn't end up in a budget crisis.
Moms (and dads) drove students to field trips...schools did not pay hundreds of dollars for a bus and driver.
Field day was at school...not some other random location.
Reading was taught through book and novel studies, not by isolating skills.
When we finished the novel, we watched the movie...just to watch it.
We took TAAS, not TAKS, and it's influence on teaching and learning was minimal.
The teacher was always right.
The office was a place that no one wanted to end up.
Phone calls home resulted in a change of behavior.
Disrespect towards teachers resulted in major consequences.
Too many tardies counted as an unexcused absence.
Too many unexcused absences resulted in retention.
If you didn't do an assignment the first time, you got a zero.
If you failed a grade, you repeated the grade.
Students bought school supplies, and kept up with them.
If you forgot your pencil, you were expected to PAY for one at the school store before class began.
...and you know what?
We turned out ok and didn't end up in a budget crisis.
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Monday, May 2, 2011
Happy Birthday To ME!
So this year my birthday celebration lasted for five days! Here's a little re-cap of each one:
Day 1: With the TAKS test finally finished (I didn't have to administer it on my birthday this year...woohoo!), it was time to celebrate with the Adam clan. We went to Zed's, which was fabulous! In attendance was the hubby, the kids, Scott's parents, Scott's grandma, my mom, and my grandpa. It was such a gorgeous evening on the patio and I got some amazingly thoughtful gifts from the kids (thanks, honey!).
Day 2: I went down the street for a lia sophia jewelry party. We had treats and wine, and even got to model the jewlery! I ended up buying myself a couple of birthday presents, too! I can't wait until they come in!!!
Day 3: I took the afternoon off on Friday so that we could avoid traffic on the drive to Dallas. Unfortunately, there was a HORRIBLE accident involvoing two eighteen-wheelers, which made us sit in traffic for awhile, but we still made it in time for dinner. We ate at Little Greek. I LOVE Greek food, so I was super excited...my husband isn't the biggest fan, but he was SUCH a trooper!
Day 4: My actual day of birth. The morning was spent in the kitchen prepping for Kathryn's shower. The Clark family is really important to my family, and it was really fun to do bridal showers for both Laura and Kathryn. (Laura and I have been good friends since 3rd grade, Kathryn was the reason I went to Rhodes, my sorority sister, and my roommate) The shower was a success, everything looked beautiful, and my hubby made a great bartender. Unfortunately, I burned Kathryn a CD of pictures, but forgot to burn myself one! (I will try to add pictures when I go back to Dallas in a few weeks.) After a quick nap (literally about 10 minutes) it was time for cocktails and dinner at Fearing's Restaurant at the Ritz Carlton with Scott, my parents, and our good friends Mark, Paul, and Tiffany. What an AMAZING dinner! We were at the chef's table, so we got to watch the guys at work in the kitchen while we enjoyed fabulous food and spectacular wine... and the company wasn't half bad either! ;-)
Day 5: Not really a day of "birthday" celebration, but to me, every Sunday in Dallas is a reason to celebrate. I LOVE Northway, my parent's church, and their after church tradition of lunch at El Fenix is pretty awesome too! After lunch we drove home, and apparantly brought the cold weather with us! BRRR!
I am thankful to the number of people who took the time to post me a note on Facebook. I was shocked and amazed at the birthday wishes from people who I hardly ever talk to anymore. I realize Facebook reminds you of birthdays, but I couldn't believe some of the people who thought I was worth the time to write a message to! It took me a long time to thank everyone! But...as grateful as I am for my Facebook messages (and the couple of text messages I got) I really miss the days when people called you and wished you happy birthday (sometimes in song) and you could actually hold a conversation with them. I almost cried when Emily took the time out of her day (which was super busy with a baby shower) to call and tell me happy birthday. That meant more to me than she will ever know. And of course, my family called me, which also made me smile! :-)
So, thank you to everyone for making my birthday fantastic! (Especially since it will be the last one I will ever celebrate! haha) I love you all! <3
Day 1: With the TAKS test finally finished (I didn't have to administer it on my birthday this year...woohoo!), it was time to celebrate with the Adam clan. We went to Zed's, which was fabulous! In attendance was the hubby, the kids, Scott's parents, Scott's grandma, my mom, and my grandpa. It was such a gorgeous evening on the patio and I got some amazingly thoughtful gifts from the kids (thanks, honey!).
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| Me and my Mommy |
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| Love my Husband |
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| Kennedy and Grandpa "Long" Horn |
Day 2: I went down the street for a lia sophia jewelry party. We had treats and wine, and even got to model the jewlery! I ended up buying myself a couple of birthday presents, too! I can't wait until they come in!!!
Day 3: I took the afternoon off on Friday so that we could avoid traffic on the drive to Dallas. Unfortunately, there was a HORRIBLE accident involvoing two eighteen-wheelers, which made us sit in traffic for awhile, but we still made it in time for dinner. We ate at Little Greek. I LOVE Greek food, so I was super excited...my husband isn't the biggest fan, but he was SUCH a trooper!
Day 4: My actual day of birth. The morning was spent in the kitchen prepping for Kathryn's shower. The Clark family is really important to my family, and it was really fun to do bridal showers for both Laura and Kathryn. (Laura and I have been good friends since 3rd grade, Kathryn was the reason I went to Rhodes, my sorority sister, and my roommate) The shower was a success, everything looked beautiful, and my hubby made a great bartender. Unfortunately, I burned Kathryn a CD of pictures, but forgot to burn myself one! (I will try to add pictures when I go back to Dallas in a few weeks.) After a quick nap (literally about 10 minutes) it was time for cocktails and dinner at Fearing's Restaurant at the Ritz Carlton with Scott, my parents, and our good friends Mark, Paul, and Tiffany. What an AMAZING dinner! We were at the chef's table, so we got to watch the guys at work in the kitchen while we enjoyed fabulous food and spectacular wine... and the company wasn't half bad either! ;-)
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| Puttin' on the Ritz |
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| The best parents EVER! |
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| A toast to birthdays and good friends! |
I am thankful to the number of people who took the time to post me a note on Facebook. I was shocked and amazed at the birthday wishes from people who I hardly ever talk to anymore. I realize Facebook reminds you of birthdays, but I couldn't believe some of the people who thought I was worth the time to write a message to! It took me a long time to thank everyone! But...as grateful as I am for my Facebook messages (and the couple of text messages I got) I really miss the days when people called you and wished you happy birthday (sometimes in song) and you could actually hold a conversation with them. I almost cried when Emily took the time out of her day (which was super busy with a baby shower) to call and tell me happy birthday. That meant more to me than she will ever know. And of course, my family called me, which also made me smile! :-)
So, thank you to everyone for making my birthday fantastic! (Especially since it will be the last one I will ever celebrate! haha) I love you all! <3
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Brushy Creek Park: Then and Now
It was a Sunday afternoon in April 2008. My friend Scott and his family were going to Brushy Creek Park, and they had wanted to "canoe" (kayak). But with three children, they had to have two kayaks and two adults. So, the kids suggested I come along...they knew I was friends with their dad, enjoyed their company, and lived close by. Having recently broken off an engagement to Mr. Wrong, I was looking for any excuse to get out of the house...and since I truly did enjoy the company of the kids and their dad, I was happy to tag along. I never expected what happened that day. On that lake, watching Scott with his kids, I fell in love. I pictured us kayaking as a family years down the road. And after Scott dropped off the kids with their mom, we went out to dinner, and shared our first kiss. And that was the day everything truly began...
It was a Friday afternoon in April 2011. For some reason, we had never quite made it back to Brushy Creek Park. I couldn't figure out why...the kayaks weren't expensive to rent, and the kids had asked about it forever! We loaded up in our girl boat/boy boat and set out for another adventure. Although there was no "first kiss" to mark the occasion, it was still a beautiful memory.
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| Girl Boat Then... |
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| ...Girl Boat Now |
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| Boy Boat Then... |
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| ...Boy Boat Now |
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| Kaitlin Then... |
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| ...Kaitlin Now |
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| Harrison Then... |
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| ...Harrison Now |
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| Kennedy Then... |
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| ...Kennedy Now |
Then, I could never have guessed my life would have ended up this way. Now, I can't imagine it any other way. I thought I loved them then, but I KNOW I love them now.
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