swing life away.

A few months ago D & I built a rope tree swing from this tutorial.  Not only was it super easy, but our daughter just loves it AND it gave D another excuse to use his blowtorch (he burned the end of the rope to secure it and cover the core), win, win, win.

It is important to me to show our daughter how to enjoy the simple things in life - like coming home and watering the garden, chasing the dog around the yard and swinging under the shade of a beautiful oak tree.  

Calling these moments the "simple things" may not do justice to the work it takes to create a peaceful, stable life for our kids, but it does focus the efforts for all the work - we work hard, then soak in those moments.

Nothing like the summer breeze,
D & H 
 

Whiskey Caramel Pecan Bars

As a "thank you" from a colleague I received a (very generous) few pounds of pecans from his folks' orchard...now that I write that, I wonder if his folks were aware of their generosity.  One can only hope. 

I made these salted caramel and chocolate pecan bars but with two modifications 
1) a tablespoon of whiskey added to the caramel 
2) broken pretzel sticks sprinkled on top (more salt...yes LAWD!)  

The hubby is not a sweets guy, but he does love these bars, especially after they have been in the fridge for a few hours!

These bars are easy to make and they actually freeze very well, so you can make lots and surprise your friends with them anytime, yum!
~D & H

In Christ Alone

Death is undignified. 

Hell, parts of life are undignified. 

The song "In Christ Alone" keeps playing in my head.  I have to wonder at the hope and redemption offered by our Savior; how it can be set before someone throughout their entire life without so much as a hesitant reach made for it. 

Death looms. Eternal salvation waits ever patient. What can I do?

"When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near." - Luke 21:28

Until now a death in the family has been comforted with confidence that they have been reunited with their Creator. Now I am unsure how to reconcile the challenges, struggles and pain of a life on earth ending with an unknown eternal fate.

What can I say when I pray over her? Would she even want me to pray over her? The Bible says that "the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know how we ought to pray, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us" (Romans 8:26). I have no idea why but what came out of my mouth was the Numbers 6 benediction that our Pastor ends each sermon with, maybe she would've hated it, maybe not, I really don't know.

I love the song below because it reminds me that with Christ, there are no "maybes", there is only solid, firm, powerful, and commanding love speaking up for us when we don't know what to say. 

In Christ alone, 
H & D

  

In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand

In Christ alone, who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless babe
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save
'Til on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live, I live

There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ

No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From life's first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
Till He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand

I will stand
I will stand, all other ground is sinking sand
All other ground, all other ground
Is sinking sand, is sinking sand
So I'll stand

   
    

Whiskey Shelf

Ladies, the odds of getting a Pinterest project done by your husband increase if you offer him a blowtorch.  

D made this beautiful whiskey shelf for me and I love the burnt finish, the copper, the size, the function, the location....you know what, I just love it.  

Naturally during the build process I was taking pictures.  Then, at some point (after being dropped too many times) my phone died and those beautiful moments of my husband lighting this shelf on fire in our driveway live on only in our memories. 

Ahhh that DIY tutorial was literally up in flames, so this is less of a DIY post and more of a "look at this" post. 

Yep, it's a beauty. 
~D & H 

Fish Enchiladas

There is an amazing restaurant "Verde" in Kauai that serves up delicious fish enchiladas and refreshing margaritas, a perfect treat for some outdoor spring dining - here is my version of those enchiladas 

What you need:
For the Enchiladas
Tortillas (I used taco sized corn tortillas)
2 cans enchilada sauce - 1 red, 1 green
Mozzarella Cheese

For the fried fish
Talapia 
Flour
1 Egg
Bread crumbs
Paprika
Salt 
Oil

First we are going to fry up the talapia (this is my go-to for fish tacos too)

1) Pour 1/2 cup of oil into a pan on medium heat
2) Lightly cover both sides of the fish with flour
3) Beat the egg and brush both sides of the fish with the egg (so the breadcrumbs will stick)
4) Sprinkle bread crumbs over both sides of fish, then repeat with salt and paprika.  Any bread crumbs work, I used the ones below but typically use panko bread crumbs

5) Fry the fish until brown on both sides ~5 minutes per side

Now we are going to assemble the enchiladas.  (I used 1 large piece of fish for each enchilada stack and put each enchilada stack in an 8 in pie pan.)   For the enchiladas I like to alternate the tortilla layers - 1 fish layer, followed by 1 cheese layer, another fish layer then one last cheese layer.  Healthy!
6)  Place 1/4 cup of enchilada sauce in the bottom of the pan, add a tortilla

7) Add 1/2 of the talapia, gently broken into chunks and cover with cheese

8) Pour 1/4 cup of green enchilada sauce over the stack

9) Add another tortilla, layered with cheese and red sauce
10) Add another tortilla, layer with the remaining fish, sprinkle with cheese and top with enchilada sauce
11) Place the top tortilla, sprinkle with cheese and pour red and green sauces over the top 

12) Cover with foil and bake at 375 degrees for roughly 30 minutes. 

I served the fish enchiladas with rice and it was a hit! 

Good catch eh, 
~D & H 


 

They're watching us.

Recently my daughter has been moving the rug by our sliding door to the middle of the living room so she can stand on it, then roll around on it for a while she grunts and babbles.  The first time she did this I wasn't sure what she was up to, then she did this...

Yep, that's the yoga "chair" pose.  Duh - she moved the rug to where I put down my yoga mat to practice, she was doing what I do! Wait, oh no....she was doing what I do.   

It isn't always at the forefront of my mind how much she watches me, thankfully the times that I have been reminded it has been positive - but I am sure there will be times when I wonder at her behavior then cringe because it mirrors mine.

Our kids are watching us, we might not always think so but they are.  Let's challenge ourselves to be aware and intentional in our actions, and of the example that we set for them to follow.  

I want my little girl to see me showing love and compassion towards my family.  I want her to see me present, to see my time and energy invested in things that actually matter and to see me follow through with what I say I will do.  I want her to value a strong mind and nurture her body because she saw me do the same.      

There are always going to be storms that life throws our way, worse yet there will be storms that life throws at our kids, our example will teach them how to weather those storms.  They're watching us, so let's teach them to be consistent even when it isn't convenient, let's show them how to be flexible but strong, patient yet focused, steadfast, intentional and present.  

Or let's at least do some yoga,
D & H


 

Hot Toddies & Diamonds

“A diamond 

is a chunk of coal 

that did well under pressure.” 

Henry Kissinger

 

According to that quote, after this head cold I am going to have a brain diamond rattling around in my skull.  Wonderful.  Thank you sinus pressure.  

 

To reduce the diamond making process we've been sipping on these hot toddies before bed and trying to recover, here is what you'll need to make some too:

 

• Brandy or Whiskey

• Water

• 2 Bags of Black Tea 

• 2 Tablespoons of Honey

• 1 Tablespoon of Lemon

  Put the honey, lemon and tea bags into a tea pot (or divide into two mugs), add boiling water and let the tea steep for five minutes, it should be a non-appealing yellow color.  Pour into a mug and add a shot of the brandy or whiskey.  Take a sip, and enjoy the simple, sweet and tangy warmth!

  

   To be honest, I've only ever drank this when I'm sick, so it may taste awful with clear sinuses....hopefully in a few days I will know for sure! 

  ~D & H