Almost 11 Months, Where Have I Been?

Sorry little blog, i had to take a break for the summer. Another, more expensive, blog courtesy of the Apple chaps took me away; but alas, i am back.
To catch you up, i'll do a little review:
We have a dog now. Did we have a dog before? She might be my favorite.

Here she is in her most favorite place in the world... our bed. For all wondering, she is a Rhodesian Ridgeback mix; and her name is Adler, as in Irene Adler, from Sherlock Holmes.

Since I last wrote we've been New Orleans (BEAUTIFUL!)


and just a couple of weeks ago, we went to Los Angeles to visit our friends! (love it so much more than I used to!)



But most importantly, and most heartbreaking, we had to go home to Arkansas because my pappaw passed away about a month ago.

I don't know if many of you ever heard me tell stories about my pappaw, but he was a person I always admired. He was in WWII; so he had the chance to travel and see the world (which has inspired me to do the same). He always told great stories (luckily Jayson and i were able to tape a few), and he was a very creative man. For much of my life, he had a craft shop behind their house. I would go and visit them and spend what felt like hours (to a little kid) in their watching him create.

At his funeral, Marines honored him with gun fire and the flag folding. It was such a beautiful ceremony, and even more comforting knowing that pappaw had planned it out all himself. The area firemen came out because my pappaw started the fire department in Higginson, AR; and at city hall they lowered the flag to half mast.
The hardest reminder i've had over the last month has been in my own genealogy. I had been telling my pappaw that i was researching our family history. Being such a story-teller himself, he was really excited about it. I promised to bring him the few documents I had found next time I saw him.... I, instead, brought them to my father when I came into town for pappaw's funeral.

Even more, since then, I have traced pappaw's family back and I have even found the family member he always told us about that fought in the Civil War. It brings me heartache that I can't share this with him.

Here is one of my favorite photos of him:


So a lot has happened! Some happy, some sad; but so very thankful that the sad is tinged with joy, knowing that pappaw believed in Christ and is there celebrating with him now!

9/02/10

In honor of this amazing day in history:

80's Family Sitcom

It's true, this Saturday will make 6 months of marriage for Jayson and me.

That's 6 months of figuring out how to share a bed and blankets, 6 months of learning how to regulate the temperature for both of us, 6 months of sharing household responsibilities AND 6 months of laughing.

We have been super blessed in the fact that we don't fight. We spend too much time laughing to fight, and i guess that is the key for us. But boy, does it confuse the heck out of me! Leading up to marriage all we ever heard (besides "don't go to sleep angry") was how hard the first year of marriage will be. So I've just decided... maybe it doesn't have to be hard; maybe it doesn't have to be full of fights.

Luckily, Jayson and I both over-think things and both have Psych backgrounds. And because of how wonderful and fightless marriage has been for us, it's caused me to think a lot about the cause and preventions of fights. In all my thinking, the one thing I can really say is... maybe we could learn something from those 80's family sitcoms.

Remember the 80's? You turned on a show, there was a disagreement or a mistake; but then 30 minutes later, it was solved. What the lovable, but mislead, character did was take responsibility in the end; but what if we take responsibility BEFORE the fight.

The way I see it, all fights stem from three things:

• insecurities
• the perception of selfishness (founded or unfounded)
• miscommunication
  

So, if you are facing a fight right now (or in the future), which one of these applies to your situation? Does your partner feel left behind or left out or unsure of your future? Do you? Are your decision making skills leaving out your Love? Did they just forget to tell you something really important, or did you tell them something vaguely and expect them to catch on?

There can be a million more examples; so over-think it this time.

Then, the most important part, find your contribution to this situation AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT! Have that nice, warm, inviting, 80's family sitcom talk. Figure it out, and change what needs to be changed.

Oh, and don't forget to laugh!

-S

Smiles

Sure, i have quiet a few recipes to put up (i created a delicious soup just last night!) but i had to share that Jayson and i have been married for 4 months today. That sounds and seems like such a short time, but i can't imagine life before marriage. It suits me/us.

So this is what i woke up to this morning, next to me in bed:


Now i am watching Bonnie Hunt, waiting for a wonderful breakfast in bed!


So yes, i promise: lots of recipes and updates on our home improvements coming soon!

But for now... i smell bacon and cinnamon rolls!

-s

Skamilton's Southwestern Jumbalaya

I apparently cook a lot now; so i have decided to start sharing my recipes here.
Whether I find it online, in a book, or create it myself; here it is for you to enjoy.
This one I created myself tonight in a time of need. It turned out pretty great!
I am not sure the exact measurements but this should get you through.

Skamilton's Southwestern Jumbalaya


Ingredients:
2 cups of white rice
1 can black beans
1/2-3/4 Cup diced ham
1 large slice of red onion, diced
1/2 can diced tomatoes (drained)
Fresh Ground Pepper
3 slices of lime


serves: 2

Prepare white rice and set aside.
Mix black beans, ham and onion in medium sized saucepan.
Place over medium heat.
Add tomatoes. Pepper to taste. Stir.
Take the end slice of lime, squeeze on top of mixture.
Place the other two slices of lime in mixture. Stir.
Continue to cook over medium heat until it comes to a simmer.
Turn stove to low heat.

After placing desired amount of rice in plate/bowl top with mixture (use a spoon to drain excess juices). Drizzle with juices and place a slice of lime on top.


Let me know if it works out!

-s