What is (will be) the Story of My Life?

I have always been fascinated by people's lives.  I love everything from historical figures and events to "E" True Hollywood Stories.  The bottom line is that I just love a good story.  I have great stories (well, in my opinion) of my life as well.  Stories of love, loss, dysfunctional family (which we all have on some level), successes in my career and the list goes on.  I have been thinking a lot about all of this as I find myself at a crossroads both personally and professionally.  The boyfriend wanted to move in a different direction - without me- and I want to move out of the classroom-- which my motto has become UP OR OUT!  All of this has truly forced me to look introspectively and question many of my choices of late.

I was sitting in church Sunday when this thought hit me: I have loved having great stories in my life and hearing of others' stories but the only story that really matters is my story with Jesus.  I have asked myself if I have been as consumed with THAT story as I am with all the others.  I have been so blessed with Godly people in my life that truly seek God's will.  I know that I get impatient and do my own thing.  Imagine that I would rather go off on my own than wait for the ONE who has the whole plan in front of Him.  Doesn't make a lot of sense when I put it that way, does it?

I found some old journals that were written in my mid 20s and my story with Christ truly was the only story that really mattered.  There were other short stories but HE was the center of everything.  I am at a crossroads and truly have no idea which way is the "right" way.  I find myself truly seeking what God would have me do and trust that all the earthly "stories" that I desire, will be the same stories that are in HIS plan. Shannon Wexelberg has a song that I have always loved and it came to mind as I was thinking about this.  I have added the link to the youtube clip if you want to enjoy it to.   I write this blog for my own benefit but if anyone else stumbles upon it, I hope the story of your life is centered around the hope of our Savior's love and HE is the story of your life as He is mine.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxoHcY8jzmU

Tonight's Yummy Dinner!

 

 Tonight I made Honey Chicken Kabobs and Southwestern Black Bean Salad with Citrus Dressing. (recipes below)

Southwestern Black Bean Salad with Citrus Dressing

Ingredients

15 oz. can black beans

8 oz. cherry tomatoes, diced

1 cup corn (I used frozen, thawed)

1 large orange bell pepper, diced

1/3 cup red onion, finely diced

3/4 cup loosely packed cilantro, stems removed

1 avocado

{For the dressing}

Juice from 1 large orange

Juice from 1 1/2 limes

1/4 tsp. cumin, or more to taste

1/2 tsp. agave (or honey)

1/8 tsp. salt

Optional: cayenne pepper or chipotle for a kick!

Directions

Make the dressing: in a small bowl, whisk together all ingredients until agave/honey is incorporated. It should yield about 1/2 cup dressing. Set aside.

In a separate bowl, combine the beans (rinsed and drained), tomato, corn, red onion, bell pepper, and roughly chopped cilantro.

Add the dressing and toss to combine.

Best if chilled 1 hour (can be longer) before serving.

Stir well before serving, as some of the dressing gathers at the bottom.

Top with diced avocado right before serving.

From thegardengrazer.com

 Honey Chicken Kabobs

Ingredients:

1/4 cup vegetable oil 1/3 cup honey 1/3 cup soy sauce 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper 8 skinless, boneless chicken breast

halves - cut into 1 inch cubes 2 cloves garlic 5 small onions, cut into 2 inch pieces 2 red bell peppers, cut into 2 inch pieces skewers

Directions:

1.	In a large bowl, whisk together oil, honey, soy sauce, and pepper. Before adding chicken, reserve a small amount of marinade to brush onto kabobs while cooking. Place the chicken, garlic, onions and peppers in the bowl, and marinate in the refrigerator at least 2 hours (the longer the better).
2.	Preheat the grill for high heat.
3.	Drain marinade from the chicken and vegetables, and discard marinade. Thread chicken and vegetables alternately onto the skewers.
4.	Lightly oil the grill grate. Place the skewers on the grill. Cook for 12 to 15 minutes, until chicken juices run clear. Turn and brush with reserved marinade frequently.

From:  Allrecipes.com

Below is a list that I created of some local and other places in TX that I would like to visit.  So far I have only crossed off one thing but I am going to be more diligent about some of these things in 2014.

For my birthday week-end the boyfriend asked what I wanted to do so we decided that Studio Movie Grill would be part of the week-end so I could get going on my list.  It was fun.  We got to the movie early so we had a quick drink at the bar.  We sat down and ordered our food.  Our service was great.  The food is kind of what you would expect --- fast food-ish.  Surprisingly, the wait staff didn't even phase me as they were going up and down the aisles.  We watched August: Osage County.  Anything Merrill Streep is thumbs up for me.  It was more of a downer movie than we anticipated but loved it still.  I can't wait to make plans to mark some of the other things off of my list.  I will report as I get them off.



1.  Schoolbook Depository - JFK Museum
2.  Studio Movie Grill  2/1/14
3.  Drive in Movie in Ennis
4.  iPic Theatre
5.  Reunion Tower
6.  Marfa Lights
7.  McDonald Observatory
8.  Re-enactment of the San Jacinto Battle
9.  Dallas Zoo
10.  Tour the Gov. Mansion in Austin
11.  Dallas Aquarium
12.  TopGolf Dallas
13. Dallas Museum of Arts
14. Boardwalk at Kemah, TX
15. Improv in Addison (must do with my sister or she will kill me!)
16. Lone Star Park (haven't been in a while but love it)
17. Palo Duro Canyon (would love to go back)
18. Gruene Hall
19.Scarborough Faire
20. Plano Balloon Festival

January 1, 2014

Day 1 of 365 pages

  

 

 My grandest hope is that I will actually carve half hour each day to blog.  I don't know if it's the Polyanna in me but there is something about the first day of a new year.  The excitement of the possibilities of things to come seem endless.  I have several things that I would like to see come to pass in 2014.  I am training for a 10K and would like to be ready to fully run one before summer.  Another is to make a schedule for the gym.  The fact that I am now paying for a trainer hopefully will motivate me so I'm not throwing money away.  My third goal is to have another job.  I have been in the classroom for 11 years and I am ready for a new challenge.  I am looking at administration but am open to other opportunities inside and outside the education field.  Today, I am cooking my traditional New Year's Day dinner for the boyfriend and his parents which includes:  Chicken Fried Steak, mashed potatoes, gravy, fried okra, cabbage, Mexican black-eyed peas and cornbread.  I'm getting hungry already.  I will post recipes with pictures shortly.  Happy New Year to all!  Hope 2014 is the best year of your life!  Let me know your goals!