Before I Go....

     The decision to go on this trip to Haiti back in March was a little stressful.  No lie, Steve and I got in an argument over it.  But, the final rationalization was that if I only had to put $600-$700 on a credit card and could raise the rest of the $2000 that would be OK, and our family would manage.  So, thus I committed. The transformation in my heart and realization for this trip has changed since then.  Before I could see two months pass, I was fully funded, and the week before I leave I find myself supported also with my lunch money and extra costs while there.  I have never before been able to witness and experience first hand God's will.
     I found out about this trip by reading an email newsletter from DPI. (Who actually reads those?)  Well, I did one day, saw the trip, went to their website, left my contact information, and committed five days later.  I believe there was a plan, drawing me in to read junk mail, and aligning the stars up so that this opportunity was possible.  Then it was up to me to take the "leap of faith."  And that is where we draw the line between rational and divinical.  I made the leap and God provided everything.  This trip will, in the end, not place any monetary burden on our family.  And, in that overwhelming reality, I conclude that this was a plan.  I saw it on a whim, committed like a fool, and have been reassured in its purpose.
     I leave Friday, commissioned as a light to shine, not to preach, not to build, but to shine and love my job and "the least of these" around me.  No doubt I will help in some small way the Kindergarten teachers at the Baudin Methodist School, I am excited about that.  Buy why me?  What is about to change in me that will mold me as a 21st Century Educator in North Carolina?  I believe the mission before me is double-sided.

Thank you to everyone!  Here it goes.......  

A little music for you:  This has been my theme song for the entire past school year 2014-2015.  When it comes on the radio, watch out....I'm that crazy girl singing with arms in the air.  I feel like this week is the finale to the song...or perhaps just the beginning.  Enjoy:

Lord I'm Ready Now, by Plumb

Grilled Okra

It's so easy.... there is no recipe.  Here is another delicious way to use the garden to keep the grocery bill low this summer.

Slice the caps off the end of the okra and slice in half.

Toss in a little olive oil, salt and pepper.  Just enough to make each piece wet.

Grill each side of the okra about 8 minutes each on indirect heat.

Once it gets a little browned and parts show black grill marks, its crunchy enough to eat...AND HEALTHY!

Cucumber and Tomato Salad

My grocery bill this week was only $56 dollars (compared to the normal $85).  Bring on the garden eating!!  If you have a small garden, or friends at work who share their garden, this is an easy recipe that is best this time of year when it's all FRESH!

Cucumbers - about 2-3
Tomatoes - about 2-3 or a mix of cherry and Roma.....just whatever you have available.
Crumbled Feta - 1/2 cup
Red Wine Vinaigrette  - 1/4 cup homemade or bottled

I like to partially peal the cucumbers because most homegrown cucumbers will sometimes have a bitter skin. Mix it all together!!  Done.

If you have green onions, use about 2 tablespoons chopped green parts.

Making your own Red Wine Vinaigrette is easy and you usually have most of the ingredients at home:
3 Tablespoons Red Wine Vinegar (or white)
3 Tablespoons Olive Oil
1/2 tablespoon French Sea Salt (you like how I threw in that French part!!! ;)
1/4 tablespoon black pepper
1/4 tablespoon minced garlic (optional)
Now shake it up, just shake it up..... cue Taylor Swift musical ADD.

The salad is wonderful as is.  But, to take it the next step and make it a meal salad for 4-6 bulk it up with a grain.   I used Bob's Red Mill Israeli Couscous because it's only ingredient is whole wheat flour and I can easily find it at Big Lots.
Other greats ideas would be a can of Chick Peas or toasted baguette cubes to make it more of an Italian Bread Salad.

Do you notice the wine glass in the background?  Yes, that is my wedding crystal.  I have decided recently, why have it if you are never going to use it!  In one of my favorite stories a young prince meets a businessman who considers himself rich because he owns millions of stars.  The little prince ask him what does he use the stars for and what do the stars do for him.  The businessman responds nothing, he just owns them and that makes him rich.  The little prince thinks this is very bizarre.  The prince only owns some volcanoes and a flower that he takes care of, and this makes him feel rich because they need him.  In this story, we learn that what we own is of no value unless it is useful to us.  In turn, we can purge what we own that is of no use to us, and we can start to use all the stuff that we  "save for special occasions," and in that we will find wealth.  After all, there is no special occasion more special than the present!!
If you pledge to use something that's only for "special occasions" or if you pledge to purge something tomorrow, share this post.  Lets make everyday "special."  I toast you with my Noritake, Paris Pattern, Crystal Stemware!

Basic Mint Pesto

Mint comes back every year bigger and badder than before and can easily take over a garden.  This is a great way to manage the mint growth.  I have found that this Basic Mint Pesto recipe is just as delicious as a Basil Pesto and can be substitute in any recipe calling for pesto (pasta, veggies, meats...).  It also freezes!

1 cup of fresh mint leaves
1 teaspoon minced garlic
2 tablespoons toasted pine nuts
2 tablespoons parmesan
3 tablespoons olive oil
salt and pepper to taste

Put all ingredients into a food processor and mix.  Freeze or use immediately!

*When using as a pasta sauce, add 1/2 cup of the cooking liquid from the pasta to thin out pesto.

Here is another post about mint that I wrote in 2012 with more great uses for overgrowing mint.
4 Great Uses for Mint

More Great Summer Activities

I ran across another great blog with "activities."  This mama uses Popsicle sticks and mason jars.
In the article she lists 20 indoor activities and 20 outdoor activities. Love them!!  You can read all her posts on the tab to the right "The Crafting Chicks."

http://thecraftingchicks.com/2015/06/40-indoor-outdoor-summer-boredom-busters.html

Summer Activities

Last summer I made a "poor momma gone wild" bag of activities.  I let Camilla and Rex draw one activity out of the bag and we did that for 15 minutes, and then we drew again.  She still talks about how much fun this was.  Their ages at the time were 2 and 3, so 15 minutes was all I could get them engaged for.  The activities ranged from nature walk, paint the fence with water, car wash our toys, sidewalk chalk art, color together, scavenger hunt for colors in nature, ....  ALL FREE and perfect for preschoolers.

She still talks about our "activities" and how she is ready to do more now that we are having "Stay Home Days."  This summer I have my bag of activities ready, and I'm going to let her and Rex draw one a day.  This summer the "activities" are a little longer and can be done all morning.  I realize this is nothing new....I'm pretty sure I saw a similar concept for couples in Priscilla's Adult Store in Durham, ha, and I have also seen the "Fall Bucket List" on Pinterest.

So whether or not you are home all summer with your kids, or are blessed to have a couple of vacation days that you can take with them...consider a bag of "activities."  The excitement of "we are doing what ever comes out of that bag" is felt by everyone.

Here is the Stillings' List of Activities for 2015:

1. Use Rex's new outside chalk kit with his toys and go for a color scavenger hunt.
2. Trip to the Cannon library, Village park, and picnic.
3. Toy car wash and wash mommy's car.
4. Open Rex's new cars and Lego's and build a city together on his mat.
5. Go to the Kannapolis Splash Pad and Ride the Train.
6. Balloon Paddle - blow up two balloons and holly them back and forth with spatulas.
7. Catch bugs with the bug catchers Maw maw got us for Easter.
8. Paint.
9. Use our Groupon for the Bounce City in Salisbury, visit Dad, and get a Krispy Kreme - all on Innes Street in Salisbury.
10. Dress up like a Super Hero and go with mom to Trader Joe's to stock up on organic foods.
11. Meet Dad for lunch at Go Burrito and then walk around Salisbury.