Follow Up Message for Jaime and Ryan

So apparently we did take this picture with me in the middle of you guys. And apparently I completely forgot about it until looking through my pictures. Well, here it is...

Good thing I didn't make a big deal out of it on my blog or anything!

Message for Jaime and (boy) Ryan

Remember on Saturday when I said that I wanted to take a picture with you guys before you left? You know, with me in the middle of you guys? Huh?

Well, we all forgot and now you have moved to Texas, ugh!!! So I guess I have to settle with a picture from a few times ago of hanging out...when we ended the night with spinning rings on the floor.

So here it is...

We will miss living so close to you guys, hanging out and talking forever about anything and everything. You are great friends and hopefully someday we'll live close to each other again. In the meantime, we'll have to visit you in Texas...as long as we can go mutton bustin'!

Grilled Turkey with Sun-Dried Tomato and Basil on Sourdough

Here's another grilled sandwich I made with sourdough as my inspiration. This one was also really good...give it a try!

I buttered one side of each piece of bread, piled on turkey (I used herbed turkey from Trader Joe's, SO good!), muenster cheese, sun-dried tomato, fresh basil plus a little mayo. Grill until each side is golden and the cheese is oozing out.

Hanging With Our Nieces

This past weekend we did a little switch-a-roo with my sister and brother-in-law...they stayed at our place in the city, and we stayed at their place in the burbs and watched their two girls for the night/next day. We love spending time with our nieces so it was tons of fun!

Uncle Matt scored some big points by going on a slurpee run. (I had them sit on the coffee table so they couldn't spill on the furniture/carpet but could also keep watching their Tinker Bell movie....obviously very important.)







The next day we went to a new park for the girls. Look how massive that slide is! Sonja had no fear and went right down. Gwen soon followed. I went down too and it was quite the ride!

"CHEE-EE-EE-EE-SE!"

And of course I had to take pictures of the tree silhouettes.

The one thing that I wished I got a picture of was when both Gwen and Sonja were drinking pickle juice out of the jar with straws. Ah well, there's always next time.

Is It Spring yet?

I think so.
The beginning of Spring might be one of the best feelings. This goes back for me to when I was little. I have this memory of the beginning of Spring from when I was in elementary school...I get off the school bus and start skipping home while singing an impromptu song..."I love the green grass!" I sang it over and over again...skipping, smiling and loving life. Well, the thing is, I get that same exact feeling now as an adult. As the warmer weather creeps in and takes over the winter frigidness, it makes me feel alive again. This feeling makes winter feel worth it.

The beginning of Spring draws some serious parallels to the season of Lent as our pastor so eloquently illustrated in his sermon on Sunday. The first 20 or so days of Lent are days of blindness and the last 20 or so we move towards sight like the man who received sight in John 9. Easter is coming and we feel it like we feel Spring coming. The cold is passing and all the junk of winter goes with it. Spring feels like a renewal of the soul. The act and reality of Easter literally is a renewing of the soul.

I once was blind but now I see.

I hope you're enjoying the beginning of Spring as well!

Grilled Pastrami and Cheddar on Sourdough (with Red Pepper and Artichoke Tapenade)

Sometimes it's easier for me to plan meals if I have just one item that can serve as inspiration. Last week I bought a loaf of sourdough bread at Panera and it was all the inspiration I needed! I just love sourdough bread and from the moment I got it I couldn't stop thinking of all the delicious sandwich possibilities. This was a good one...enjoy!

I mean, the title pretty much lays outs the recipe but I'll write out what I did...

I started with sourdough bread and buttered each piece on one side.

Then layered with tapenade, sharp cheddar and pastrami and
grilled on each buttered side until golden.

*Substitute any of these ingredients for anything else...so many possibilities! I'm planning on making another yummy grilled sandwich tonight so if it's good then I'll post it soon!