july in photos...feat. a couple peeks of our new home

first pedi.

Aunty Loie (lolo according to Reagan) gave Reagan her first pedicure this weekend. Every time we asked Reagan who painted her toes she replied frankly, "lolo."

pastitsio & my papa.

Last night I made pastitsio for dinner in honor of my papa who has now been in heaven for 2 years. Pastitsio is sort of a greek comfort food. Here is my mom and I's favorite version:
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/pastitsio-recipe/index.html

When I was 9 years old, my Nana and Papa took me on a 10 day trip to Greece to meet my greek cousins and great Aunt Strolla. I hadn't realized until this week how much I really do remember about it. I could write 10 pages but instead I will leave you with a photo that my brother emailed me. Papa and I are standing about 20 feet from the Acropolis in Athens. He was telling me about the Apostle Paul and how he could have preached near that very spot we were standing. That seemed so simple to me then. I just wish I could go back to that moment and hear his voice.

And on that day when my strength is failing. The end draws near and my time has come. Still my soul will sing Your praise unending. Ten thousand years and then forevermore.
-Matt Redman, Ten Thousand Reasons

multi-tasking

Cleaning the floors while chatting on "her cell." Wonder where she picked that up?

i want to remember this.

Last Thursday, when packing for a week away from home, JD was outside getting ready for a run. I grabbed Reagan and walked out the back door. JD was taking her along on his morning run in our new (to us...$25 score at a garage sale) jogging stroller. We both thought the other had the keys. We both thought wrong. We were locked out. I really needed to use the bathroom. I was wearing pjs and shoeless. Neither of us had a phone. It was kind of funny for one second until I thought about all the things I had to do before 2pm. Not one of our neighbors was home, we even threw mulch at windows. We both could have lost it at the other, but God gave us grace, and we prayed that someone would come home soon and let us in. JD ran across the street to see if he could find the number for our apartment company and borrow a phone. 2 minutes after our prayer JD runs into our funny mailman across the street delivering mail. He happened to be TWO hours early (he usually is very late...like 5pm late) and had a key to our back door building entrance. He let me in and JD and R were able to leave for their run. MIRACLE. God answers prayer. Sometimes not this fast. But sometimes, this fast. I want to remember that day.


photo via emily vennerstrom (many more to come)

mini marg.

I remember thinking it was quite funny when Hudson and Reagan had no idea that adults were eating ice cream, pizza or drinking a mocha while they chowed down on broccoli, flax yogurt, and blackberries. Folks, those days are over. My little girl wants everything I want including salt n vinegar chips, cold press coffee and my margarita. Sometimes she doesn't get what she wants because we are working on self control. But sometimes she gets a mini margarita because she is really cute and really awesome.

Mini marg-
2 oz. pineapple juice
2 oz. sparkling water
1 lime wedge
cup and straw like mama

three things.

one.
Last night I signed up for goodreads.com
You rate 20 books (takes little time), and it gives you recommandations for future reading.  Yes, please!!!  I am totally in a book drought right now!

two.
Make this for dinner: pan roasted lemon garlic chicken
very, very easy.  quick.  cheap.  so delicious.  Reagan gave it 5 stars (AKA she ate tons of meat, rare).
I doubled the squeezed lemons, garlic and olive oil because in order to have enough sauce you really have to.  I also used a whole chicken in pieces vs. breasts.  Worked great.

three.
Growing up, I would often wear my papa's big t-shirts to bed.  I still wear his random, 30+ year old southeastern college (he didn't go there, no idea what that place even is?) t-shirt at night sometimes.  Reagan wanted to put her daddy's shirt on when we were unpacking from vaca.  She was so proud.  This girl has the sweetest admiration for her daddy, which is so deserved.  He is an amazing father.