Another day, another cycle...

Man, have you ever wanted something SO bad that when you were denied over and over it just ripped at your heart piece by piece? That's how I feel right now... As most of my readers know, my husband and I have been trying to get pregnant for over a year and a half. It adds up to 20 cycles. We were just denied that joy again this weekend.

I sometimes feel like God knows what I want, I'm supposed to get it (at some point), and that since so much growth and change has happened in my life in the past month that THIS was my month. Well, that's really how May/June felt. Even my body reacted differently this cycle, almost like a "reset" button had been pressed. What I DON'T get is why that would happen, and nothing?!

Then there are times where I look back on other areas of my life where I was tortured time and time again by my desire and the rejection. I was just thinking back at all of the guys I had liked from high school through college, and how I felt crestfallen whenever I was denied "the one". If only I had known that the ONE God had in store for me was so amazing, I would have been content. Hindsight is 20/20.

Ok, Sarah, what are you getting at? While I know in my heart I'm meant to have a child, and my heart LONGS for a child (as does my husband's), I also know that if I knew what God knows, I would make the SAME decision that He is making. There is SOME reason why I'm supposed to wait... patiently or not... and praise Him even in my sorrows.

Is this my lot in life? To desire, be denied, and be heartbroken, only to rise back up and praise God in His sovereignty? No, there will be times when my desire will be granted, and I will skip the heartbreak and go straight to joy and praising God. Ultimately, our life is such a SHORT span of time in comparison with eternity. How can I sit here, complaining about this tiny, almost meaningless section of time, when I can be preparing for the greatness that is eternity?

Goal #11: New Recipe of the week

So this week DH was out of town, so I decided to embark on embracing an ingredient I love and he loves to hate (as does the majority of the rest of the world)... What is it?

BRUSSEL SPROUTS!!! YUM!!!

Ok, so here's the link to the basic recipe I used: http://orangette.blogspot.com/2006/12/best-thing-since-brussels-sprouts.html

Ok, so now what you have all been waiting for... Pictures!!!

::Getting caramelized in butter::

::Flipped, cooked more, and ready for the cream::

::Cream and salt added, ready to cover and simmer::

::Ready to let the cream thicken::

::SO delicious::

 

Hope you enjoyed this share!! These are freaking DELICIOUS! I didn't use the lemon juice, but I'm sure it would be delicious in it as well!

Goal #11: New Recipe of the week

Ok, so as I embark on this new recipe and healthier eating journey, I have to keep a close watch on my budget. I don't want to do all of this and end up costing us money in the end. That's why I've decided that even when I make healthy recipes, if it calls for something that I have that isn't the fat free version, or something where the fat free version is way more expensive, I will just pass and get the regular version and watch my portions. Salad is a great filler, as long as there's not too much dressing on it!!

Last night was my first time making a new recipe!! I chose a recipe that I saw on Extreme Makeover Weight Loss Edition (Rachel's episode) that looked delicious, partly because that episode seemed to be the clicking point when it comes to my health. Unfortunately I don't have a picture, but I have the recipe at least!! My peanut gallery comments are the ones in italics and parenthesis.

Ingredients:

• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves (fresh/thawed; I used 3 large cutlets)
• 1 Tbsp. olive oil
• 1/2 onion, finely chopped
• 3 stalks celery, sliced thin
• 1 cup baby carrots, sliced thin
• 1/2 cup frozen green peas
• 2 Tbsp. fresh parsley, finely chopped or 1 Tbsp dried (cheaper for me to use dried because we have a lot)
• 1 tsp. fresh thyme or 1/2 tsp dried
• 2 Tbsp. no Trans fat margarine (I used butter because we had it)
• 2 Tbsp. flour
• 1 & 1/2 cups reduced sodium, organic chicken broth (or just low-sodium, if cost is an issue)
• 1/2 cup fat free half-and-half (we used regular because it was the only one that came in a small container)
• 1 cup low-fat Bisquick mix (we have a large box of regular so that's what we used)
• 1/2 cup milk or buttermilk (milk is way cheaper)
• 1/2 tsp. sea salt & fresh pepper

Directions:

1. Place chicken breast halves in saute pan and cover with water. Place over medium heat, uncovered, and cook for 10-12 minutes (if fresh, frozen will take longer) until chicken is poached and cooked through (don't overdo this or you will end up with rubber chicken like I had!). Remove from water and set aside to cool. (You can dump your water because you won't need it)
2. Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion, celery, and carrots, saute for 4-5 minutes until carrots are just tender.
3. Remove from heat and add frozen peas, salt & pepper, parsley & thyme.
4. Cut cooled chicken breast into bite-sized pieces and add to vegetable mixture. Set aside.
5. In small saucepan, heat margarine until melted, add flour and stir well forming a paste. Add chicken broth and fat free half-and-half. Continue whisking over medium heat until just starting to thicken (this may take a while, so just be patient!). Add to chicken-vegetable mixture and return to low heat and simmer for 2-3 minutes.
6. In a small bowl, combine Bisquick mix with milk with a for until just mixed. Drop rounded tablespoons of dough on top of chicken-vegetable mixture and cover and continue to simmer (on low heat) for another 7-8 minutes, just until dumpling is done. (Mine only took about 6 minutes, but to check, take a fork and try and pull out the middle of one of the biscuits. They should be fluffy, not dough-like, on the inside, even though they're steamed on the outside.)
7. Serve in bowls, garnish with a sprinkling of fresh parsley.

25 before 25

Ok, so what is up with this random post out of nowhere? Well, I recently had my 24th birthday, and I had been contemplating doing a list of 25 goals before I turn 25!! So, in no particular order, here we go!

1. Organize our entire house
2. Do portrait sessions for charity
3. Ride a horse
4. Paint a new painting
5. Sell at least one photo as a fine art piece
6. Finish painting our house (5 of 8 rooms left!!)
7. Re-decorate the master bedroom
8. Set up a dedicated photography space
9. Go to Europe
10. Host a "girls night"
11. Try 1 new recipe each week
12. Make a special meal once every month for DH (with his favorite elements)
13. Buy DH a random surprise present for no reason
14. Read (at least) one book each month
15. Eat every meal at home for a full week
16. Go camping
17. Learn a new dance with DH
18. Visit a new museum
19. Hike the 3 mile LaChua Trail and brave the alligators, bison, snakes, and wild horses!
20. Learn some conversational elements of a foreign language
21. Go to a zoo
22. Go on an all girls trip
23. Meet another SPNer
24. Buy digital copies of my favorite novels
25. Lose 20 pounds!!

A non-goal, goal: each goal will be photographically documented!!