Graduation

Saturday I received my M.A. in Speech Language Pathology. Wahoo!  It has been a long road with many late nights studying the brain, swallowing mechanism, developmental milestones, and everything in between.  I am so excited to be done with the stress of being a student.  But now there is that part of me going "Wait, it's over.  What now?" I have a job in Norman Public Schools and will start in August.  I am super excited about this opportunity, but a little nervous about the unknown.  At least when you are a student you have a set plan with people guiding you along and telling you what to do (and exactly how to do it!) I also will miss the amazing group of women with whom I spent so many hours studying, celebrating, and complaining. (that's what you do when you are tired of studying...complain!) Here are a few pics from our banquet and graduation.

Our Little Garden

We have been blessed with grandparents that all have green thumbs. My Poppy Gene had an incredible garden in his backyard. I have such fond memories growing up helping him pick the strawberries and tomatoes from his garden.  He used to bless his neighbors, church members and family members with many fresh and delicious vegetables. Bryan's Ganny and Pop have a wonderful garden in their backyard. They work together in their garden and Ganny has even been mowing the lawn for exercise! My Poppy Frank also has a green thumb and his specialty is the rose.  He has the most beautiful rose bushes! He also tends to the rose bushes of all the women in his neighborhood as well as my mother's and now mine.  So when I told him I wanted to start a little garden he went to work! He created a wonderful potted garden for me.  I now have tomatoes, jalapenos, mint, basil, cilantro, dill and parsley growing on our back patio. Bryan and I have enjoyed the herbs on pizza, tacos, salad and looking forward to the jalapenos and tomatoes. I love tending to these plants! There is something about watching these little plants grow that makes me smile. We are so thankful so for such amazing grandparents!

Our Favorites in Februrary

Whew! I was afraid February would never end. Looking back on the month, I realize that it was a great month. It was just really cold and gray! Below are some of our favorite things in February:

Homemade Valentine Truffles:

I made the Oreo and Peanut Butter Truffles as well as Red Velvet and Yellow Cake Truffles. I tried to decorate them like a little box of chocolates. They turned out pretty cute and very tasty!


Breakfast in Bed:

I made Bryan a LOVEly Valentine's Day breakfast with heart-shaped french toast, eggs and bacon (of course). Unfortunately, Bryan heard me in the kitchen and was already out of bed by the time breakfast was ready. So, we didn't actually eat it in bed...but it was still delightful.

Cozy:


My sweet mom gave me one of these for Valentine's Day in red. It is super soft and according to DKNY can be worn 12 different ways: http://www.dkny.com/womens/collection.php?view=cozylookbook.  I love it and cannot stop wearing it!

Bryan's new toy:


We had Best Buy gift cards that we were saving for a TV in the future. But, Bryan's computer was on its last leg and we agreed the gift cards could be used for a computer.  Neither one of us had ever owned a Mac, so the decision to buy a Mac was a very difficult one. The PC seemed like such a practical idea and the best for school use and Mac seemed more like a toy. After talking to many Mac owners, Bryan made the leap into the cool Mac world. We are both happy he made this decision :)


Daily Devotional:

 

This year for Lent Bryan and I have made a promise to spend time reading our morning devotional together every morning. We have been using this book and have really enjoyed it every day.  I love starting each day with a reminder to recognize God's presence in my life.

Le Creuset:

Using gift cards from the wedding we purchased this 3.5 qt Le Creuset Dutch Oven. I really like it and have already used it to make vegetable soup. I hope this is something that lasts for many years!

Olympics:

I am not normally one to really enjoy the Olympics.... but something changed this year! It must have been the American superstars and all the gold medals. (The fact that there was nothing else to watch also may have helped a little.)  The Olympics are always the topic at the water cooler and a good excuse to cheer on the US of A. We may not be able to agree on anything in Washington, but at least we are all on the same team at the Olympics. (I think- has the Tea Party started their own Olympic Team yet?)  Yay for winning the medal count this year!



So, I guess February was a pretty great month. I can't wait to see God has planned for us in March.

What I'm Reading...

I recently finished reading Cold Tangerines by Shauna Niequist. It is one of my absolute favorite books on earth! The book is a series of short stories celebrating the wonderful life God has given us. Her words seem to sparkle off the page making me smile, cry and want to yell "YES!" She strives to see the blessings in everything around her, while also being honest about her struggles to do this. Her words and stories encouraged me to celebrate every day. This book has truly been a blessing in my life. Here is one of my favorite "sparkly" lines from the chapter Waiting:
      "...I choose to believe that there is nothing more sacred or profound than this day. I choose to believe  that there may be a thousand big moments embedded in this day, waiting to be discovered like tiny shards of gold." : )

http://www.shaunaniequist.com/

Currently, I am reading The Faith Club by Ranya Idliby, Suzzane Oliver and Priscilla Warner.  These women come from different faiths: Judaism, Islam, and Christianity.  They initially came together to write a children's book about their different faiths. But these women found they had a lot to discuss about their stereotypes and issues with their perceptions of these religions. I am really enjoying this book because I have never really learned about the deep seeded issues in the middle east, especially Isreal. How did I miss this in school? Why did we not learn about the creation of Isreal and the imaginary lines drawn by Great Britian that have created these huge conflicts that we (the U.S) are now trying to control? These women become great friends and find that they have more in common than they do different. Not only am I learning more about Judaism and Islam, but I am finding I am learning more about what it is that I believe.

http://www.thefaithclub.com/index.html

I recommend these books to anyone willing to spend a little time looking deeper into their spiritual life. Happy reading!

Snow Day!

This is my first official post, and I have to say I am more than a little excited about it!  The second winter storm of the season is still spilling snow on our front yards, and Kate and I are blessed to be the lucky recepients of a snow day!  Yes, even 26 year-olds get excited about the prospect of a snow day or two.  We decided it would be best to weather the storm at Kate's parents house...and why not, they have all the ingredients that are essential to endure a winter storm indoors: Fireplace, check.  Movie channels, check.  Big couch and comfy blankets, check.  Pantry full of goodies, check.  Cute little puppies, check.  There is even a 5-star chef willing and waiting to prepare anything your heart desires (I recommend the chili).  Yes this is the place.  Relaxing by a warm fire, sipping wine, and watching the snow fill the trees; it's the best vacation you never planned.

The best part about today, though, is watching someone else experience their first snow day.  She's seen snow before, but today was her first chance to experience the joy of careless frolicking in winter's best little treat.   That's the thing about snow, it brings out the inner child in all of us.  So you can imagine the joy felt by a puppy who just experienced her first birthday!  Let me introduce you to my friend Maggie. 

We hope you, too, are staying safe and enjoying the many blessings God provides.  Best Love, bv

Oreo and Nutter Butter Truffles

Bryan is president of the GBA (Graduate Business Association) and I promised to make a treat for every meeting to help encourage attendance. I cannot resist homemade treats and hope this can be my little way to support the GBA. The trick is that I have to make enough for 60 people and Bryan has to be able to carry them to class along with everything else. Last week I made Oreo and Nutter Butter Truffles (I think "truffles" sound fancier than "balls"). I have had these multiple times at different events, but never actually made them myself. Turns out they are super easy! Here is the recipe that I stole from one of my favorite baking blogs: Bakerella http://www.bakerella.com/grocery-item-goes-gourmet-part-2/


Nutter Butter Balls

1 pkg. Nutter Butter cookies (broken… use cookie with the cream center)

1 8oz. package cream cheese (softened)

chocolate bark

1. Finely crush all but 5 cookies in a food processor or place them in a ziploc bag and crush into a fine consistency.

2. Combine with cream cheese. Use the back of a large spoon to help mash the two together.

3. Roll the mixture into 1″ balls and place on wax paper covered cookie sheet.

4. Melt chocolate as directed on the package and then dip balls into chocolate, tap off extra and set aside on wax paper covered cookie sheet to dry.

5. Once dry, refrigerate and enjoy!

Makes about 30 balls.

(You do the same thing with the Oreo, but I used white chocolate bark.)

These were easy to make, easy to transport, and very yummy!

Honeymoon!

We finally had the opportunity to go on our honeymoon! We went to Cabo San Lucas January 2-9. We stayed at Pueblo Bonito Sunset Beach and loved every minute of it! The weather was perfect with sunny skies and an average of 80 degrees everyday. We went whale watching and spent wonderful time in the spa. Most of the time was spent reading by the pool drinking tropical drinks and eating way too much food.  Our room was right on the beach, so we walked out the patio every evening to watch the most beautiful sunsets.  It was truly a fabulous week and the best part was spending time together without any distractions. I am ready to go back!