A New Favorite Recipe

I'm always looking for something easy, healthy and delicious.  This recipe I found off of pinterest from Kalyn's Kitchen blog and it is SOO yummy if you are looking for something new to make!  It is definitely not difficult to make, but it does take some chopping so it takes a little time, but if you have the time it's worth a try.  It's my new favorite ground turkey recipe and Jordan-approved and loved too! 

Turkey Lettuce Wrap Tacos with Chiles, Cumin, Cilantro, Lime and Tomato-Avocado Salsa

*We've also eaten it wrapped in tortillas when we need a bit more filling!

Taco Ingredients:
1 T olive oil
1 tsp. minced garlic
1-2 T diced green chiles (I used about half of a 4 oz. jar)
1 tsp. ground cumin
1/4 tsp. ground chipotle chile powder (recipe called for cayenne)
1 1/2 lbs. ground turkey
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 cup thinly sliced green onions
1 large bunch cilantro, finely chopped (about 1 1/4 cups chopped cilantro. I used 1 cup in tacos and 1/4 cup in salsa. Use more or less cilantro to taste.)
2 T fresh lime juice
2 large heads romaine lettuce (or use iceberg, Boston lettuce, or butter lettuce) - I just used one, or you can opt for tortillas
Instructions:

Heat olive oil in pan and add minced garlic and diced green chiles, saute about 1 minute. Add cumin and ground chipotle or cayenne and cook about 1 minute more. Then add turkey and salt and cook over medium-high heat, breaking apart with the back of the turner as it cooks. Cook about 5 minutes, or until turkey is starting to brown.

While turkey cooks, thinly slice green onions and set aside, then wash cilantro, spin dry or dry with paper towels, and finely chop cilantro. Cut off root end of lettuce, discard tough outer leaves, and wash lettuce and spin dry in salad spinner or dry with paper towels.

When turkey is lightly browned, add sliced green onions and cook about 2 minutes. Turn off heat, then stir in 1 cup chopped cilantro and 2 T lime juice.

Ingredients for Salsa:2 medium avocados, diced
1 1/2 cups finely chopped cherry tomatoes
1/4 cup finely chopped cilantro
2 T fresh lime juice
2 T olive oil (optional)
sea salt to taste

Instructions:
Peel and dice avocado, place in glass or plastic bowl and toss with lime juice. Stir in chopped tomato, chopped cilantro, and olive oil, season to taste with salt.

Spoon 2-3 large spoonfuls of turkey mixture into each piece of lettuce (or tortilla) and enjoy!


Pictures and recipe from : http://www.kalynskitchen.com/2009/04/turkey-lettuce-wrap-tacos-with-chiles.html

Praying for Larkin...

I started reading the book Power of a Praying Parent a while back.  It's so good, but with a lot on my plate recently I haven't kept up my committment to purposefully pray through the book at this point.  Still, it's neat how little things Larkin will do or things that will happen throughout our day that have me praying for my litle man.  Kind of like the Holy Spirit is pointing out things for me to pray for if that makes sense....

For example...This week I've noticed a trend when it comes to Larkin's personality out in public.  If we are at dinner or if he is in the shopping cart at the store, Larkin will pick a person to stare at and just stare and stare and stare until they look his way.  As soon as that person acknowledges little Lark he turns ON the charm.  Immediately he smiles real big, turns his head to the side pretending to be shy and sometmies even bats his little eyes. 

This has happend so frequently this past week it's gotten to be comical.  I can't tell you how many comments I've gotten from people that he is the "biggest little flirt" or he is going to be a "heartbreaker".  We even had one lady who worked at Albertsons follow us out into the parking lot and watch us put our groceries away while Larkin flirted with her.  Another cashier "Mr. Mike" knows Larkin now by name and truly gets excited each time Larkin comes in.

                        

He has learned how to get attention from people and he is working it!  Each time it has happened I've felt like the Lord prompts me to pray.  I pray that God will use this joy and ability to brighten others day for His glory and not for Larkin's.  That Larkin wouldn't grow up and go through school charming others to get things he wants or even seeking others approval, but that he would be the kind of young man that sees others who are hurting or maybe don't quite fit in and show them compassion and joy.  I pray that this gift the Lord has given him to bring light and smiles to others (at least at this point in his life) will be an asset to God's kingdom and not used for his own glory.

...It's kind of neat to have promptings like that and pray for them .  I should pray for more I suppose!  ... It's a bit less overwhelming and structured; which at this point is good for this busy momma!

Who do I look like?

Most people say Larkin looks like his daddy.  I am thankful for this . . . after all, I think his daddy is pretty cute myself.  However lately people have been saying he is looking like me as well.  So I looked and found baby pics of us both.  Looks like he is his own little person with a touch of us both.  

Larkin and Mommy's Baby Pics

Larkin and Daddy's Baby Pics

In Remembrance of . . .

Dear Larkin,
There is one family member whose birthday is today that I wish you would have been able to meet. Your great Grandma Latham would have turned 89 today.




She had spunk and quick wit, always keeping the family on their toes and making us laugh with her little rhymes. Mommy loved spending time with Grandma and she would have been tickled to meet you.

So today we remember, with love, Thelma Latham.

xoxo,
Mommy

Problem Solving

Happy 26th David!

Happy Birthday to the most thoughtful, funniest, most kind and tenderhearted little brother ever!

Hogs & Heaven

Sometimes we pray to the Lord in faith not seeing any tangible response to our requests but trusting He hears, knows our heart and works everything together for our good.  However, don't you just truly appreciate those times when He answers a prayer in such a personal or tangible way that it's like He's speaking directly to your heart?  It might not mean much to anyone else, but He answers it in a way so specifically in response what you were praying that it just refreshes your heart and assures you He loves and cares for you.
That happened this weekend and my faith has been strengthened beacuse of it so I thought I would share!

 Jordan went to spend this past weekend with his good friend, Justin. They had fun fishing, hunting and doing other guy stuff, which this weekend included shooting a hog (Jordan assured me this was an ugly, evil boy hog that was very mean). 

While they were gone, more than usual and maybe because of the bad weather, I was concerned and prayed for his safety. As I was praying Saturday night the Lord was answering me by bringing scripture to my heart, reminding me that He has numbered all of our days; purposefully mapped out each one and that we are each untouchable until, by His authority, those days run out.  I felt a peace resting in that assurance.
Yesterday morning Jordan came back in town from his trip and as he pulled onto the street next to our house, his car axle broke and the car would not go any further.  As he was calling the tow truck, all I could think about was my conversation with the Lord the night before and thank Him for protecting my husband and holding that axle in place until he was off the freeway and right in front of our house.  It's as if the Lord said, "See Elizabeth I am in control, I heard your prayer and protected Jordan... I'm not finished with him yet." Thank You, Lord!

I've learned from this to not ignore the promptings of the Spirit when he calls you or reminds you to pray for someone. By praying when the Spirit prompts you, really you are in for a treat.... the ability to watch as He peels back the curtain of His throneroom and witness Him at work on our behalf... For no other reason perhaps than to remind us He is El Roi- the God who sees and who delights to fellowship with His children.
Thank You Lord!


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Eight Months!

AN 8th MONTH FLASHBACK!

HAPPY 8 MONTHS LARKIN!

This has been my favorite month yet.  You are even more interactive and (I feel like I say this each month) transitioning from a little baby to a little boy.

There have been so many developments this month, probably too many to document but I want to highlight on some of the big ones so I can look back a year from now and see where you were at.

During the seventh month.....

You got really good at eating solids! 

Now you eat a mix of oatmeal and a fruit in the morning, a fruit and veggie (usually one squeezie) for lunch and a meat and veggie or fruit for dinner (2 jars).  You  don't sit very still while I feed you.  You open your mouth real wide and move your head all around.  Sometimes I feel like I'm trying to pin the tail on a moving donkey, but I'm so thanful you're eating almost anything I give you now! 

                                             

You also love a good snack : mum mums and puffs.  You can't quite consistently put a puff in your mouth by yourself, but you are working on it.


 

You and your friend, Price, eating mum mums together.

You've mastered sitting this month!  Your falls are few and far between.

I can eat dinner again!  You are now sitting in the high chair at dinner and,  for the most part you will eat your dinner and then be content to look around and play with some toys while we scarf down our food.  I hope this keeps up, it's so nice to eat again at dinnertime and just ENJOY being out!

Eating dinner at La Duni

 You' started "creeping" this past week.  It started when mommy let you on the wood floor and put a shoelace you were wanting in front of you.  You use your arms to pull you around.  It's like watching you lug around dead weight.

Everywhere we go you always brighten people's day.  I joke that you like to smile at pretty girls, but really you will smile at anyone. Your smile melts hearts and always starts conversations.  My prayer is that the Lord will use that smile for His glory and to reflect His radiance to others.

                          

You just started eating every four hours.  I think you needed to be able to eat more solids before you were able to make this tranisition.  Once you started eating better, we"up"ped the solids, and you were ready.  You still seem to need a little cat nap in the evening, I think we are about to transition from 3 to 2 naps.  We will see!

In the bathtub, you no longer sit still.  As of two days ago, you squirm and turn over like you are wanting to crawl out and swim around in the "big tub".  It's almost impossible to bathe you these days.

You still LOVE Piper.  If you are fussy in the evening sometimes we will run up to the mall and walk you around (or in the neighborhood if it's pretty outside) OR I will throw Piper her duck over and over which you just think it's so hilarious. 

Checking Piper's nails.

You love the swing at Flag Pole Hill.  Daddy and I take you each weekend and mommy and you go during the week too.  You get a HUGE smile on your face and then get real relaxed.

I love your little hand in this picture.

        You love the outdoors.  We've enjoyed fun days outside in the backyard and at the arboretum.  You and mommy have been going on a lot of walks outside too because it's so beautiful.  Typically we'll go in the mornings with your pjs still on.

Arboretum

Jammy Walks.

Backyard Fun

   A few challenges of the month:

You were really sick for the first time this month.  You had a sinus infection.  Unfortunately mommy had one at the same time.  We had the nasal aspirator, nose drops and humidifier in your room but it has taken you a while to kick it.  I'm hoping it doesn't come back!  I learned just how loud you can scream when I tried to clear all the drainage from your nose.

Just recently you've started to become really upset when I leave the room.  You start SCREAMING and since you've been sick you get all snotty and then it's hard for you to breathe. 
Gosh so many fun memories have happened this past month.  I look back at my calendar and I'm shocked at how fast the weeks come and go.  I'm so thankful for this season with you and daddy.  Life will not always be easy, little one.  There are seasons of happiness and seasons of difficulty.  My prayer is that I can learn to model to you how to find your contentment in the Lord through each one.  He is our true prize.  I'm so blessed to have you as my son and to be enjoying such a season of blessing as daddy and I watch you grow. You are my little buddy, my little friend and your smiles are ALWAYS the highlights of my day.

I love you to the moon and back, Lark

XOXO, Mommy

Chasing Piper

I was told today the video didn't work so I'm reposting the video of Larkin's little belly laugh as we chased Piper around the backyard.  Hope it works this time!!!!

Family Visits

Last night Larkin got to meet my crazy Aunt and Uncle from Chicago.  (I say crazy because they are full of life and laughter).  We went over to Nanny's place where she treated us to a yummy dinner in the dining room downstairs. 



Looking over the menu with Uncle Chris.
 He insisted you would like "real" food better than what mommy was feeding you. 
You look like you're eager to prove him right.

Taking it all in with Aunt Cissy

 Afterwards you played with Nana, flirted with the older residents and listened with Uncle Chris, to the band play.


Watching the band



It was good to see you Cissy and Chris!