Birds of a Feather

Grace, Giving, & Gratitude

December 15, 2017Baby Bears & Little Bears, Faith, Family, Happiness, Holiday spirit, Love, Mama Bears, Opportunities, Papa Bear, Special People, UncategorizedLeave a Comment

The last two weeks have been a whirlwind of holiday festivities, semester exams, Christmas decorations, cookie baking, and all of the other day-to-day to do’s. I’ve been hard pressed for time and found most of my blogging time being reallocated to hiding Liam’s elf nightly or spending my little bits of downtime with my nose buried in a book.

With Christmas less than twelve days away, I found my heart and head eager to share my sentiments with others, and so I’m finally putting pen to paper for the first blog post in almost a week.

Grace

Grace is defined as the freely given, unmerited favor, and love of God. Nothing more clearly articulates his love than the gift of his only son to save us from our sins. In the hustle and bustle that comes with preparing for the holiday season, it is easy to get wrapped up in the shopping and gift giving. While these are aspects of the holiday that allow us to connect and show our love for others, we also must find pause in our busy lives to recognize the true reason for the season.

It isn’t always easy to find opportunities to reflect on the miraculous story of Christmas of how a humble man took a woman’s hand in marriage knowing she was carrying a son that was not his all because an angel affirmed his role in God’s plan. And at the center of this beautiful story, a baby was born on a cold, winter night underneath a blanket of stars with an incredibly full life of fellowship and faith ahead of him. In these last few days leading up to Christmas, let us open our hearts to the infinite beauty and grace of God.

In my daily life, I try to find grace in the simplicity of all God created- a breathtaking sunset, a fragrant rose, or a blanket of fresh snow. Miraculous things can happen when we least expect them to. Awestruck by its beauty, I was amazed to wake up to a backyard full of snow last Friday. To see Liam giddy with excitement about getting to frolic in the snow. Watching my high school students play with childlike abandonment as they waged war against one another in a snowball fight of epic proportions on our quad.

Grace truly is in the little things we often are too busy to notice. These simple gifts of grace and beauty show us God’s love each and every day if we allow ourselves to slow down enough to take it all in.

Giving

A tenet of Christmas is gift giving. This act of love comes in many forms. Oftentimes we equate gift giving with lavish gifts perfectly wrapped and topped with a bright, red bow. Sometimes, however, small acts of kindness prove to be just as special and can be far more sincere and touching.

For my coworkers this Christmas, fresh baked cookies, surprise Starbucks lattes, and unexpected kolaches during semester exams brought smiles and joy to many of their faces. For my son, giving my time to hide his elf every night is a small way I’ve brought surprise, wonder, and joy to his mornings. Brightening someone’s day with a sincere smile, an extra large tip, or a genuine hello can move mountains for the people who are on the receiving end of these simple gestures of kindness. Sharing quality time with the special people in our lives is another opportunity to give to the ones we love. This week, we let Liam stay up a little later than normal, so I could push him around in the jogging stroller on one of my evening runs to take in the Christmas lights in our neighborhood. He enjoyed seeing the fun decorations, but more importantly I loved the chance to give him these little moment to relish in.

Gratitude

An attitude of gratitude is especially important. Taking stock of the infinite blessings we have, offering thanks, and appreciation for the gifts of family, friends, health, and prosperity.

I am truly grateful for a loving husband who makes me smile, challenges me to be my best, and makes me laugh in the most unexpected ways. I’m far from the perfect spouse or mother, but I’m grateful for the opportunity to share my life with my Papa Bear and Baby Bears. My sweet boys, you light up my life. I carry your smiles, the sound of your giggles, and the happiness you radiate with me wherever I go. Being a Mama Bear, brings me so much joy. Marriage and motherhood bring with it their own unique set of challenges, but the memories and milestones far outweigh the difficulties.

Christmas is a season of faith, joy, and new beginnings. It’s an opportunity for us to grow in God’s grace, give to those in need, and offer gratitude for the blessings we have in our lives. Wishing each and every one of you a blessed Christmas full of light, love, and holiday joy!

Elf on the Shelf Shenanigans

December 9, 2017Family, Golden Bear, Happiness, Holiday spirit, UncategorizedLeave a Comment

Shortly after Thanksgiving, the Elf on the Shelf shenanigans begin at our house. I don’t know if I have more fun finding unique and creative ways to showcase Willie the Elf or if Liam does scouring the house every morning in search of his elf’s most recent hiding place.

I know staging your child’s elf may not be something everyone enjoys doing, but many do it because it’s an obligatory part of their family Christmas traditions. For the Mama Bears who find it more of a chore than a joy to hide their child’s elf, I thought I’d post a few of this year’s best hiding places so you could catalog them away and implement them in your house in the next few weeks leading up to Christmas.

Willie blended in nicely with one of my favorite kitchen staples, cherry tomatoes. This hiding place proved to be incredibly difficult for Liam to find. He was unable to find him in the morning before we headed out the door for school and work. Later that evening though, I asked him to help me with dinner by grabbing some tomatoes. He was so very surprised to see who was hiding inside.

Friday morning Liam woke up to fresh snow outside. As many of you know, this is truly a rarity in South Texas. He enjoyed building a snowman, having a snowball fight, and eating snow. This morning to piggyback on the merriment, Willie had his own snowball fight in the guest room with Liam’s Christmas stuffed animals.

Willie borrowed one of Atticus’s bath toys for a little fishing fun in a decorative pot in our dining room.

Baby toys have proven to be ideal props for staging Liam. For this one, I made a chain of teething rings and hung them from the drape rod.

A bag of Oreos doubles as a prop and as an easy go-to dessert. Liam loved finding his name spelled out in them and was even more surprised that Willie made the icing red just like his clothes.

During the off season, Willie moonlights as an extra for Cirque de Soleil.

Willie pulled the drapes together to make a relaxing hammock. He enjoyed a day of sunbathing while Liam was away at school.

Sometimes Willie leaves notes for Liam that talk about something special Liam did during the day. These notes are a labor of love on my part because I write them with my non-dominant hand. For not being a leftie, I think I fare pretty well.

To the other Mama Bears hiding elves this Christmas, let your inner child out and get creative. Seeing your child’s eyes light up when they discover their elf’s new hiding place makes it a labor of love well worth the effort!

Equal Parts Effort & Love

December 5, 2017Happiness, Holiday spirit, Love, Recipes, Uncategorized, VegetarianLeave a Comment

This weekend, I spent a significant amount of time in the kitchen with the boys underfoot baking. This is truly one of my favorite pastimes, especially around the holidays. I love sharing my baked goods with my coworkers and spreading some Christmas cheer.

Baking a perfect cookie is equal parts effort and love. I also believe that allowing the butter to sit out on the counter for several hours before baking helps create the perfect formula for soft, fluffy cookies.

Below I’ve included the recipe for the three types of cookies I baked this weekend. The method for all three is the same. In a large mixing bowl start by creaming the butter and sugar together. Then add the remaining wet ingredients and stir until blended. Then add the dry ingredients and mix carefully. Use a tablespoon to place on the cookie sheet, spacing them evenly apart. Bake in the oven adjusting the timing plus or minus a few minutes depending on your oven. Cool on a baking rack and enjoy!

Peanut Butter Cookies

Ingredients:

2 sticks of butter
1 c granulated sugar
1 c brown sugar, packed
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 eggs, beaten
1 c peanut butter
3 c flour
2 tsp baking soda
pinch of salt

Bake at 375 degrees for 10 minutes.

Iced Pumpkin Cookies

Ingredients:

1/2 c butter
1 1/2 granulated sugar
1 cup canned pumpkin puree
1 egg, beaten
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 1/2 c flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
1/2 tsp ground cloves
1/2 tsp salt

Icing glaze:

2 cups confectioners’ sugar
1 tablespoon melted butter
1 tsp vanilla extract
3 tablespoons milk

Bake at 350 degree for 15 to 20 minutes.

To make the glaze, melt the butter in the microwave. Add the confectioners’ sugar and vanilla and stir carefully. Then slowly add up to 3 tablespoons of milk to reach the desired consistency for icing. Drizzle across the top of each cookie with a spoon after the cookies have cooled.

Chocolate Oatmeal Chip Cookies

Ingredients:

2 sticks of butter
1/2 c granulated sugar
1 1/4 c brown sugar, packed
2 eggs, beaten
2 tbs milk
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 3/4 c flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
2 1/2 c oats
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

Bake at 375 degrees for 9 to 10 minutes.

Blue Skies & Afternoon Adventures

December 3, 2017Baby Bears & Little Bears, Family, Happiness, Love, Special People, UncategorizedLeave a Comment

Fall weather has been idyllic this year. Gorgeous blue skies dusted with wispy clouds provide the perfect backdrop to picturesque outdoor adventures. Long walks to the playground, balancing acts at Turtle Lane, hide and seek in the hedge maze, and monkeying around on bars all have been some of our favorite things after school and on the weekends.

For those of you who live outside of Texas, this might seem unheard of this time of year. The mornings typically start off on the cooler side but by lunchtime the temperatures usually level out in the mid 70s. Because of how hot and humid south Texas is 3/4 of the year, this time of year always proves to be a welcome change.

My little bears and I cannot get enough of these conditions. These last few weeks have proven to be even more enjoyable because of the recent addition of the Radio Flyer tricycle, a first birthday gift for Atticus. The tricycle has a built in stand on the back for Liam so afternoon walks are even more enjoyable because I can transport both boys throughout the neighborhood with ease.

These afternoon strolls through the neighborhood as of late have proven to be wonderful opportunities for Mama Bear-son bonding. I’m grateful for both the beautiful weather conditions and more importantly the opportunity to spend cherished time with Liam and Atticus. I find myself continuously circling back to the little things that make life simply beautiful!

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

December 1, 2017Baby Bears & Little Bears, Family, Happiness, Holiday spirit, Love, Mama Bears, Special People, UncategorizedLeave a Comment

Slowly but surely, it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas in our house. I don’t feel rushed, ashamed, or the slightest bit off schedule seeing as tomorrow marks the first day of December. I’m less shocked this year than in previous years that people in my neighborhood started putting up this lights this year just a few days shy of Halloween, but that seems to be par for the course these days.

As much as I love Christmas and all of the joy, spirit, and merriment that comes along with it, I also truly enjoy Thanksgiving and everything that it symbolizes. For me, the carols, Christmas lights, and decorations can all wait until at least the week of Thanksgiving if not until I’ve feasted on turkey, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie.

The outdoor lights are up and certain areas of the house are in full blow Christmas decor, but our tree stands beautifully lit without ornaments. We’ll get there this weekend and will enjoy singing along to Christmas carols as we adorn it with our collection of yours, mine, and ours ornaments.

Liam’s elf, Willie, returned a few days ago so the excitement of waking up every morning to search high and low throughout the house has him awakening and getting dressed much quicker than normal. I truly wish there was a way to keep this momentum going all year, but I don’t think I would be creative enough to find 365 unique hiding places for Willie in the house.

This evening after dinner and bath time, I thought I’d commemorate the holiday season with a cute picture of the boys in their matching elf pajamas in front of our ornamentless tree. My attempts at cooing, making monkey noises, and jingling a reindeer donning a bell all proved to be epic fails.

But like the priceless picture taken over Thanksgiving break with Santa, a picture truly is worth a thousand words. Undoubtedly these two pictures candidly capture the realness of both moments and are sure to keep us laughing about both occasions for years to come. Here’s to many more memorable holiday moments this season and in the future.

Quality Time Away from our Little Bears

November 28, 2017Happiness, Love, Papa Bear, Special People, UncategorizedLeave a Comment

After Thanksgiving, Sean and I retreated to Fredericksburg for our first weekend getaway since Atticus was born. Leaving him behind proved to be bittersweet for me as I’ve never been away from him overnight. However, our quiet trip to the Hill Country was everything we both needed and more. This quaint town offered beautiful weather, fun wineries, and great food.

My weekend away proved to be incredibly eye opening for me. In this last year, I have “mommed” so hard that I rarely if ever left myself much time for “adulting”. As a new mom, the learning curve was steep and like all things I take on, I met this challenge with unwavering faith, unconditional love, and the can-do spirit of a Mama Bear. While all of this was noble and well-intentioned, I failed to recognize how my moments as an adult slipped through the cracks.

Now a year later, I’m truly grateful for the opportunity to getaway with Sean. It was such a breath of fresh air to stay up late talking about life, sleeping in, and taking our mini vacation as it came- with no expectations other than spending quality time together. I’ve vulnerably admitted before that being a wife is not always the easiest thing for me; not because I don’t love my husband with all of my heart but because finding the balance in all of it can be overwhelming. Sometimes by default, he gets the short end of the stick because everything else in my day took more out of me then I have left to give him at the end of the day.

Fredericksburg provided an amazing backdrop to a perfectly spent long weekend with my husband. I am truly grateful and blessed for the moments we shared and the fun we had together climbing Enchanted Rock, indulging in delectable sage and butternut gnocchi, sipping cocktails and people watching, and being chauffeured from winery to winery in a cheesy stretch limo. The best of life truly comes in the little things!

With a Grateful Heart

November 23, 2017Baby Bears & Little Bears, Faith, Family, Happiness, Holiday spirit, Love, Mama Bears, Prayer, Running, Special People, Success, Uncategorized1 Comment

On Friday, the boys and I drove down to the Valley for a long weekend with my parents. The main purpose of our trip was to participate in the Mega Memorial 5K in Harlingen, a memorial run for a dear friend and former training partner, Meg Jorn. For a woman who dedicated most of her life to distance running, it was a touching tribute to a life tragically cut short. Family, friends, former competitors, and training partners all rallied together for a 5K race in her honor.

Race participants released purple balloons in her honor and her best friend, Dayna, read a beautiful poem and released twenty-six monarch butterflies into the clear blue sky. Moving speeches by both her husband and Dayna brought all of us to tears as we celebrated the incredible life she lived and how she had such a profound impact on her family, friends, and community.

Meg lived a “mega” life. She pushed herself professionally and athletically inspiring so many along the way. Her spirit will live on for years to come, but it does not make her loss any easier to bear. A quote on her Facebook page truly sheds light on the kind of life Meg tackled with gusto and strength, “Life is precious…..let us try not to waste it!”

Meg lived by an exceptional mantra. Life truly is an incredibly precious gift. The threads that make up the tapestry of our lives give us so much to be grateful for. In life, we never know how much time we have with the ones we love. Living each day to the fullest surrounded by the ones we love is such an amazing blessing.

Coming home this weekend allowed me the opportunity to bid adieu to a woman who taught me so much as we shared the road and miles and miles of words of encouragement, laughter, and joy sharing something we both loved- the pursuit of athleticism achieved through training and achieving PR’s. It also reminded me how important the little things truly are. Happiness is seeing your grandparents light up when they see their great-grandsons, catching up with your godmother and clinking glasses as we sip on prosecco, and witnessing the powerful love a big brother shares with his baby brother through a simple kiss and a hug.

My mother made an incredible Thanksgiving spread for us while we were home this weekend. Savory, comforting, and truly delectable, she put all of her love into the preparation and presentation. My mom is my rock, and a woman I derive so much strength and inspiration from. Who I am today is a tribute to the amazing things she has done for me all of my life to help me grow. I am truly grateful for the love, kindness, and grace she encourages me with daily, and I don’t know where I would be without her unconditional love and friendship.

Thanksgiving offers us an opportunity to pause and reflect on the profound blessings God has graced us with. Our health, happiness, family, friends, and all of the other infinitely beautiful blessings we call our own. Wishing you and yours a wonderful Thanksgiving filled with delicious food and family and friends around your table. Even after tomorrow, let us remember that we have the opportunity to start each and every day with a grateful heart!

Remembering Granddad

November 17, 2017Faith, Family, Love, Running, Special People, Success, Uncategorized, WorkLeave a Comment

Earlier this week marked the fourth anniversary of my grandfather’s death. For those close to him, he was best remembered for how deeply he loved my grandmother, D’Ann, how dedicated he was to his work, and his passionate fire for the Texas A&M Aggies.

He was anything but the warm and fuzzy type. He cursed like a sailor and never apologized for his temper. For most of his life, he maintained a strict exercise regimen. Like clockwork, he was up by 5:00 a.m. and out the door for his daily morning walk. Rain or shine, he ventured out; often bragging that he was “airborne.”

My grandfather smoked like a chimney for most of his life. Most of my childhood memories include him puffing on a cigarette alongside my grandmother. When she became deathly ill with a lung infection though, he quit smoking cold turkey. A habit I can’t imagine was easy to do. There were few things my grandfather wouldn’t do for his beautiful, D’Ann. Married for over 50 years, they shared a love of traveling, tall Cuba Libres, and brown pelicans.

Hard work paved the way for a very successful career. It started first working on the railroads with his father and brother and later traveling further south to pursue a profession in the shrimping industry. My grandmother was anything but pleased about moving away from San Antonio to the quiet town of Port Isabel, but my grandfather soon made her realize the opportunities were plentiful on the coast. The two of them settled into life in South Texas with my father and uncle. Working at the docks meant long days in humid and hot conditions, especially when the season opened and closed or an imminent hurricane was in the Gulf. His work ethic instilled in me the importance of working hard for the things that matter most in life- your family and career.

Since my grandfather passed, the fall seems a lot quieter than I remember. He never missed a Texas Aggie football game on television. He’d hoop and holler at the screen cheering on his alma mater with the gusto of a yell leader. If the game turned south, however, he often had very vocal and profane words he’d direct at his beloved team. This usually meant a lot of “G D’s” as I often referred to them when I was younger. Being a member of the Corps of Cadets brought him great pride. He carried the spirit of Aggieland in his heart until the very end.

In reflecting on his life as a son, husband, father, grandfather, friend, and Aggie, I’m grateful for the moments we shared. For him, my accolades as a runner brought him great pride. I loved calling him after a race and sharing my accomplishments with him. How I wish Sean, Liam, and Atticus could have met him! I know he’s smiling down on me from a comfortable chair in Heaven. His feet are propped up and he’s enjoying the view from above!

The Road to Motherhood

November 14, 2017Baby Bears & Little Bears, Faith, Family, Happiness, Love, Mama Bears, Opportunities, Papa Bear, Prayer, Special People, Uncategorized2 Comments

The road to motherhood is not always a linear path. Sometimes a road less travelled leads us towards something our heart could have never expected. My journey started three and a half years ago when I crossed paths with a handsome widower’s online dating profile. I soon found myself falling in love with two incredibly special and unique individuals. One was a strong, motivated father who put his son’s needs ahead of his and opened his heart to the possibilities a relationship with me could bring. The other was a precocious toddler with beautiful eyes as blue as the sky and a smile that melted my heart every time his lips parted in joy. I could have never imagined my role as a mother would first start as a stepmother of a three year old, but I also can’t envision my life being any different because having Liam in my life has been an absolute blessing.

Two years into motherhood, I found out I was pregnant with Atticus. It was a rollercoaster of hormones, bouts of morning sickness, and a waistline that grew a little more every single day. As a little life grew inside of me, my heart swelled with love as I envisioned what this baby would be like when he made his grand entrance later that year. My life forever changed again when my doctor placed a precious 5 pound 15 ounce newborn in my arms for the very first time.

This last year has challenged me as a wife and a mother. It’s inspired me to be more mindful of the little things that make our lives so rich and meaningful. It has been eye opening, raw, real, beautiful, and unscripted. Life as a mother requires patience, a big heart, compassion, and humor. How else do you get through the messy parts of it like spit up, throw up, exploding diapers, and boogers for days?

Armed with all of this, I circle back to how this blog post started describing how the road to motherhood is not always a linear path. November is National Adoption Month, a month that signifies an important month for many children who find love, support, and happiness with their forever families. This is a month that will soon hold a very special place in this Mama Bear’s heart too as we will welcome a daughter into our lives sometime this year. This is a journey that started with a conversation over a year ago and developed into a more serious dialogue between Sean and I about eight months ago. Then this summer we started attending parenting classes and started the mountain of paperwork required to start this journey.

As public as I have been about my chronicles as a Mama Bear. This next step will be incredibly private. Because we are working with an agency contracted through Child Protective Services, until our adoption is consummated, we cannot post anything on social media about the expansion of our family. Our home study will be completed in the next few weeks and then we will cleared to begin considering little girls who would be an ideal fit for our family. I pray for my daughter every single day. I don’t know her yet but I can’t wait to meet her. I pray that her foster parents are meeting her needs daily and are making her feel safe and loved. Her past will undoubtedly require unconditional love, unwavering patience, and unfailing support to help her overcome and thrive. I know it will challenge me in ways I’ve never expected, but it will also only add to the rawness, realness, and beauty of my story as a mother.

The path to motherhood is rarely a perfectly straight line from Point A to Point B. My path thus far has shaped me into the mother I am today. A mother who loves fiercely, gives it her all every single day, and forgives herself when she falls short sometimes. I am far from perfect, but my heart is open and ready for this next chapter as a Mama Bear.

Guarda tus Frijoles

November 13, 2017Dinner ideas, Recipes, Uncategorized, Vegetarian1 Comment

Chalupas are one of my most favorite Mexican meals that was a regular staple on our table growing up. Simple, tasty, and satisfying, this dinner can be ready in no time flat if you cut corners with a few ready to go ingredients. This is a no fail weekly dinner option with a lot of versatility that’s sure to please everyone you share your table with.

Mexican bingo fondly referred to as Loteria or Chalupa comes to mind as I blog about this dish as its namesake is also a delicious meal. I enjoyed playing this game with my grandparents and cousins. It served as my first introduction to gambling, mind you with incredibly low odds. What do you expect when you’re betting with pennies?

Because refried beans truly are central to this dish, the Spanish phrase, “guarda tus frijoles” seems like a fitting way to segue into the recipe.

CHALUPAS DE CARNITAS

Ingredients:

Corn tostadas
Pork Carnitas
Refried black beans
Shredded cheese

Garnishes:

Salsa
Sour cream

Directions:

Line a cookie sheet with foil. Spread refried black beans evenly on each tostada and set aside.

In the microwave, heat the carnitas according to the directions on the package. Shred the pork with a knife and layer on top of the beans. Top with shredded cheese and broil on high for a few minutes.

Keep an eye on them closely as they can easily burn. The goal is for the cheese to brown slightly.

Top with fresh sliced avocado, salsa, and sour cream.

Variations:

Traditional chalupas are a great vegetarian option. Swap refried pinto for black if you fancy those more. Spread the beans, top with cheddar cheese, and broil in the oven. Garnish with shredded lettuce, tomato, salsa, avocado, and sour cream.

In place of carnitas, consider ground taco meat or shredded chicken. Follow the same method of layering the beans, meat, and cheese and broil. Then top with your favorite garnishes.

Chalupa garnishes can vary widely. Consider a variation that best suits your palette. Easy options include: shredded lettuce, fresh cilantro, sliced avocado or guacamole, salsa- green or red, cheddar, cojita, or Mexican blend cheese, roasted corn, and diced tomatoes.

The possibilities truly are endless. Make them your own and enjoy!