Before We Close

Before we close out the year I just wanted to share a few highlights from the holidays and my recent trip back to Washington. Also, I want to share that there's been a shift in my thinking -- so many clients and friends have asked me lately, "How is Texas"? In all honesty, even though I'm back in my hometown, I feel displaced somehow. Like after 20+ years in Washington and the fact I buried my husband there, our little island which was just a ferry ride away from Canada, feels more like home. In a lot of ways, we feel like visitors here in Texas. I've talked to other transplants from Washington who miss the scenery and their church and friends just like we do. Several folks mentioned that it takes about 3 years to feel like a new move is truly "home". So I've decided we need to keep working at this. In fact this last week, I met with a group of neighbors in an impromptu holiday gathering in my next door neighbor's driveway. I was able to meet several new people and learned more about others that I had previously met.

pens I gave away on my trip

That said, my recent trip to Washington state was amazing! I saw about 6 different clients and numerous friends throughout my 10 day trip. I was mostly working, but had a chance to spend weekend time at a Nutcracker ballet performance, visited our old church, ate great sushi and Thai food, and I'm pretty sure I gave/received more hugs in one stretch of 48 hours than all of last year. 

Also, this holiday season was even better than last year! Ethan again came to visit at Thanksgiving. He fixed the light in my closet, sorted out the lights on the pergola, washed windows and helped the boys clean up leaves. The 3 of them even cooked burgers on the grill one afternoon. I know the boys appreciated having their friend here for the week.

We also had family stop by for Thanksgiving dinner. 12 total including my dad, brothers, sisters-in-law and all of the kids.

my bros, me & Dad

cousins

For Christmas Eve we drove down south and had a lovely day with the Shooks. Just like old times! I love hearing my boys chatting with their friends and laughing, really laughing with glee. We built gingerbread houses, broke bread together, the girls went to the riverwalk, the guys played board games, we had scripture readings and all sang Christmas carols, ending with our candles lit, singing Silent Night.

CLICK HERE for a quick video of our hostess leading us in carols

Christmas Day was equally fun as we were able to spend time with Danson, Rachel and Dax. Somehow I missed getting many pictures from the day, but here is Cole learning to play darts under Dans' tutelage. We also played a lot of board games and basketball. Okay, I personally did not play board games (that detail is for Ellen, who absolutely LOVES board games, but knows it's not my favorite thing). And we didn't play basketball, but simply shot hoops. Danson smoked a delicious beef tenderloin and Rachel, her mom and her friend Steph cooked up other scrumptious sides and desserts. We also learned that Cole actually likes deviled eggs (look out Uncle Dusty....) 

Now - if you ask me about Texas - here's what I'll say: I absolutely LOVE the sunshine and wearing short sleeves in the winter. My overall mood is much brighter just being able to step outside, even if it's cold, and feel the sun on my skin. It is also wonderful to be around my dad, and my brothers and their families. We are all getting to know each other again and that has been amazing. 

When I was in Washington, I woke up early on Sunday morning, was drawn to read Psalm 103 and then pulled up on YouTube, a song by Matt Maher. CLICK HERE for the song. Then, like only God can do, both of these were also included as elements of the service I went to later that morning. The scripture Pastor Les read before communion was from Psalm 103 and the song from Matt Maher was the first one on the set list for the day. No coincidences. Feeling so blessed. Hope you and yours had a blessed holiday as well. See ya next year!

Psalm 103:22 Bless the Lord, all his works in all places of his dominion; bless the Lord, O my soul.

Two Very Different Books

Since I bought Kindles for the 3 of us for Christmas, I started downloading a lot of books from the library.  And now that the libraries (and practically every other public facility) is closed due to COVID-19, the e-books are filling a void.

I recently read two very different books.  The first was Michelle Obama's autobiography "Becoming".  She is a great writer!  It was long.  And it was challenging.  I actually had to look up some words in the dictionary.  Seriously.  She wrote about her childhood in Chicago, college at Princeton, law school at Harvard, meeting Barak (he was an intern while she was a lawyer at a firm in Chicago), and then the political run all the way through the eight years in the White House.  Obama did a great job of explaining her love for her family and how she was always concerned about her girls and them living a "normal" life.  She was quick to point out when her motives were misinterpreted by the media.  She was quick to criticize political opponents.  She was quick to praise her husband.  All what I would expect.  I think she is smart and witty and it seemed like an accurate description from her point of view.  Still, I just kept thinking, "I need to finish this book already!"  (Not, "I can't wait to hear the rest of her story....") Maybe it's because I don't agree with her on things like gay marriage and abortion rights.  But I think it's also because she tended to downplay the role faith played in her life.  They did, at one time, attend church.  But then they didn't.  They do pray.  I just didn't get the sense they felt the success they have was at all attributable to God's grace.  More like it was all due solely to their hard work.  I don't want to be judgmental.  They are still married after all of the stress of a stint in the White House.  Politics is a crazy life.

Another great book I started, but couldn't finish before my 21-day library loan was over, is "Bread & Wine" by Shauna Niequist.  When I finish my Tax Class, I will definitely check this one out again and finish it.  She talks about hospitality and the simplicity of just getting together with people.  Investing in friendships.  Doing it over food.  Jesus shared lots of bread and wine with people.  And then there is the symbolism of His body being the bread and His blood, the wine.  I guess with this book, I heard her speak of a life spent in service to Jesus, and how relationships are vital. (Different from Obama's book.)  Niequist tells many short stories of sharing life and food with her friends, through ups and downs of life, and then at the end of most chapters is a recipe.  So I will definitely finish this.  AFTER the Tax Class.  More on hospitality in future months as well.  AFTER the Tax Class.

One more thing about COVID-19 -- it's interesting how lonely the forced "social distancing" can be.  Normally, I am quite the introvert.  But in the middle of this current crisis, I find it difficult to fathom NOT spending time with other people.  Now that our government is suggesting we should not be within 6 feet of each other nor congregate with more than 10 people at a time, the forced isolation is making me a little rebellious. The weather was so amazingly beautiful today, we took the dog for a walk to the beach (yes, we were careful to stay 6 feet away from others.)  I realize there are safety and health concerns.  But I also know we are not given a spirit of fear.  Plus-- Satan would love nothing more than to see us isolated and fearful.  Be at peace, reach out to neighbors and friends.  Do not let Satan win this little battle of COVID-19 hysteria.

2 Timothy 1:6-7 "Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind."

Thanksgiving Gathering

Desserts

This year our Love Your Neighbor team hosted a group of 50+ at our church for a Thanksgiving Potluck.  We had so many helping hands, mountains of food, and sweet fellowship all around.

The idea was birthed on our flight down to San Diego (heading to Mexico) - - without fail, when we are home for holiday celebrations, we are graciously invited to someone's home.  And while that is always fun and we are super grateful for friends that we can spend time with, I got to wondering about others who do NOT have people inviting them in.  My friend Malinda and I began to dream of inviting shut-ins and military families and single people that might come to a gathering if we had a bigger location.  So I just asked our church if we could use the facility.  Voila! Our 1st annual LYN Thanksgiving Dinner actually happened!!  There was already talk of doing the same thing again next year.

table decor courtesy of the Gates family & many helpers

We had 4 turkeys, one ham and a bounty of sides.  I roasted a turkey - probably the 3rd one I've EVER made. (Tip from my stepmom, Sharon Cook-- use a poultry bag.  It's a clear plastic sack that the turkey cooks in and it keeps everything amazingly moist!) I also made some "Pink Stuff", my Texas grandmother's recipe, which some of these Northwestern friends have come to love.

This event could not have happened without the team of really hard workers from our teens up through the older crowd.  I was so blessed to share this Thanksgiving with friends and "family"...the family of Christ.  Can't wait for next year!

Psalm 136:1 "Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good.  His love endures forever."

Successful Keto Pizza!

YUM! Keto pizza....

I know it sounds sad - but "normal" pizza is so full of carbohydrates, it's basically been cut out of my diet in recent months.  However, this week I found a great Keto pizza recipe. YAY!  The crust has a little cream cheese, Italian sausage, some almond and coconut flours and eggs.  You can find the recipe at afamilyfeast.com.  The net carbs for 1/8th of a pan is only 9g.  That's perfect!

create the crust first

fresh onion and bell pepper

saute and add baby spinach

low sugar marinara (I use Mezetta)

top with cheeses

Update on Keto

So I'm going into month 4 of my new "Keto" way of eating.  Full disclosure: I have had a handful of days where I made less than stellar choices.  But through it all, I have continued to shed unwanted inches and pounds.  More on that in the future perhaps.  I just wanted to share some of the stuff I've been eating.  Now DIET usually brings up DEPRIVATION in my mind.  But on Keto, it is crazy, there are literally 1000s of recipes for things that you would think would be totally off-limits.  At first, I felt these things were "cheats".  (See my post on Peanut Butter Fat Bombs.)  But I'm learning to look at these simply as "adaptations" ~~ doesn't that sound much more positive than "cheats"??

So excuse my non-instagram-worthy food photography.  I just wanted to show you some things I found yummy, and warn you against some I tossed in the trash.

First off, the Pattersons also gave us a food dehydrator for Christmas.  I've used it for a few things so far.  But the best was (no sugar) beef jerky.  This was a hit with Cole as well. Perfect for snacking.  This helps me stay away from the salty snacks I love, like chips!  Some of the beef jerky at the store has some weird ingredients, including sugars, but this is straight up top round, a stevia-based cola marinate, and some spices.

This next photo is just blegh.  Ha!  But this has been my favorite soup.  It's a chicken, bacon, mushroom chowder.  Has full fat cream and chicken stock, some veggies.  I just like the creamy texture and the low carb content! There are multiple versions of recipes on the web for this.  I kind of adapted to what I wanted in my soup.

This next one - - Cabbage Lasagna - - I've made twice.  It is sooooo good!  Instead of lasagna noodles, substitute boiled cabbage leaves.  The texture is virtually the same.  But you still get to enjoy all the meat and cheesy goodness of a regular carb-filled lasagna.  Cole is not a huge fan of this, but he did try it.  A big pan like this will last me all week.

cabbage lasagna

Here is a zucchini caprese salad. I got a gift card from my brother and sis-in-law for Christmas and I used it to buy a spiralizer attachment for my Kitchen Aid mixer.  It made zucchini noodles in no time.  Cole actually tried the noodles and agreed there is not a lot of taste to them.  I don't know if he'd eat them again, but at least he didn't spit them out.  On the other hand, I LOVED this salad.  The zucchini is eaten raw, add to that mozzarella balls and cherry tomatoes.  The dressing is an oil-based vinaigrette. The whole thing just tasted so fresh!

Okay, so here are two flops, in my opinion.  The first was a hamburger, bacon, cauliflower casserole.  A LOT of Keto recipes will substitute cauliflower rice for regular rice, or tater tots.  SO this is supposed to be like a tater tot casserole I think.  And while it was so-so, I ended up throwing half of it away.  Just wasn't that tasty.  It could probably be improved on.  The second was a cloud loaf. It's supposed to be an adaption for bread, without carbs.  It looks decent.  But it had a weird taste.  Cole and I tried a couple of bites.  But it was nasty.  Into the trash.  It's made with egg whites, protein powder, sour cream and spices.  I don't know for sure, but I think my particular brand of protein powder gave it the weird flavor.  If someone has a cloud loaf recipe they trust, I would try to make it again.  I just don't need bread THAT much.

cloud loaf

So dining out with friends is also challenging when you are "dieting", right?  My go-to option has been cobb salad.  There's lots of protein to satiate my hunger.  Typically I have blue cheese dressing, but ranch also works.  Just go light on dressing and try to skip half the tomatoes.  Yes, I know tomatoes have a lot of vitamin C, but they also have higher sugar content (they are a fruit, afterall).

Another salad I love, but that can easily blow my carb count for the day, is the Deluxe Taco Salad with Chicken at the local taqueria. Here's my adaptation....as irresistible as it looks, RESIST eating the shell, and the tortilla chips that come with it.  Make your own cheese crisps! You can have cheese crisps with salsa or ranch dressing.  It is a great substitute (and easy to make) for chips.  I just bake little piles of shredded cheddar mixed with a little parmesan on parchment paper on a tray in oven at 425 for 5 minutes. 

taco salad

cheese crisps

Okay, here is the pièce de résistance of my list of Keto adaptations. Mozzarella cheese sticks.

 

Surprisingly, these were pretty simple to make as well.  Lots of recipes on the web for these.  The basic idea is to dip in egg bath and coating and FREEZE them first.  Then drop them in hot oil.  I think the oil temp is key, and there's lots of ideas on the web for that too.  Takes a little research.  I don't have a thermometer that goes up that high, so I winged it.  Mine were perfectly crisp and warm on the inside.  I froze a dozen or so, then I'd fry up 3 at a time for a snack.  I used coconut oil for frying.

Now, if that doesn't make your mouth water...oh boy!  Keys to Keto: no grains, no sugar, high + good fats.  There are tons of Keto-friendly snacks you can buy at the store too if cooking is not your thing.  They are just pricey!  Like this: Lily's dark chocolate, stevia sweetened, with almonds.  Trouble is, a single 3oz bar can be $4 or more.  Cheaper if you buy in bulk I'm sure.  I'm happy with my peanut butter chocolate fat bombs.  But this was a special treat from my friend Lisa....

And again, this is working for me and a few of my friends.  It MAY not work for you!  So don't hate me if your body does not agree with Keto.  The science behind it is fascinating....  Let me know if you need recipes.  (Though a google search for any of your favorite dishes with "Keto" in front of it, should get you what you need.)  HAPPY HUNTING!