Dinner Party and Update on my "normal"

Andy and I love any excuse to have people over for dinner and last week we had our small group from church over for a post valentines dinner...or a "Pink and Red" party as I called it. Everyone wore pink or red (and some went all out as you'll see below).

On the Menu: (I will post the recipes at some point if anyone is interested)

Smoked Gouda and Manchego Cheese Plate

Hot Feta, Artichoke, and Roasted Red Pepper Dip

Salad with Pears, dried cherries, blue cheese, pine nuts and my favorite dressing Maple Vinaigrette

Chicken and Mushroom Crepes

Roasted Asparagus

Dessert Tray- Peanut Butter Truffles, Cookie Dough Truffles, and Almond Shortbread

(my new favorite way to serve dessert for dinner parties of 8 or more...it's much easier to do pick up dessert than slicing cake/pie with ice cream and having to serve everyone another plate etc)

Found these at Costco for $16...aren't they so pretty?! Too bad they died after 3 days.

Not a great pic but the place cards were a free printable off pinterest

Chicken and Mushroom Crepes...I wanted to do something "fancy" yet many times those dishes require cooking while the guests are here...which I'm not a huge fan of (like frying crab crakes when we had our Ashley Mac's staff over last year..all 25 of them- lesson learned) Last time I made these crepes I figure out that I could....

..sear all the chicken the day before

.....and make all the crepes the day before...so I just made the cream sauce and through them together the day of then popped them in the oven when everyone arrived

We had some wine and cheese and hot feta dip while we waited..

Love these girls! wish we had a big group pic with the boys. These have become some of our dearest friends and we are so thankful for their friendships. Christian community is such a gift and I'm really not sure where I would be without it!

some of the lovely pink and red outfits below...

We had more laughs than I've had in a very long time...it was so much fun...I think I need to plan another one!
Thank you so much for all the comments on my last post. And several email/fb messages I got regarding it too. It's neat to see the body at work and I'm so encouraged. We sang a song at church sunday that brought me to tears because I know God was speaking to me through it

Lord I surrender all.....I'll just trust your perfect plan:

When I don't know what to do- I'll lift my hands

When I don't know what to say- I'll sing your praise

When I don't know where to go- I'll run to your throne

When I don't know what to think- I'll stand on your truth

I don't know what our future holds, but I KNOW his revealed will...that I am a wife to a wonderful husband, a mom to 2 precious boys, and a boss to 34 amazing employees, a friend to many, and a servant to HIM...to whatever that looks like for today...until He shows me what to do tomorrow.

and just tonight a great reminder in Jesus Calling:

You are on the right path. Listen more to Me, and less to your doubts. I am leading you along the way I designed for you. Therefore, it is a lonely way, humanly speaking. But I go before you as well as alongside you, so you are never alone. Do not expect anyone to understand fully My ways with you, any more than you can comprehend My dealings with others. I am revealing to you the path of LIfe day by day, and moment by moment. As I said to My disciple Peter, so I repat to you; Follow Me.

So what exactly is "normal"?

I've had a lot on my mind lately. In fact, I confessed to some friends the other night that I am a "closet thinker" (because I probably don't come across as a thinker to most people! or anyone for that matter! LOL) But my brain hurts 90% of the time because it never stops. It's kind of annoying actually.

I'm not even sure where to start. And I'm not a gifted writer so I'll be brief. But my heart has been overwhelmed lately with all the needs in this world. Everywhere I turn I am hearing, reading, seeing... real needs, from real people. Many are across the world, and some are in my backyard.

About 5 years ago I read the book "Ministries of Mercy" by Tim Keller and it rocked my world. Reading statistics on the poor and the oppressed really struck me like never before. It's been a slow work the Lord has been doing and honestly there have been times I've been angry and frustrated with God. He has answered my prayer "break my heart for what breaks yours" (which I am so thankful for). My heart is breaking. The things of this world are slowing losing their luster. Yet I haven't felt any guidance or direction on where to serve. Ok as I wrote that I realize that's not really true. He has laid on my heart many SMALL ways to serve. We have a lot of opportunities that by God's grace we take advantage of through giving financially, praying, taking people meals, etc but for some reason I feel like there must be more. If more Christians stepped up and took God's command to care for the orphans, widows, poor and oppressed then the world would look much different.

After our first 3 years of marriage I was ready to make the leap into "normal". I wanted children, a nice house, and all the wonderful things that come along with that. Fast forward 6 years and we've been blessed beyond my wildest imagination (thinking at one point we may never have kids (we now have 2) and starting a business from scratch that we hoped would make it(we now have 2 locations and 34 employees) )and in many ways I feel "we have arrived". But now I long for something greater. I know the ultimate longing is for heaven which I will not find on earth-even in serving the Lord. (Andy has to remind me of that often). But how can we live a "normal" life yet be obedient to all God commands of us? It's like they don't really mix. All of the sudden being "normal" does not sound very appealing to me. I used to be afraid.. "what if my life isn't normal?" and now I'm afraid..."what if my life IS normal"! What if I never really step out in faith..with reckless abandon?! I want to so bad yet I have no idea what that looks like! (I have to remind myself of the verse "do not despise the day of small things" Zech 4:10..I know the Lord redeems those too!)

Andy and I are seeking...we are praying...we are trying to rest in HIM and to Trust (Andy's much better at that than I am). I can't wait to see where he takes us! We are dreaming about how the Lord might use our platform of Ashley Mac's to further His kingdom. (I've recently been encouraged from numerous people on what a blessing food can be! Sometimes I miss the stuff that is right in front of my face) Anyways, as I wait on Him, I have to fight to believe that where I am today is His will just as much as the radical things He may call us to. That's hard for me to believe. It's also hard for me to believe that Jesus cares just as much about changing my heart as He does about using me to change the world (as I heard in the sermon at church last week). That's pretty crazy huh?!!! I can't even fathom that! Does he really love ME that much?!!! wow.

"Religion that is pure and faultess is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world". James 1:27

"He has shown thee, O man, what is good and what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God" Micah 6:8

I'm thankful that God seems to be reviving the evangelical church in America to take those commands seriously. I'm REALLY EXCITED to have a husband, a church, and so many friends that are feeling the same way I am.

I wanted to say it better. And there is so much more. But I stink at writing. And I'm tired.

What about you? I know many of you have had similar feelings...and if not maybe there are other things you feel the Lord tugging at your heart. Would love your thoughts! Seriously- I'll feel better about using my one hour of silence to write this post if you can leave even a 2 word comment(:

Below are just a few of the books and articles I've read over the past few months that have been an amazing encouragement to me: (Andy says I need to take a break...information overload..apparently my brain is too small- that must be what he is telling me)

Kisses from Katie 14 children from Uganda? Yes please.

The Scent of Water: Grace for every kind of broken Human Trafficking. It's real. I will never think of prostitution the same. Ever again.

Passport Through Darkness A very brave woman who goes to the Sudan. Makes me want to rescue those hurting people. And now when I see anything on the Sudan in the news it has more meaning. I can actually grasp how really bad it is.

When Helping Hurts The Deacons at our Church are reading this so I stole it from Andy. Just started it and have to slow down because it's a lot to digest. Tons of scripture to disect. It's gonna be good though.

Alter 84 amazing organization I just found out about

Generous Justice "How God's Grace makes us Just" by Tim Keller. Our small group just finished this book and it is AMAZING.

Happy Valentines Day

I like do something special for our staff at Ashley Mac's for holidays and made a few little treats for them this year (while they are busy making treats for everyone else!)

Healthy Snack Mix from Ingredients Inc.
And Cookie Dough Truffles...also from Ingredients Inc...
These hearts are homemade "resees eggs" from pinterest...and I just did hearts for v-day and we might do the eggs for Easter at Amacs...

We had a little mini photo session with my new camera at Ashley Mac's a few weeks ago...one day I'm going to read that manual so I know what i'm doing...but the auto is sufficient for now and way better than my phone which is what we used to use..ha.

Choc, Van, and Strawberry Cupcakes with fondant hearts...
Triple Chocolate Brownies with mint icing and ganache....
And we did a little scavenger hunt with this little guy this morning...as soon as we finished he says "I wanna do dat again!" Melt my heart!

The Valley of Vision

I can only remember 2 times in my life when I felt this desperate for Jesus on a daily basis. Where I really felt like to put one foot in front of the other I had to pray...all day long. One was when Andy and I were dating and getting serious...and I started flipping out..broke up, got back together, broke up again...poor Andy! The other time was when we went through infertility and all I wanted was a baby...SO. BAD.

I know it's true that we see our need for Jesus most in suffering...but I'm praying that I can long for him now...when life is...well, really good.

I stole this poem from one of my favorite blogs.

The Valley of Vision

Lord, high and holy, meek and lowly,

Thou hast brought me to the valley of vision,
where I live in the depths but see thee in the heights;
hemmed in by mountains of sin I behold thy glory.

Let me learn by paradox
that the way down is the way up,
that to be low is to be high,
that the broken heart is the healed heart,
that the contrite spirit is the rejoicing spirit,
that the repenting soul is the victorious soul,
that to have nothing is to possess all,
that to bear the cross is to wear the crown,
that to give is to receive,
that to the valley is the place of vision.

Lord, in the daytime stars can be seen from deepest wells,
and the deeper the wells the brighter thy stars shine;

Let me find thy light in my darkness,
thy life in my death,
thy joy in my sorrow,
thy grace in my sin,
thy riches in my poverty,
they glory in my valley.

From The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions

Superman

Superman had his 2 month appt today. 13.5lbs (90%) and 24.75in (95%). He's a whopper!

Brothers

Sometimes I think they look so much alike...and other times SO different!!! It's crazy doing some comparisons...

Ryder's on the left in all of them and Jackson on the right(: Reminds me just how fast they grow up...I can't even believe Ryder was ever this small!!

***TWO new posts below! I guess getting a new camera has gotten me motivated..although all I know how to do is point and shoot...I'm so tech challenged..I seriously need to read that manual