Ode to My Brothers-in-Law

What do a pacifist and a gun owner have in common besides the fact that they’re my brothers-in-law?

THIS:

My pictures from Christmas with the Lyons Family and Christmas with the Hansen Family are now on Flickr.

Dreaming of House Plants

succulents, originally uploaded by Nestled In.

This photo from Nestled In inspires me. This spring, I would love to acquire some plants for inside my home. From what I hear, succulents are the way to go if I want low-maintenance plants. What is your favorite succulent?

To my local friends, do any of you have starters from your house plants that I could adopt?

On Quitting

Last week, I quit my second part-time job, but will continue working until the beginning of March. I couldn’t help thinking of a This American Life podcast episode entitled, “Quitting.”

For fun, what is the shortest amount of time you’ve ever worked at a specific job (not counting summer jobs)?

Snow Day Picture & Updates Since October

I Think I Can, originally uploaded by laurajlyons.

January brought with it to Kansas City about 10 inches of snow. Spoiler alert–the snow is now gone.

My main reason for this post, however, is to give the Lyonses-at-a-glance update since October:

• In October, Annie visited (pictures here) and decided to move to KC this summer
• October and November were unusually filled with concert-going for Nathanael and me. We experienced Ben Folds, The Cranberries (Nathanael won free tickets), Derek Webb, and The Swell Season. (Follow the links for pictures.)
• I turned 26 in October.
• In late October, Nathanael’s great grandmother, Lois, died at the age of 102. We attended the November funeral, and stayed with family in Illinois.
• Jeremy moved out mid-to-late November after a fun 6 months.
• Diane moved in late November/early December and added her wonderful laughter to our home.
• For Christmas, Nathanael, Watson, and I drove to the northwest to spend time with our families.
• Driving back in January, we stayed with Jeremy at his parents’ home in Wyoming.
• We came back to KC and discovered our new neighbors–Ric & Joanna–had moved in while we were gone.

Which brings us to current-day… Nathanael’s nursing school semester has begun, and we’re getting back into the swing of daily life after the holidays. I look forward to sharing details from our lives more regularly now that we’re all caught up.

For fun…what is your favorite snow memory? Mine is from my grade school years–building a snow fort with my sister, Amy, complete with a snow shelf to hold our mugs of hot chocolate. It was awesome.

A Great Soup Recipe

I must pass this along…

I follow Bluebirdbaby’s blog, and she recently set up a blog called, Too Good to Be True, for her husband, Sasa, who is a professionally trained cook.

On a whim, I decided to make the first recipe featured on his blog–a curry-based Wild Rice and Chicken Soup. It was wonderful! Taste and see how good it is…

Gourmet Bread-Making Made Easy

Wheat Bread, originally uploaded by laurajlyons.

I received a Dutch oven (cast iron pot) for Christmas. A Dutch oven bakes the bread in such a way that the bread turns out moist inside with a perfectly crunchy crust on the outside. In the last week, I’ve baked three round loaves of wonderful bread–white, wheat, and herb bread. The herb bread (esp. when dipped in olive oil and pepper) is our favorite thus far.

I’ve been doubling this “No-Knead Bread” recipe due to the size of my Dutch oven, and modifying it to make various types of bread. To make wheat bread, use half wheat flour and half white/bread flour. To make herb bread, add in any combination of herbs you want to try. I used about 2 tsps each of ground Sage, Fennel seeds, and Thyme.

I highly recommend trying this “No-Knead Bread” recipe. It’s easy, fairly hands-off, and yields wonderful results. You’ll get gourmet bread for a fraction of the normal price. You can use any pot with a lid that you have on hand, as long as it is oven-safe and fairly thick. Here are some additional bread recipes if you want to by-pass the slow, overnight rise: “No-Knead Bread in a Hurry” and “No-Time Bread.”

Go ahead…unleash your inner gourmet bread baker, and have fun experimenting with variations. I have yet to try a cheese bread variation. Mmmmm. If you try one of these recipes, let me know how it goes for you. Happy baking, Friends.

A Quote for People-Pleasers

Last week, my counselor shared this Henri Nouwen quote with me, and I want to share it with you:

For as long as you can remember, you have been a pleaser, depending on others to give you an identity. You need not look at that only in a negative way. You wanted to give your heart to others, and you did so quickly and easily. But now you are being asked to let go of all these self-made props and trust that God is enough for you. You must stop being a pleaser and reclaim your identity as a free self.

Anybody know which of Nouwen’s books contain this quote? How does this quote resonate with you?

Courage, Compassion, & Connection: Book Suggestion

I’ve been going to counseling since last October, and my counselor recommended that I read Brené Brown’s book, I Thought It Was Just Me (but it isn’t): Telling the Truth About Perfectionism, Inadequacy, and Power. It is FANTASTIC. The book discusses shame v. guilt, perfectionism, inadequacy and how we can practice overcoming these feeling cycles by practicing courage, compassion, and connection. I’m especially learning from Brown’s discussion of empathy.

This book is geared toward women. Brown is working on a book geared toward men on these same issues. If you’re ready to grow and learn, this book is definitely one you’ll want to check out.

Some Helpful Links:
Author’s Website
Author’s Read-Along for This Book
Buy this Book on Half.com
Buy this Book on Amazon.com
Check out this Book from a Kansas City-area Library

Have you studied the concepts in this book? What is the most helpful insight you’ve gained thus far?

I’m Excited: Upcoming Concerts

Typically, Nathanael and I go to maybe 1 or 2 concerts together each year. This fall, we’re going to 3! First, we’ll hear Derek Webb. Second, we’ll see Ben Folds. Then we’ll hear The Swell Season. I’m so excited to experience these artists live!

My Second Part-Time Job

Primarily, I work at Nazarene Theological Seminary as Development Assistant (doing marketing/fund-raising/alumni relations) 20 hrs/wk. This summer, Nathanael and I decided it would be helpful for me to get a second part-time job, because I’m taking a break from grad school and he is beginning nursing school and working a bit less. I checked NTS’ job board, and found an advertisement for a part-time housekeeper. Cleaning and organizing are tasks I enjoy–especially because they translate into order, being at peace, and hospitality. I inquired, and met up with my potential employer, Geri, in July.

She and I clicked. She wanted not only a housekeeper, but a home manager, and someone who brings happiness and peace into her home, etc. She hired me, and now I spend 14 hrs/wk in Geri’s home, helping her space become more and more a place of peace and refuge. It’s been a fun and rewarding job. At the end of my days there, I can see my progress. I’m also grateful for a second job that helps me be more active. It’s neat to have a job in which I can use my gifts to enrich someone’s life.

What’s your favorite or least favorite household chore? My favorite might be laundry. My least favorite: dishes!