making organic yogurt

Continuing with the food theme, I figured I would share another new food adventure. When Allison left for Uganda last month she let me host her yogurt maker while she is gone. I have always been intrigued with Allison making her own yogurt. She got started doing so last time she lived in Uganda. I thought this would be a great way to make organic yogurt at a better price with less added sugars etc. So all I use is organic milk and a little plain organic yogurt as a starter. 11 hours later - I have a bunch of cups of organic yogurt...

Since I don't prefer plain yogurt, I usually put some scrumptious organic blackberries from Costco in there to give it a flavor. Yum!

real fruit popsicles

So I have been trying to buy more natural and organic food on a small budget, which can be a difficult task at times. Today in the kitchen I was inspired by the hot weather and melon season (cantaloupe for only $0.77) to combine the two and make real fruit popsicles - cantaloupe popsicles. And they tasted really good:)

All I did was cut up the melon, liquefy the melon in my magic bullet, pour it into my popsicle mold, and after some time in the freezer... voila ... amazing, completely natural, real fruit popsicles. I love it!

 

 

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solvang

Last weekend, Michael and I went to California on a little mini vacation. Michael had never been to the Fuller Seminary Campus in Pasadena and he has some great friends there ... so as Michael's time is coming to an end at Fuller we thought it would be a great idea to go visit. Michael really liked Pasadena and the campus ... and we enjoyed our time with his friends Michael and Colin and their roommates Max and Cameron. I stayed with Holly and Nate and it was great to see them as well:)

Another reason for going to Cali was to go to Solvang. Solvang is a little taste of Denmark ... and when I say taste I do mean taste! Solvang and the surrounding area was beautiful and the weather was perfect! We really enjoyed our day just relaxing and getting to practice our danish. Michael did such a great job speaking danish that one of the store keepers just started chatting it up with him in danish and he had to tell him that min kone taler dansk, jeg taler kun lidt dansk. I am so proud of him:) We also ate ALOT. Or at least it seemed that way. There was so much great danish food and so little time so I just kept eating and eating. YUMMMMM.

I have included some pictures from our lovely day in Solvang. You will notice the amount of food pictures...

girls reunion

              

Last weekend I got together with five of my girlfriends from college. We try to get together about every two years to catch up on life and enjoy each other's company. We usually meet up where one of us lives - this year it was in Pensacola where Christy lives. It is amazing that even after all this time we are still able to make it happen - this is the ninth reunion! These girls are amazing. Lots has happened in each of our lives the last thirteen years and it is incredible to have been able to stay in touch and see each other, be real with each other, support one another, celebrate with one another.... I truly love these women and feel blessed to have them in my life. 

I have included some snapshots from the weekend...

Lots of beach time  ... the water was nice (not the jellyfish sting so much)

Lots of good hang out time ...

allison

One of my closest friends, Allison, left for Uganda today for a year and a half (at least). It is so bitter sweet. I will miss her dearly since she is such an amazing friend, but I am also so incredibly excited for her as she begins this new chapter of her life. I look forward to hearing about her experiences there and how God is going to use her at New Hope ...


Here are some shots from our last day together...

transitions

Michael and I are about to begin a new chapter of our lives together as his schooling comes to an end in a couple of months.  We have no idea what this new chapter will look like, but one thing is certain ... there will most likely be many transitions in the months to come. To mark one of the first transitions I have included some pictures from Michael's graduation on June 11 (he was allowed to walk since he is finishing up this Summer). He is getting his Master of Divinity degree from Fuller Theological Seminary and hopes to get a full time job in pastoral ministry.

We were blessed to have both of our parents in town for the big event. We are all so proud of him!