Hallelujah, What a Savior!

I've been listening to this song a lot lately, especially this week. It's such a good hymn. Listening to songs like this one and other old hymns like it, it seems that Christian song-writing has just gone downhill since then. Not ALL contemporary  Christian songs, but a good majority of them are just...fluff. They have catchy riffs and melodies, but the lyrics are void of any deep theological truths or genuine heart-cries to God.

Thank you "Ascend the Hill" for this rendition of "Hallelujah, What a Savior!" (although it's a tad slow...I can deal) :-P

Man of Sorrows! what a name

For the Son of God, who came

Ruined sinners to reclaim

Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Bearing shame and scoffing rude,

In my place condemned He stood;

Sealed my pardon with His blood.

Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Guilty, vile, and helpless we;

Spotless Lamb of God was He;

"Full atonement!" can it be?

Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Lifted up was He to die;

"It is finished!" was His cry;

Now in heaven exalted high.

Hallelujah! What a Savior!

When He comes, our glorious King

All His ransomed home to bring

Then anew His song we'll sing:

Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Come One, Come All!

 

It's about that time of year. Spring cleaning....gardening......demolition. Oh yes, demolition. Ivor and I sat down last night and wrote out a list of all that needs to get done at the house, and prioritized. We may or may not have spent a good hour and a half working on the list....................

Anyway! I'd love to say we don't need any help, but that would just be prideful and foolish. We need help. A lot of it we can get done by ourselves....but a lot of it we can't. There are many ways in which you could help: 1. Encouragement! Even if you're not very handy, but you're a good helper and can encourage us along the way, we need you. 2. Cleaning! Again...you may not be able to frame out a room or hang sheet rock, but if you can use a broom and put stuff in trash bags, we need you. 3. Food! This is usually my job- to provide food and beverage to those working hard on the house...but I wouldn't mind some assistance, especially for the big work days. 4. Construction skills! If you ARE a handy-man or woman, and can hang sheet rock, install windows, tile floors, etc...we need you. 

There will be one particular day (not sure of exact date yet), that we DEMO the 2nd floor. We'll need a lot of hands for that day. We'd like to have that done by Memorial Day (which was our big DEMO day last year!).

If you're interested in helping out and have any free Saturdays, please let me know!! I'll probably post more notes and send out emails once we set dates for specific projects.

Thanks :)

Mrs. Griffiths

This Italian Girl Loves Pasta

After a while I get sick of pasta and jarred tomato sauce, don't you? I hate the way the leftovers taste. And it's just...blah. My husband, being the awesome chef that he is, cooked a delicious pasta dish the other week w/o the jarred tomato sauce. The "sauce" was olive oil and garlic, and REAL tomato juice essentially. He used cherry tomatoes, baby spinach, chicken, and a touch of balsamic (for the tomatoes). And some spices of course. YUM.

Well....last night was my attempt to replicate his dish. Except we didn't have spinach. We had Kale. Still worked out beautifully (beautifully tasty!).

Here's how I did it (sorry there aren't any measurements or anything....I rarely measure anything while cooking...only in baking...sometimes it bites me in the butt...but most of the time it works out lol).

1. Start boiling your water for the pasta (don't forget to salt the water! cause who likes bland pasta? not me.)
2. While waiting for the water to boil, chop up some fresh garlic (I used 3 cloves, but you can add more or less depending on your taste)
3. If you don't have leftover chicken from the night before like I did, I'd start cooking off the chicken at this point (chicken is optional I suppose...but it's protein! and it's yummy)
4. Add olive oil and garlic to the pan, saute away! (just don't burn the garlic!)
5. Next, throw in the Kale- after you've cut off the stems (or baby spinach), and turn up the heat
6. Add salt and LOTS of coarsely ground black pepper
7. Throw in cherry tomatoes (with a few drops of balsamic vinegar)
8. Throw in your chicken
9. Turn on your broiler! (broil is an option on your oven-usually...). Basically it heats something from the top only, with very high heat......
10. Put the whole pan in the oven to broil for a few minutes (I don't have an exact time, just watch for the skin of the tomatoes to look a little wrinkly)
11. Take the pan out of the oven, and back on the stove top (turn it back on to about medium heat)
12. Now grab a utensil of some sort (I used a wooden spoon), and gently smash all the tomatoes! Watch and drool as the juices flow into the rest of the dish with its tomatoe-y goodness!
13. Add your pasta (assuming at some point you added it to the boiling water and cooked it to about al dente and then drained it)....I forgot to mention all that....but I'm sure you know to do that :)
14. TASTE IT! And determine if it needs more salt and pepper. In my case, it almost always does. I would also recommend adding a little crushed red pepper to it.
15. Cheese it. I had a block of Parmesan Reggiano, so I took my trusty cheese grater to it and went to town. I mixed it into the whole dish...and then grated more just on top of each individual serving once it was on the plate.

Then enjoy :)

I wish I would've taken a picture of it, but the lighting in my kitchen would've made it look gross....and it definitely wasn't gross. It was delicious. I never want jarred tomato sauce again.

Give it a try! And I apologize if it fails miserably due to my lack of measurements and cooking times. I'll take full responsibility

:)

Mrs. Griffiths

Perspective.

So I've been avoiding writing about our house renovations within the last few months or so. Mostly because it's been at a standstill throughout the winter,...and in some ways, seeming to even go backward! We've been overwhelmed, frustrated, weary, etc. We were without heat (except a few space heaters, and a ventless gas fireplace that we bought because we got a good deal on it). We had to dispute the kitchen cabinet company because we didn't get everything we ordered and paid for (not to mention a few damaged cabinets). We had birds flying inside our house because the laundry room has a spot in the floor where the concrete is tore up for plumbing so there's a little hole to the outside, which we assume the birds came from. Fortunately we have cats who took it upon themselves to end the lives of the 2 birds that managed to enter into their territory (thank you Milton and Mojo). And the list could go on and on...

People have mentioned to us that our house is like that 80's movie, "The Money Pit" (which I've never seen). I decided to look for a clip of it on YouTube this morning. I admit, this made me laugh. And made me feel better about my house:

 

By the grace of God, we have not been living in a constant state of despair over the house though. We have our moments, but like Tom Hanks...you just gotta laugh at it sometimes. However...a few mornings ago, I had a "moment". I walked downstairs and looked at all the chaos and construction and junk piled up, and dirt on the floor, and our unfinished kitchen...and I just felt so defeated. So overwhelmed. Where do we even begin? Will progress ever be made? Will this house ever be finished? Will we ever be able to start trying to have a baby (Lord knows we're not trying until we even have room for a baby, and certainly not while I'm breathing in dirt and dust!). I just wanted to sit there and cry and feel sorry for myself.

But then, on Friday March 11th, God put things into perspective for me. 

 

I have a house. I have a bed. I have a bathroom. I have food and water. THOUSANDS of people in Japan do not. My life is not in danger. Their lives are. And I thought I didn't know where to begin with MY house? And I thought I felt defeated and overwhelmed?  Can you even imagine what they're going through? My situation w/our little Philadelphia row home doesn't even compare. I have been so blessed.

God always has a way of putting things into perspective for you, doesn't He? I can quickly convince myself that I have every right to complain and grumble and be in despair. I mean just look at my house! HA. As quickly has the thought crosses my mind, God taps me on the shoulder. "Really, Krystal?"..."Step back for a moment outside of your own little selfish world, and look at the bigger picture. Look at what other people in the world are going through.....and more importantly, look at the cross and what I went through for YOU". 

Now what do you have to say?

Read Ephesians 1 to remind yourself of all the spiritual blessings you have in Christ. It'll make your earthly trials seems like a tiny speck.... in light of eternity. (*Not to diminish pain and suffering on earth...it definitely sucks. But looking to God and the blessings He's given  to us undeserving wretches, makes it a little easier to get through. We have hope.)

26 Years.

Yesterday marked the start of my 26th year on earth. I feel like reflecting...

So here I go.

In 26 years...

I've lived in Bensalem, Wellsboro, Norristown, Croydon, Langhorne and Philadelphia (all in good ol' PA)

I've been to Chile, Holland, Guatemala, Lousiana, Kentucky, Alabama, Virginia, West Virginia, South Carolina, New York, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Maryland, Delaware, Florida ....I think that's it?

I've played softball, basketball, ran cross-country and track-n-field

I've graduated high school and college

I've learned how to shoot guns and throw tomahawks

I've learned how to play guitar

I've been to concerts: Switchfoot, Coldplay, Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts, Lifehouse, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Andy McKee, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Breaking Benjamin

I've become "Aunt Krystal"

I've met my 2 best friends: Becky and Jen

I've become a member of Fellowship Bible Church in Philly

I've been in a car accident

I've had my heart broken 5 times before finally meeting my husband in 2009.

I've gotten married :) (see above)

Those are all wonderful memories, but there's something even more important that happened in those 26 years that trumps all of it! I've been made alive and made new by Jesus Christ. All of those earthly things will pass away, but my eternal life is now secure in the Everlasting Arms of my Savior. Can I get an "Amen!"?? .....anyone?.....Beuller?...

Anyway....because of the above paragraph, I've learned some important lessons in 26 years:

It's not about me
I'm more selfish, sinful, prideful and lazy than I would've ever realized
But I'm a new creation, therefore I need to act like one! Therefore the line above is the "old man" I'm still dragging around with me, who, if I'm not careful, will creep in and show herself!
People are not inherently "good"
God is faithful. I am not.
God is God. I am not.


I'm looking forward to my next 26+ years, if the Lord wills. Here are some things I hope to "accomplish" (because it's not a bad thing to plan for the future, so long as you're aware that the Lord just might have other plans):

Babies. I want to have them.

I want to finish renovating my house and eventually move out of the city

I want to travel more...go to more states and countries that I haven't yet been to

I want to homeschool my children someday

I want to learn to play the piano (it's nice having a musician for a husband)

I want to become a better wife and love my husband better

I want to successfully plant my own garden of vegetables and herbs and flowers

I want to take more pictures

I want to start a food blog

I want to become a better cook

I want...I want...I want......

Like I said, the Lord might have other plans. But those are just some desires of my heart. I WISH I could sincerely say "I have no other ambition but to serve the Lord with my whole heart, soul and mind". But I'd be a hypocrite. I do want that...but because of the "old man" mentioned earlier, I don't want it with my WHOLE heart, soul and mind. However, because I am His...He promises to complete His work in me. And fortunately, that isn't dependent on me. Therefore I can say with confidence, God will be glorified by my life. Because it is not my own, it's His.

That is all.

Mrs. Griffiths

The Chocolate Dilemma: A Confession

The first step to overcoming any sort of addiction is confession, right? Well, here's mine. I am addicted to chocolate. I know I know, you're thinking "well duh...you're female..welcome to the club". Most of the time I don't think it's a concern but today I really felt the internal struggle within me. It all started because someone gave me a bag of Hershey's Kisses for Christmas...which I recently found.....and brought into work....and just about ate the entire bag by myself. Here's my justification: they're so tiny, they melt in your mouth, you can eat many of them without feeling full, I just started taking multi-vitamins so a little chocolate here and there won't hurt. But then there's this other little voice inside of me saying "Put the chocolate down Krystal, and eat some carrot sticks instead! Carrots are healthier, they're good w/dip, you'll feel better about yourself afterward.....just put the chocolate down."

I'm reminded of a verse at times like these...

"For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing." - Romans 7

Paul knew the feeling. Is there any  hope for me? 

Compartmentalization

Is that a word? It is now.

Something to think about fellow brothers and sisters in Christ: do you compartmentalize your life? Separating church and ministry from the rest of your life? "This part of my day is work, this part is family time, Sunday is church, Tuesday night is ministry, and the rest of the time I do whatever the heck I feel like doing" etc....you get the idea. Whether we intend to or not, it's something we all do. May I exhort you (and myself) to change your perspective a little? In the Bible, man's relationship with God affected all aspects of one's life. God was never separate from or absent from even the most mundane of daily activities. Being a Christian is not PART of who you are. It's not one area of your life, it IS your life. You are a new creation! Forgiven and redeemed! Sanctified and made holy! This should greatly affect your work, family, free time, chores, fellowship, ministry, etc.It should change your attitude and your behavior in each of these areas of your life.

Speaking of ministry...do you realize that if you're married and/or have children, that your first and most important ministry is family? "Ministry", doesn't have to be an organized program w/in your local church, Though they are wonderful to be involved in, they should never cause you to neglect your marriage or your family. I mean think about the importance of family. First, marriage---the best earthly reflection of the intimate relationship between Christ and the Church. It's a gift created by God, for God, to reflect God and bring Him glory. And He creates it right at the very beginning of time! Kind of important, don't you think? Secondly, we were told to "be fruitful and multiply", training up the next generation to live for the Glory of God, and teach them to train THEIR children...and so the cycle continues. Make babies. And train them well. If you ask me, and Martin Luther (see Sex and the Supremacy of Christ, near the end of the book), the family is one of the most important ministries there is.

Let me be clear: I am NOT against organized church programs or ministries. I am FOR them. HOWEVER, you can be involved in every possible church ministry there is and think you're glorifying God, but if your spouse and/or children never get any of your time or attention, I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say God is not pleased, nor glorified. Programs don't change people anyway...relationships do. And you don't necessarily need to be part of a program in order to have relationships and be involved in the lives of others. That's all I'm saying.

In conclusion, I love my husband. And we'd both love to have a family someday...with lots of babies. It is a desire of ours and we need to do what's necessary to prepare and give the appropriate amount of time & attention to each other, and preparing our home for the ministry God has laid on our hearts.

2011.

Welcome to 2011! I'm not surprised how quickly 2010 went by...nor am I surprised how quickly Christmas break went by. It happens every year. And here we are, back to work, back to the daily grind. But I'm not upset about that. The break was fabulous and refreshing, very productive. And by productive I mean about 1-2 days of cleaning, 5-6 days just relaxing and being lazy. It was wonderful.

Here are some highlights of the Christmas break:

-spending time w/family (mine and his), though we wish we could've spent more time w/his family since we don't see them very often, but our visit was cut short due to the snow that was on its way to Philly. We had to go home 2 days earlier :(

-cleaning my bathroom. It wasn't a "highlight" WHILE I was cleaning it. The result was the highlight. Clean floor, clean shower, clean tub, clean vanity. I like clean things. 

-receiving 3 of Alton Brown's cookbooks. Stay tuned for a "Julie & Julia" style food blog when I take on ALL the recipes in AB's baking cookbook. Pictures will be included.

-receiving a food dehydrator! What a wonderful invention. Last night we dehydrated some fruit: bananas, mango and pineapples. So delicious and healthy and glorious in every possible way. Now when we make beef jerky I don't know if I can give it that exact same description...just "delicious and glorious" :)

-catching up on all the episodes of Psych I've missed. I've now seen every episode for 4 seasons, thanks to Netflix. Season 5 needs to come out soon. I'm going through Psych-withdrawal.

-reading again. Like, REALLY reading... actual books...on a regular basis. The husband and I have been reading through a book called "Sex and the Supremacy of Christ" (Piper). I highly recommend it. Though if I were to re-title the book, I'd call it "The Supremacy of Christ and Sex". It's a very Christ-centered look at what sex is and what it was created for; how it was originally intended by its Creator...and of course, how the world has twisted and corrupted it. Very good read. In addition, we've also started to each read something else for fun. I'm starting to read "The Hobbit", and then the other 3 LOTR books are waiting for me when I finish that. I love reading. I've missed reading. I'm so thankful I'm reading again.

-and of course....sleeping in. That's always a highlight.

*For a completely random, but hopefully helpful and informative thought on cooking: here's a good tip my husband taught me (that I had to learn the hard way): never ever use salt grinders during the cooking process. Never, I say! It's too difficult to know just exactly how much you're using, mostly because you can't really see it all coming out of the grinder and it immediately dissolves once it touches the hot foods. Sprinkle salt into the palm of your hand, then add gradually (tasting a little bit as you go so you know when to stop). And when it comes to salt in general, less IS more. Use the grinder for off the stove-top, on your individual plate of food if you desire to add more. How did I learn the hard way, you ask?: by completely ruining a perfectly good batch of spinach! :( It was cooking in the pan w/garlic and olive oil, and lots of pepper (which you can NEVER have enough of in my opinion...I <3 pepper), and then I proceeded to grind in the salt...and then a little more salt cause it looked like I had SO much spinach to cover...until of course it cooked down to nothing...in like 3 seconds. Stupid spinach. I knew that would happen, but it took me by surprise how quickly it would happen. Anyway....long story short: it was way too salty. WAY too salty. I was sad. But I learned my lesson and you better believe I will never cook salty spinach again. Ever.

Love,
Mrs. Griffiths

Dishes & Pyrex & Cookie Sheets, O My!

BIG UPDATE ladies and gents....last night, I got to unpack and put away kitchen gadgets and accessories for the first time since I received them (at my bridal shower...in MAY). Even though the kitchen isn't completely finished yet, it was still fun getting to take everything out of boxes and put them away in cabinets :) My new Corelle dishes, a Kitchen Aid blender, lots of Pyrex storage dishes, cookie sheets, glasses, mixing bowls, an espresso maker, and Tupperware are just a few of things I got to put away last night. I purposely didn't finish because I wanted to have more to do tonight. I know, I'm weird. Tonight I plan on unpacking our pots and pan set and putting them away somewhere, bringing down a lot of the kitchen stuff we've had in our bedroom for the past few months, and maybe even do a load of laundry or two. Oh, and continue taking care of my poor sick husband. He's been sick the entire month of December. And he's not the only one! Coughing and sneezing surrounds me wherever I go! Thank the Lord I have not yet gotten whatever you all have. Hand sanitizer and Vitamin C are my friends :)

Here is my kitchen (for those who didn't already see it on facebook ). It's a little cleaner now than it was when this picture was taken. There also isn't bright green plastic on the oven anymore.

Anyway, to switch gears completely, I'd like to share a random Christmas verse for today. Context: the birth of Jesus Christ. Because of this wonderful news, a great host of angels begin praising and glorifying God, saying:

“Glory to God in the highest heaven,
   and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” Luke 2:14

I am so thankful that I am in the Lord's favor! Because of that truth, I can have a peace and a joy that surpasses comprehension and human understanding. 

That is all! Have a wonderful Christmas. Read Luke chapter 2. 

Sincerely,

Mrs. Griffiths

Randomosity

1. That's a funny word.

2. The kitchen isn't functional yet. I know I know, I got everyone's hopes up on facebook. BUT...we do have everything IN the kitchen now. Appliances, cabinets, etc. It's all there. It just needs to be installed/hooked up. But it's a beautiful thing. Stainless steel appliances up against new cherry cabinets, on top of a brand new tile floor. Maybe it's just because I've never had a "new kitchen" before, but I don't feel like it's really ours yet. I mean, in the big picture, nothing is ours, everything was given by God and ultimately belongs to Him. But I mean I feel like it's someone else's kitchen and we're just renting it or something...even though we're not using it yet. Perhaps once it becomes functional and we actually start using it on a regular basis, it will feel more normal, and feel like ours. I've just become so used to seeing things unfinished I don't quite know how to handle it finished lol.

3. I'm cold right now. I hate being cold. And I'm mad because I work on the 3rd floor of the building, and earlier I walked downstairs to the 2nd floor and it was nice and toasty. Grrr.

4. I am so thankful to NOT be working in retail anymore, and especially not during the Christmas season. It really brings out the best in people, ya know? And by best, and I mean absolute worst. Ivor and I were at Lowes the other day, waiting in line behind a really nasty customer who was giving the customer service girl a really hard time. I felt for her, cause I've been there. Many times. I also just feel embarrassed for the rude customer. I wish I could show them a video tape of themselves; they'd be embarrassed too. I mean really...is it worth it? Over a toy? Over an article of clothing? Over a couple bucks? Over a parking spot? It just really shows how greedy, materialistic and selfish people can be. And it shows how angry I can be....cause I want to punch those customers in the face. I would never act on that, but I think it. Often. I also tell them off in my head sometimes. Anyway...it's just a reminder of how far we've gone from celebrating the real meaning of Christmas. It's not about the new hot toy or game out there...it's not about getting the closest parking spot at Macy's so you can be first in the line and have the first pick of everything...it's not about material things at all. It's about celebrating the birth of a Savior...who came to take the punishment for the very sins we're all committing. Ironic how the wretchedness of man comes out the MOST during the time we're supposed to be celebrating the One who died to pay for that very wretchedness. I'm guilty myself. Obviously the desire to punch people in the face isn't really healthy. I'm working on that. Anyway...material things will pass away. Having the coolest toy or game or article of clothing (or for me-->Frye boots) means nothing in the end. I'm reminded of two verses:

"So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." - 2 Corinthians 4:18

"Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God." - Colossians 3:1-3

We should be more concerned with the things that last. And quite frankly the things that last, aren't "things" at all. Though there's nothing wrong with exchanging gifts during Christmas, it just shouldn't be the main focus and shouldn't overshadow the the real meaning. That's all I'm saying. And if you can't afford many presents this year (like myself) you shouldn't feel bad or guilty.

5. I'm done my Christmas rant. That's right, not a "holiday" rant. I said Christmas rant. I get offended when people say "holiday" and not Christmas. But does anyone care about ME, a Christian, being offended? Apparently not. Oh well. Christmas. Christmas. Christmas Christmas Christmas Christmas Christmas Christmas CHRISTmas.



Christmas.

6. Sorry, I had to get that out. Actually...I'm not sorry.

7. On a completely different note, I could go for some cookies right now. Once our stove is hooked up, I'm going to bake up a storm! I've been reading recipes for almost 5 months now...just waiting for the opportunity to try them...all. My husband is going to love/hate me. Love me because I will provide him with a variety of a baked goods for him to try; hate me because....I will provide him with a variety of baked goods to try. Probably every day :)

 8. Lord, give us self-control to not be gluttons during this Christmas season. Oops, I said it again :)

9. Speaking of my husband, I love that man. I really do. Maybe because he's currently sick, there's something vulnerable about him that makes me love him more. Maybe it's because he lost his voice, which is wonderful for me, uh I mean terrible! Poor guy... :) j/k. I love him. It's the little things...like when he leaves for work and I'm still sleeping and he gives me a kiss on the cheek before he leaves.

10. He's probably so embarrassed by this blog because I say sappy things about him.

11. For my husband I will rephrase #9: "My husband is so manly and tough when he's sick, and he sometimes give me a nice MANLY kiss on the cheek before he leaves for work.". Is that better? :)

Thus ends quite possibly the most random blog entry ever. These were just things on my mind this morning...they don't all have to make sense together. Not every blog entry has to be one comprehensive and cohesive thought. Those are my rules and I'm sticking to them.

The end.

A Griffiths Thanksgiving

Well, Ivor and I [sort of] hosted our first Thanksgiving together (even though it was at my brother's house).  We somehow got volunteered to cook the majority of the food, which was no big deal. We thoroughly enjoyed it :)

Here's what was on the menu (well, what Ivor and I made anyway):

Turkey: brined w/the Pioneer Woman's special brine recipe and let me tell you it was AMAZING. If you've never tried brining a turkey before, I beg you, try it. Basically what it does is keeps the meat very very moist. There are other scientific things it does, but all you really need to know is that it will be the most tasty meat you've ever had. In addition to the brine, we added "aromatics" (aka things that make the meat more flavorful and fragrant) into the cavity of the bird, instead of traditional stuffing. The aromatics included: carrots, celery, onion, half an apple, and lots of yummy herbs. Then I covered the outside of the bird with canola oil, to give it a nice golden brown crisp. It all turned out wonderfully. Best smelling and tasting bird I've ever had!

Mashed Potatoes: Garlic, obviously. I used red skinned potatoes, and mashed them with the skin on-- a little chunky, a little creamy, threw in sea salt, coarsely ground pepper and a dash of nutmeg and YUM.  Didn't last long :)

Grilled Asparagus: made with love by my husband. I believe he used garlic (of course), olive oil and probably some other special ingredient no one knows about. They were amazing.

Fresh cranberry sauce made from scratch, with bourbon (yes, that's real whiskey), vanilla beans (actual vanilla beans), cinnamon, nutmeg and a bit of orange zest. This sauce is not for the kiddies, and is to be eaten in moderation....though, it certainly wasn't :) It was a big hit! Way to go Ivor :)

Apple crumb cobbler: Ivor made it. There were no leftovers. That's all I have to say.

Banana Cream Pie: Ivor also made this from scratch especially for our special guest, Drew. Best pie ever. I'm only upset he didn't make a few more.

(have I mentioned how blessed I am to have a gourmet chef for a husband?)

Cranberry and Pomegranate Cosmos. Not sure there's anything else I need to add to that.

Ivor also made some sort of fried eggplant and pasta dish for our vegetarian guest :) I didn't get a chance to try it though I'm sure that was also delicious.

OH, and I forgot to mention the homemade gravy Ivor made from the turkey drippings. I can't even remember how he did it....but it was also the best gravy I've ever had.

This was the year of "best evers"...for sure.

Well...I think that was everything. I'm already planning next year's :)

Little Jewels

First experience w/Pomegranates last night: a semi-success!

I say "semi" because I'm not sure what I was thinking buying them now BEFORE I have a kitchen and a proper work space to cut and extract the seeds properly (the bathroom vanity wasn't the greatest idea). But I listened to various warnings and made sure I wore old clothes, because the juice squirts and stains easily! I made all the right cuts and used a big bowl of cold water...I just forgot the drying w/a paper towel part. Oh well.

They made for a wonderful, refreshing, tasty and healthy snack for me and my husband today. In the future, I'd like to do more things with them like actually make juice (which isn't too hard). They are wonderful w/cream cheese on crackers, on salads, in yogurt, w/ice cream, you name it.

If you've never tried pomegranates, 'tis the season!! Do it now while they're still ripe.

Wish List

Here are a few things on my Christmas Wish List this year (w/explanations). First, it started w/just 2 things:
1.)

The Pioneer Woman cookbook. I've recently been obsessed w/her website because she loves everything I love: food, photography, family, country, etc. From what I've heard, most of the recipes can already be found on her food blog, but I like to have a book I can lay on the counter top in front of me while cooking. And...I just like books.

2.)

Please note: this is on MY wish list. Not my husband's. He plays Fifa (that's soccer for all you non-soccer people out there). I play 1st person shooter games. Don't judge me. I don't have anger issues. I'm not a violent person. I just like pretending I'm a solider taking care of the bad guys.

So that was all I could think of that I wanted. Until I started browsing shoes...

3.)

Check out these hot boots!! :) I could really use a good pair of these babies....

4.)

Ivor and I watch Alton's Brown show, "Good Eats" all the time. This is his baking cookbook. Ivor wants all of his other cook books, I specifically want the baking one...for obvious reasons (I <3 sweets)

Speaking of sweets.....

5.)

I could really use this nice cooling rack to put some freshly baked cookies on....


Then I realized I should probably get some better photography equipment if I really want to make the big bucks someday...

6.)

This flash attachment received an average of 5 out of 5 stars based on over 300 customer reviews from amazon.com. I think it might just be a good buy


7.)

Another video game. This one might be a little less offensive than COD. Super Mario Bros. A classic brought back! Again, received an overwhelming amount of good reviews.


8.)

The Chronicles of Narnia. Never read the books. Love the movie(s). A classic collection I can't believe I don't already own. Plus, this is a must-have for the library once the Griffiths babies start coming along :)


So there you have it: a glimpse of my wish list. Other things include a few DVD's, and more camera accessories. Oh, and a kitchen would be nice :)

Merry (almost) Christmas!!!!

Mrs. Griffiths

It IS an Adventure.

Last night we made burgers on the electric griddle. Set the smoke alarms off. Then we nuked a kitchen sponge in the microwave (because we read it gets rid of nasty bacteria), but someone left it in too long and it melted.....our room smelled just lovely :)

I'm sooooooo ready for our kitchen to be done. No more doing dishes in my whirlpool tub. No more using a tv tray as a countertop. No more relying on the microwave and the crockpot as our only means of cooking meals.  It will be nice to have our bedroom just be a bedroom...not a bedroom/kitchen/living room in one lol.

Sigh...


Though we are making wonderful and humorous memories to look back on someday, I'm just ready to look back on them now.

Oh and did I mention the cat poop on my sheets? That has nothing to do w/our kitchen not being finished...but just another fun moment in the Griffiths household. I love you Mojo, but if you track poop and litter onto my bed again we're gonna have problems.

Stay tuned for more Griffiths Newlywed Adventures!! :)

Sincerely,
Mrs. Griffiths

Everyday It's a-Gettin' Closer

So...good news: our cabinets are IN. "In" as in, in the warehouse, ready to be delivered to our house. However, the kitchen is not QUITE ready for them. There still isn't a floor. I've been balancing on floor joists (horiztonal beams, unequally spaced) to get to my laundry room. How's THAT for talented, eh? I can walk across them WITH a full load of laundry in my hands! You might say "why not lay some ply wood down across them?", well...we don't have a large enough piece of ply wood...we tried using multiple small pieces of the old floor we tore up, but I found that to be more dangerous than just walking on the joists. Weird, perhaps. But it is so.

Anywho. My husband has been working very hard to get everything ready. As mentioned in a previous entry, this house is a can of worms. We COULD'VE ignored the big can we found---old and dangerous wiring throughout the house---but instead, he re-wired EVERYTHING properly, and "to code". Sure, it took extra time....but would I rather my house burn down due to bad electrical? No. No thank you. So I am very proud of my "do-it-all" husband for learning how to do that. Saved us a lot money (by not having to hire an electrician). And saved our house from potentially burning down.

Now, here's the plan: this Saturday with the help of a few other guys, we plan on laying the sub-floor, and getting the walls ready for cabinets. While the guys are doing that, Becky and I will be painting all the 3rd floor doors. They come in an off-white color from the store....but all of our trim on the 3rd floor (and eventually the rest of the house) is bright white. We will also hopefully get the touch-up painting finished in the bathroom, so we can hang our ginormous mirror, and the other picture.

Then on Sunday we hope to start tiling the floor in the kitchen (which will take a few days). Then we can have our cabinets officially delivered, and then we'll install them. And THEN, if all goes according to plan (which usually doesn't happen), our appliances will be delivered NEXT Saturday. Which would mean we'd have a fully functional kitchen in 10 days.

We shall see if that really happens lol. In the meantime, I'll post pics this weekend of our progress. There WILL be progress...of some sort :)

Love You Til The End

The title of this entry is the name of a song...it's from P.S. I Love You (sad movie).

Anyway...I've spent the last 3 days sick w/a cold. Two of those days I stayed home...yesterday being the worst day of all. Ugh. The common cold. I don't care how common it is, it's MISERABLE.

BUT....having a wonderful husband to take care of me helped tremendously. He got me tea, medicine, soup, popsicles (yum), gave me a sinus massage, did funny dances and spoke in a russian accent to make me laugh. It worked. No matter how hard I tried to remain miserable and keep a straight face, I couldn't do it. He was just too ridiculous not to laugh at.

I love him :)

That is all.

Not it's not. Speaking of love, today is my parent's 38th wedding anniversary! Woohoo! Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad!!! Thanks for being such great examples to us :)

Now THAT is all.

Can 'O Worms

So here are some updates in the Griffiths household: We have no kitchen floor. BUT we are close to having one. We're just trying to get the heat situation figured out, then we can lay the floor down, which we already have. We have the sub-floor, the stuff that goes on top of the sub-floor and underneath the tile, and we have the tile. Once that is down, we can do the trim, paint the walls, and install the cabinets, appliances and counter-tops. Piece of cake :)

This house is a can of worms. You start one thing and then discover 4 more things that need to be done before the first thing can be done. More time is added...and more money. Nothing's ever easy. Nothing ever happens in the timing we would like it to. But darnit, when it does get finished, I am going to enjoy every minute of it! Not that I'm not enjoying it now. Not many people get to customize their house the way we are. It's really kinda fun, when it's not stressful and draining :) God is teaching us a lot about patience, and dependence on Him. And how to work well with others (i.e. each other). We've improved significantly since we started working together, cause God is awesome like that. I'm sure one day we'll look back on this season of our lives and laugh....ok, maybe not laugh....perhaps give a deep sigh :)

In the meantime, I'm preparing myself to entertain and host. We can't WAIT to throw the biggest house warming party Fishtown has ever seen. I'm already imagining how I'll set the table, what kind of centerpiece I'll use, what I'll (mostly Ivor) will cook (he says he wants me to cook, but I see the look of pure joy on his face while cooking and I just know he won't be able to resist).

This might not happen for another few years, but it will happen...I know it.

:)

Peppermint Tea.

This entry has nothing to do with peppermint tea. I just couldn't think of a title. And I happen to be drinking peppermint tea, which, by the way, is the most amazing tea ever. 

Anyway. This is just an update entry on a variety of things!

RE: the house. The kitchen is gutted! The cabinets, granite counter-tops, and appliances have been ordered. They will hopefully be arriving within the next 2-3 weeks. In the meantime, we have MUCH to do to get the kitchen ready for those things. Like put in a new tile floor, put up the trim, paint, rough-in the plumbing and electrical, etc. It's going to be a busy couple of weeks!! Pray for my poor husband who will be doing the majority of this work! On a side note: when this house is finished..I hope to never set foot in a Lowes or Home Depot again. Nothing against those stores. They're great. I've just been in too many too often within the past few months...I can't take it anymore! I need a clothing store. Shoe store. Anything!

*sigh*

RE: south carolina. We had a fantastic time. Enjoyed the weather. Got a beautiful guitar. Took lots of pics! See facebook.

RE: wedding stuff. More pictures are online! www.weddingprints.com , search for Ivor Griffiths and enjoy!

RE: my new favorite hobby- photography! I am so thankful that my wonderful husband got me such an awesome camera and supports my love (obsession) of taking pictures! It's such a great thing to capture moments and memories in photographs. They also make wonderful wall decor for the house ;)

That is all. 

"Wherever You Are... Be All There"- Jim Elliot

It's a pretty common thing, and I struggle w/it often...."you always want what you don't have"...and fail to be thankful for things you DO have. For the longest time, I was single...and all I wanted was to have a boyfriend. Then I got a boyfriend, and all I wanted was to get married. Now I'm married, and all I can think about is having babies lol. Sure, it's the natural progression of things. But..it is wise to slow down and simply enjoy the current state of life one finds oneself in. If you're constantly looking ahead for the next thing and following your longings, you might just miss out on all the blessings of what you have, where you are right now.

"Let not our longings slay the appetite of our living".--- Elisabeth Elliot

"Do everything without complaining or arguing"- Philippians 2:14

Everything? Really? Crap. I figured we could make an exception when we come home from our full-time jobs just to work on the house a few more hours. ::Grumble grumble::

Don't point fingers! You know you do it too. Think about it....have you ever even gone one whole day w/o complaining about something? A few hours maybe? Do you have a spouse? Then I reckon you've complained or argued over something...perhaps a few times each day!

Such an impossible command. Yet...it is a command. Not a suggestion. So how the heck am I supposed to do this?? Not on my own strength that's for sure. I need the divine intervention of GOD to get me through the day w/o complaining or arguing.

::prays::

Lord, forgive me for all my many complaints and give me your strength not to argue w/my husband while working on house projects, or for any reason. Help me to remember what YOU went through w/o complaining...and that should put me in my place and shut me up pretty quickly. That's what I need. Every. single. day. To quote an old hymn, "I need thee EVERY hour"!!

Amen.