I feel like life, our progress, our growth happens in seasons. These seasons are not on the same time frame as the 12month seasons, but the cycle is still the same. It seems you are coming out of a bitter winter in your seasons, but appropriately after winter comes spring. May the blossoms, tulips, birds and sunshine fill you with hope and be a reminder that with spring comes new growth- comes life. You are in a new and different place, new situations, new thoughts and emotions, you are a new you. What an amazing opportunity to prepare yourself for a summer of growth. Remember, at times Spring carries with it (like this week) chilling reminders of winters past, and even summer has its storms but nonetheless we are intrepid and we keep moving forward, because there is the hope that 'this too shall pass.' Everyday we have the opportunity to start anew, to absorb some of the Son into your being and grow a little closer to Him. Remember the lilies how they grow- the move with the sun.

Spring and seasons have obviously been on my mind. I love the change in seasons. each has its good an bad, some may be better than others, but in all they are essential to life. I do strugle with the unpredictability of the spiritual/emotional kind. I am working on reminding myself to look to the sun.

If you have never watched Madea, please do. It is 'Hellur'ious"!

I couldn't help but bust a gut when I saw these pix. Made my week.

When life give's you lemons....

It's disgusting how cliche' the title of this post is.... But tonight I had an experience. Not a whole lot was panning out tonight... I was throwing in the towel and went to the kitchen to make my self some comfort food- The Classic College staple- Quesadilla. (important backstory: I bought the raw tortillas and a giant bag of cheese yesterday, my bag went into the freezer because my roommate already had a giant one in the fridge, we're sharing, it is communal cheese.) I got the pan warming and the tortillas prepared and went to grab the 'queso' - I opened the fridge and felt the lemon, that life threw, broadside me in the face. -NO CHEESE! Seriously the bag that was there not three hours earlier was missing. The bag in the freezer just wasn't an option, it was too much work and it was meant for later. What would happen when the other cheese returned and then I had two bags of cheese opened? So I had to figure something out.... I quickly scoured the fridge and grabbed what would soon become the best lemonade in the whole world. Recipe:

Italian Quesadilla:

Raw Tortillas (two tortillas per quesadilla)

Ham (lunchmeat style)

Garlic Spinich Artichoke Dip

Directions: Heat pan to appx 300 Degrees. Place raw tortillas on to surface to begin cooking. Flip regularly for even cooking. When the tortillas are about halfway cooked (they will be less yellow more white) place about four slices of ham evenly on one of the tortillas, on the other half spread a healthy(or unhealthy) amount of Artichoke dip evenly on the tortilla surface. Let sit and cook for about 30 seconds before placing both sides together. Grill for a few more minutes until the outside of the tortillas is crisp. Cut and serve.

*If you're feeling adventurous- spread a very small amount of butter on one side of the cooked Italian Quesadilla to compliment the flavors. and/or sprinkle some shredded Mizzithra cheese on the Artichoke dip before you join it with the ham side.

It is so simple yet so tasty. More than anything I am blogging about it to help myself remember that

"When life gives you lemons make: lemon glazed duck served on a bed of arugula greens with biscuits and jalapeno jam on the side."

Sure it's a bit of a stretch. But I was reminded of how often I get into the routine and go through the motions. And how pretty much the simplest of things can be turned into something to remember. It is funny how shook up I was when I didn't have any cheese. It is amazing what can happen when I am forced to think a little bit. To step outside the routine and improvise. I like it. I feel more connected with the moment. To think if life hadn't given me any lemons today I wouldn't have experienced this new favorite at all.

The Overzealous, Self -acclaimed-

-College Chef

I've sat here.... in the library for the past hour and thirty minutes (at least) doing NOTHING. Well... nothing is an understatement. I have wasted time away switching back and forth from yahoo, toFacebook, to pandora, to iTunes, to blogger, to gmail, pause- open peanut butter crackers trying not to make a sound with the obnoxiously loud wrapper (thank goodness I didn't get Sunchips. Have you heard the packaging on those things! Thank goodness they're compostable.) continue- hotmail, yahoomail, ksl.com, my school e-mail account, back to Facebook, pandora, gmail, school e-mail, shopping... pause,- queue waterbottle, drink, stare blankly out the library window at the expansive view of the valley, back to Facebook, check text messages, respond, yahoo, fruit snacks wrapper was only a minor concern but scared to death that everyone could hear me chewing these things, they're so loud! (Wait.... maybe it's because I have headphones in....ahh that's why i can hear every movement of my jaw and neck or swallow in vivid detail. ) - back to Pandora, readjust scarf, Facebook, get out planner...gaze into it's depths... Check the time, pull out journal try to write something epic.... epic fail, Facebook, yahoo, NOTHING HAS CHANGED! What?! Drink Orange juice.... too sweet, drink water... mouth dry drink more, gaze, adjust headphones, research fitness shoes- seriously?... I don't even use tennis shoes! check blogger, Facebook, yahoo, podcasts... Think about golf... yeah I'm learning about it from my roommate. Drink..... Whoa, pull myself back and decide to blog about it, break the cycle!

So here I am, being somewhat productive creating my first blog post. It's been two years coming an I can't describe my disappointment at how epic it isn't. There is nothing philisophical or captivating about it. And I think I like it that way. I am breaking lots of cycles, the list above is just a small scale version of what's gone on with this blog- it's time to just get started! I have NO idea exactly how to do this, make it look pretty, format it correctly or even organize my thoughts at the moment. But isn't that what it's all about?

Doing

Starting

Beginning

Making mistakes

.

Its funny, because I'm actually working on a research paper right now... (well I should be) and the topic is Being present, also known as Mindfulness. Choosing this topic came naturally from an interesting story I'll have to share later. But the whole premise behind it is living in the moment doing and experiencing in the present rather than living in the past, or future outside of ourselves.... Ironic isn't it?

And so begin the chronicles,

Signed,

A Paralyzed Perfectionist.

Learning to embrace and glory in imperfection...

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