5 Things I Am Loving

In the past, occasionally, I have posted about things I am loving at the moment.  It has been a while, and to be honest, after a few really rough days due to a hard baby and some major behavior issues from our 4 year old, I needed to write a post sharing how thankful I am. So, here goes – my list of my five favorite things right now.

1 – My Instant Pot.

So, if you know me, or even if you don’t, let me share one thing – I am pretty frugal. I am not one for indulging in the latest trends or the hottest items or the newest electronics. I have been hearing about this Instant Pot for quite a while and I kept thinking “But my Crockpot does the same thing” or “That’s one more appliance to take up space in my already small and overpacked kitchen” or “I don’t know any Instant Pot recipes I am dying to try.” So I held out and didn’t buy one. Then, after hearing from person after person after person after person (you get the picture) about how great it was and how it was their favorite appliance, I started looking for a good deal on one. When I found a good deal, I debated about it and then decided to take the plunge.

The verdict? Well, obviously I loved it since it made this post. I am just amazed at how it cooked pasta in 5 minutes. Or how it cooked my chicken in about 10. Or how it also sautes things but can also slow cook or make yogurt or boil eggs. Seriously, I don’t understand it but I can say I am loving it. Once I figure out how to convert things or get more confident using it, I can see it being an appliance I use daily. So, if you are thinking about taking the plunge, do it. And if you take 3 weeks to pull it out because you are intimidated, you aren’t the first person to do it because I did that same thing 🙂

2 – Halo Top Ice Cream

Again, I am super skeptical and late to try the newest things. I have had many friends rave about this ice cream that only had 300 calories in the whole pint. I thought “How good could something like that be?” Well, I am trying to eat healthy and get back in shape after baby #4 and let me just tell you, this stuff is pretty amazing. And I love that it comes in fun flavors instead of the plain vanilla or chocolate. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. Yah for having something for the sweet tooth that won’t break the calorie bank.

3 – Ed Hetzel. Guys, let me just tell you, I married a keeper. We just had our 12th wedding anniversary and I can honestly say I am so grateful that the Lord partnered me with him in this crazy life. He has been working so hard and crazy hours lately with leading the project, and while I do miss having his company, I also miss having his help with the kids. I cannot imagine being a single parent of one child, much less 4. He is so very helpful at home and is all in when he is there. With 4 kids, when one of us is taken away or not there, it becomes crazy and somewhat unmanageable (at least with Brynn at the age she is at), but with both of us pitching in, and given how helpful he is, we actually enjoy being parents and get to really spend time with our kids…if that makes sense. So, Ed, thank you for all you mean to our family – we literally could not do it without you!

4 – Butterflies – Ok, this may seem random, but you know how as you age and get older, you learn to appreciate certain things more? We took the kids to the Butterfly Exhibit at the American Museum of Natural History and we had a blast watching all the butterflies and marveling at their colors and differences. It is so fun to see such beauty in one of God’s creations. I love the colors in butterflies, how they bring me such joy to see them, and that they are simple, quiet, but yet so beautiful. I also love watching them go from being a caterpillar to a butterfly and just seeing the beauty of nature up close.

Emerson particularly enjoyed it and wouldn’t leave until she caught one on her somewhere. After lots of patient (and not so patient) waiting, we caught one on my eye (it tickled so bad as it walked around and you aren’t supposed to shoo them off!), on her head, and on her hand. I could have stayed in here for a long time!

5 – This summer mission, we have been doing something on Wednesday nights called Family Nights. A few families who live in the city have a group of students and staff from the project over to their house for dinner. The idea is to give students an idea of what actually living in the city looks like AND to give them a chance to just sit on a couch or relax in a home versus the hotel or a restaurant. This is the group that joined us for the first week.

I have LOVED having these Family Nights. As a mom and having kids still in school, I don’t get to make it to everything summer mission related, but because of these nights, I get to know the students, interact with them in a small group, have fun doing things like playing games and eating good food together, and my kids get to interact with them too. I love every time my kids get a chance to be around college students who love Jesus. What a gem!!

 

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