Basil Tomato Chicken Wraps

A couple weeks ago we had friends over for dinner and a planning meeting. I've been far bolder lately when it comes to trying out new recipes on friends, so I whipped up an adaption of a recipe I had seen on the Pampered Chef website. I'm not a huge "recipe" person, but I'll try to give measurements to the best of my ability.

1 large package boneless skinless chicken breast.
2 cups, plus a handful of extra, fresh basil leaves
6 tomatoes
EVOO
Fiesta citrus spice
2 cups mayonnaise
2 cloves of garlic
6 burrito size tortillas
Parmesan cheese, grated
Mozzarella cheese, grated

1. Brush the chicken with EVOO and lightly rub the fiesta lime spice on. I did the rub with my hands, and I wouldn't even describe it as a full coating.

2. Cut chicken into bite size pieces and heat in a skillet or pan.

3. In a food processor mix garlic, basil leaves and mayonnaise until it's a pasty sauce consistency.

4. Move sauce into a bowl and mis in cooked chicken and a good portion of grated Parmesan.

5. On your tortilla layer some of the saucy chicken mixture, 2 full basil leaves, a handful of grated mozzarella and 3-4 slices of tomato. I dried my tomato slices between paper towels so they wouldn't be as wet.

6. Roll your tortilla and heat on a George Foreman or panini grill.

Enjoy!!!
Got a favorite, or new recipe? Link it up here, I'd love to try them out!

What I Wore Wednesday

Disclaimer: these outfits are in no particular order by day, but I will explain what I did the days in which I wore them.

Top: Forever 21 Leggings: Target
Comfy clothes day.  Sometimes you've gotta let yourself have them to get some housework done.

Top: Target  Pants: Wet Seal  Shoes: Steve Madden  Hoops: Target
Work Clothes.  There's something so classic about head to toe black.

Tank: Target  Top: Target  Pants: Wet Seal  Ring: H&M  Shoes: Styles for Less in San Jose  Hoops: Target
Work Clothes.  Trying to hold onto the last bits of sunshine we've got before we head into fall here in the NorthWest.

Top: Target  Jeans: Old Navy  Necklace: H&M  Shoes: Target  Hoops: Target
Sissy Date.  There's nothing quite like a full makeup day to hang out with my sis.

Headband: c/o my sis  Necklace: c/o Sue at church  Tube Top: JC Penney FOREVER ago  Top: Forever 21  Ring: Forever 21  Teal Pants: Target  Purse: Juicy from Nordstrom  Shoes: not pictured braided strappy silver sandals from H&M
Church Clothes.  I got a lot of slack for the headband, but my general rule of thumb: if you like it, rock it like you own it!

Do you have a What I Wore Wednesday post?  Link it up, I'd love to see how you style your week!

Crafty Tuesday: Monogrammed J

I know this is a day late, but better late than never when trying to get this blog train running.  Last Saturday I made a trek out to JoAnn's to look around since hubby and baby were at church for the evening.  A little momma time?  I'm going to take full advantage of it!  I had a coupon for 20% off my total purchase, and figured I could go look around and see what was to be found.  Lo and behold I walked out with much more than I expected.  But when you save almost 50% total after sales a coupon, what's a girl to do?  So I decided to make a J to represent our family for near my front door.

Now, as can be told from the beginnings of this blog, I am a really great and gung ho starter, but finisher?  Now that's another story.  So I told myself I had to see this project through to completion before bed that night.  Clearly, I underestimated the amount of time it would take.  But I can proudly say I accomplished my goal, and my front door is all the happier for it.

The Beginnings

So I began with a large, almost cardboard, 3-dimensional J and began wrapping it with twine and the help of my trusty glue gun.  Make sure you attach a loop to the back of the top from the beginning to hang it from.  Doing that step first will ensure it is covered by the wrapped twine when the project is completed.

Completely Wrapped

As you can tell I did have to go in multiple directions to get it all the way covered around the edges.  Work as much as you can in one direction, and then cover it the other way.  I did make sure that I glued on the back or the inside edges so the hot glue would be covered in the completed piece.

The Completed Project

After my J was totally covered, I glued on scattered buttons to add dimension and make it a little more customized.

Front Door Beautified

And now the red door I always dreamed of having is customized especially for my little family.  I couldn't be happier with how this project turned out!!!   If you decide to make a monogram for your family, please link it up here.  I'd love to see how yours turns out!

An Encounter

Today's reading for my daily read through was Ezekiel 42-44 and Revelation 22.  While from the outset it was a pretty dry set of passages, the Lord is so good and revealed exactly what I needed to hear.

S. "Moreover, they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and the profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean."

Ezekiel 44:23

O. As the 'new priesthood,' there are certain obligations we must uphold in stewarding the Lord's people well.  Saying some acceptance prayer is not enough, nor is teaching some legalistic list of do's and don'ts.  It must go beyond that to equipping them with the knowledge and understanding of holiness.  When there has been a true living encounter of that which is of heaven, that which is of this world won't hold any appeal.  Trust that, after being equipped, they will have the ability and know how to discern, in any situation, the Lord's best and how to properly attain it.

A. In raising up a generation of world changers I have to be a person who seeks holiness and exhibits resemblance of such.  I must invite the presence so my students can experience the distinction between it and the world.  Once decisions are filtered through holy and profane rather than good or bad much of the gray middle ground will disappear.  Then, I need to take my hands off and trust that they have the capability to discern and decipher themselves, allowing them room to fail.  Grace will always go farther in the learning process than a stern eye and iron fist.

P. God,

Thank you for equipping us with your spirit that teaches and brings your holiness.  Forgive me for sometimes erring on the side of legalism in teaching others over the spirit of holiness.  Help me equip my students to discern and decide on your terms, not their own.  That there would be a standard raised of holiness among this generation, and that the essence of it would be attractive to others.  You are the ultimate prize, and it is you alone I focus on.  200 students by October 31st, that every student of every school would know who you are, as we strive to make your name famous!  Make all I am be all you want me to be!  Make me a world changer!  Make me a history maker!  Make me into the woman you dreamt into design once upon a time!

GREAT Love

Simply reading, without doing, makes the Bible nothing more than a literary work passed down through the ages.  What makes it come alive and proves it is active is when we apply it to our lives, allowing it to mold and shape us into all God intended.  Life is busy and hectic and crazy, but choosing the discipline of daily devotions brings a calm that otherwise is hard to find.  In order to find the time, or make the time to do just that, I often fall back on the SOAP method of journaling.  SOAP is an acronym that stands for Scripture Observation Application and Prayer.

Here's a sampling of today's journaling.

Reading for the day: Lamentations 3-5 and Revelation 15

Scripture- "Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail.  They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." -Lamentations 3:22-23

Observation- The storms and trials of life come quickly and beat heavily, the war against us has been waged and fires ravage threatening to destroy, but because of His great love we will not be devoured!  Because His compassion for us knows no bounds and His kindness towards us has no limits.  We can walk in security knowing we will be kept safe and unscathed.  We can look eagerly forward to each new day knowing His everlasting faithfulness eagerly awaits us.

Application- No longer will we be people filled with dread, but filled with hope.  He is a good God who delights in us!  He is an all consuming God who lavishes His love upon us!  The liberating freedom that brings makes us unstoppable.  May we rest assured that He will hide us in the refuge of His wings.  That like Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego we will be untouched by the flames.  Like Daniel we will walk freely out of the den of lions.  Like Jonah we will escape the dark belly of a whale.  Because of His great love!

Prayer- God,
Thank you for your deep, vast, wide love for me!  Thank you for your never ending compassion and your unending faithfulness!  Forgive me for forgetting the magnitude of all that is to me.  Help me to rest solely in your love.  Help me to rely solely upon your love.  Help me to reveal you to others solely based upon your love.  Your love never fails, it never ends, it never runs out.  May I find peace, solace and security in that.  Make all I am be all you want me to be!  Make me a world changer!  Make me a history maker!  Make me into the woman you dreamt into design once upon a time!

Reevaluating and Bringing Purpose

In establishing why I've had such a problem in keeping up with this blog, I realized it's because I have lacked purpose and direction up until this point.  And as I thought about where that direction would come from I realized that I need only draw inspiration from my title.  How I stumbled upon Proverbs 31 in the Making?  To be entirely honest, it was the first thing that popped into my head and I went with it.  So in searching what that even means I decided to dig deep into what the scripture has to say and discover what makes a Proverbs 31 woman. 

This is in no way meant to be an exegetical look at this passage of scripture, it is merely a brief overview, taking  the descriptions of 'her" at face value.

"Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value.  She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life."

She is a woman who can be trusted, who adds value to the lives of those most important to her.

"She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands."

She is a shopper who isn't afraid to work for what she wants.

"She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar.  She gets up while it is still dark; she provides food for her family and portions for her servant girls."

She is creative in the kitchen and makes more than enough for those in her home.  Her hosting skills take effort, but she believes it is well worth it.

"She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard."

When shopping she hunts for bargains and invests her money wisely.

"She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks."

She enjoys being physical and keeps herself strong and active.

"She sees that her trading is profitable and her lamp does not go out at night.  In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers."

She is a diligent worker who doesn't play by the 9-5, but sees her work through to completion.

"She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy.  When it snows, she has no fear for her household for all of them are clothed in scarlet."

She takes care of all that are in her life, and ensures that those around her are looked after.

"She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple."

She enjoys beauty in both her home and herself.

"Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land."

She understands she is worth the best and doesn't allow relationships in her life that will not be uplifting to her.  She refuses to settle for anything less and surrounds herself with those who will remind her of such.

"She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes."

She is crafty and creative.

"She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come."

She walks with confidence and lives life to the fullest.

"She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue."

She is intelligent and helps guide others through life's obstacles.

"She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness."

She budgets and is a good steward never wasting a moment.

"Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her."

She invests in relationships and understands their value and worth.

"Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all."

She doesn't seek to be like the rest, but lives to set the standard.

"Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised."

She seeks not the approval of man, for she understands where her worth truly lies.

With that being said, I know that there are many days I will not measure up to everything on this list, but I don't believe any of us truly do.  It is more about discovering what personality traits you do possess, and choosing to grow in the areas that may be weaker.  

What am I choosing to highlight/grow in, you may ask? 

She is intelligent.

She is crafty, creative and decorative.

She is fashionable.

She is a hostess who enjoys spending time in the kitchen.

She invests in her relationships with both God and others.

She loves and lives life to the fullest.

Let's begin this journey again, I'm excited to see where it leads.

And So it Begins...

In true ostrich fashion, I would much rather stick my head in the sand than approach anything too real.  Unfortunately today is as real as it gets.  Test results a year ago showed need for concern, and I chose to ignore the signs because I didn't want it to be real.  Test results on my birthday proved signs of major concern, and now it is real.  After watching my sister deteriorate far too quickly over the course of last year, I truly believed I could run from any other thoughts in that general direction by avoiding anything that looked, sounded or even had a minute feel of what she, what we as a family, experienced.  February to December isn't long enough to spend with someone you love.  And yet in that short 11 months we learned exactly how torturous the monstrosity of cancer can be.

Conclusions should never be jumped to, but walks down memory lane make it difficult, scratch that, near impossible to shy away from.  So what is a girl to do but wait patiently for my afternoon appointment.  I have today, and that's all I can ask for.  My little naps peacefully upstairs as the rain pours over my roof and thunder threatens to come crashing in.  Perfect timing for such weather.  Normally I would complain, but today it somehow fits.  

The Lessons We Learn

I have found that trials are often the exact moments we need to take notice of reality.  Life is busy, life is loud, life is chaotic and we get swept up in the whirlwind forgetting where ground actually is.  And as much pain as we feel during the squeezing and compressing times, we can be sure that we will reap the reward of the invaluable end result.  

In the meantime I will appreciate laughter.

I will find the joy in messes.

I will indulge in my many guilty pleasures.

And I will slow down enough to truly experience the times I do have with those I hold dear.

We're given this one life to live, and it is up to us to ensure we actually take the time to live it.

Change Through Thankfulness

I've heard before, "Sometimes the best way to change our circumstances is through thankfulness."  I haven't been a huge person of faith before.  I say that I place my trust and hope solely in the Lord, but in all honesty hard facts make much more sense to me when it comes to provision and future plans.  Elevation Church has a song that has been playing on repeat in my mind for a few years now.  "Give me faith, to trust what you say.  That you're good, and your love is great.  I'm broken inside, I give you my life."  It's finally hit me that faith isn't something I can conjure up on my own.  It isn't natural to place faith into the unknown, or the unseen.  It isn't easy, nor does it often make sense.  But faith can be given in the midst of my circumstances, and can exceed all I ask or imagine.  My request need not be that I become a better or stronger "Christian," or that I even have the ability to overlook "reality."  Instead, my prayer should be that the Lord would give me the faith to work through my situations in a way that is absolutely honoring and glorifying to Him.

So last week I took my physical requests, when it comes to the area of provision, and wrote them out.  Made them plain and known, and allowed myself the vulnerability to admit that I don't have everything pulled together on my own or by my own strength.  How freeing to lay it all out, and know that all I can do is my part, and allow Him to do His.  Next step: I wrote down everything that has been done/given to me since that point in time.  It has been absolutely crazy to see how much has been provided since then.  From something as small as homemade chocolate chip cookies, to as large as a trip to the furniture and mattress store to pick out our very first bedroom set in the 5 years we've been married.  I am blown away by His goodness, away by His love, by His provision.

I know that things aren't always going to make sense, and I'm working myself to a place where I can be semi-okay with that.  And in the mean time, I'm going to allow Him to give me the faith to trust Him in even the difficult areas of my life.

My First Mother's Day

I wish I had taken pictures of all my marvelous Mother's Day weekend held, but sadly, I was too focused on taking it all in.  It started off Saturday with a rash scare that was spreading across Jezreel's face, I think he just wanted me to stay home from work.  After calling out, and getting ahold of the doctor's office, it seemed mild enough and just needed to be monitored.  So my sissy, J's "nanny" and I went for a walk to take advantage of all of the sunshine.  Coffee stand, and a trip to my Grandma's house ended up with a LONG walk by the river.  He was over the moon: looking at all of the trees, rocks and water from his stroller.  On our way back I stumbled across an amazing end table/chest of drawers that I was going to paint black and use in my living room, but Nate wouldn't put it in the car.  Fear of spiders!  When Kylie and I went back for it, someone else had already seen it's potential and taken it to live in their home.  Then it was off to church for the night, where I received my first plaster imprint of Jezreel's foot.  Let me just say, I have a BIG boy!  All of the other children in nursery did their hand prints, but since Nate has J's feet tattooed on his right arm they did his foot instead.  The hands were nicely centered in the middle of the plaster, so small and precious.  J's foot on the other hand, or other foot, took up the whole entire mold. That's my boy!  Dinner that night was pizza, of my choosing.  Artichoke hearts it is!

Sunday morning Nate surprised sissy and I with McDonald's breakfast, roses and balloons.  She's not yet a wifey and momma, but it was her 21st birthday so celebrations all around.  Then it was off to church, lunch at our favorite restaurant, and home to relax before heading back for youth.  I don't often nap in that little bit of space in between, but while J slept so did I and Lord knows this momma needed it.  Then we honored mommas at youth, having the students call them up, give them a rose, and say something in their honor.

All in all it was a busy, but blessed weekend.  I'll make sure I actually squeeze some pictures in next year.

Oh Work

Say goodbye to my summer...

One of our girls at work went out on leave earlier than expected, but was going to be gone all summer since she's due in June.  I hadn't realized that it would have such a vast impact on my summer plans, especially since it's the first summer with Baby J, until I got my schedule through June.  Now instead of the 15-20 hours a week I've been working I'll be doing 35-40.

Praying praying praying that the Lord works something out because I need to be at summer camp with my kids, need to be home with my baby, and need to have some glimpse through the clouds that my dreams are preparing to come true.

I know that His ways are higher than mine, as are His thoughts,  but with the rain coming down outside all I'm seeing is the gray...

SO Much To Do

I am so beyond happy that I don't have to go back to my "real" job until Thursday!  Being a ministry momma is hard work as it is, but to juggle that with working outside the home is getting to be a lot.  I know that the Lord has more for me than this!  I know that He wants to be my ultimate provider and take care of my every need.  I know that He wants me to be free to live the desires of my heart, but stepping out in that is such a struggle for me.  I have a a hard time finding the balance between faith and wisdom.  I would love to step out in "faith" and believe He's going to take care of my every need.  Wisdom on the other hand seems to say that a guaranteed income and insurance that covers not only the hubby and I, but also my precious little who has definitely had use for it, is hard to walk away from.  Lord, I need clarity and direction!  I want provision for my family that far exceeds my wildest dreams.  I want to be free to do ministry EXACTLY as I dream to do it!  I want the ability to take care of my home and my little in the way only a momma can!  Open the doors and pour out blessing upon blessing!

It Seems To Happen Often Here

A sick baby that is.  Baby J is currently getting not 1, not 2, but 3 top teeth all at the same time, which makes for a very cranky needy little.  Seeing as I work a job outside the home, am an independent Mary Kay consultant and a youth pastor, I don't have a whole lot of time to just lay in bed and snuggle him.  Though I did take full advantage of a down day yesterday.  So today life looks like this around here.

Sleeping on my lap, movie playing in the background, and work attempting to be done on the laptop.

I am bound and determined to get some notes ready for an upcoming meeting, and hopefully get laundry put away.  I have no problems getting it washed dried, and often times even folded, but then it sits in piles all over my room.  And let's be real, sometimes my living room and landing up the stairs.  I will get better at this...I will get better at this...I will get better at this.  Where's my genie lamp when I need one?

As much as I love all that is glitz and glam, we'll be real and transparent and show that life is 90% like this while at home though.

I thank the Lord on an almost daily basis for blessing me with good skin.  Makes those no makeup days much more tolerable.

At least I got my hair looking somewhat presentable.  It's the life of a momma, and I wouldn't trade it in for all the world.

Not Quite What I Expected

J's very first Easter basket, and the toy Nate bought for him.

This morning started off, just as any Easter should.

Nothing like a "naked" sick baby.

But it became very apparent that the little was not feeling well.

Thus, I traded in curls for a messy bun, an Easter dress for sweats, and beautiful Dolce Vita wedges for bare feet.  I guess I needed reminding that He sacrificed of His life for the ones He loved most.  Now I must willingly sacrifice of my life (Sunday morning service, getting all dolled up, and the glorious glorious food) for the little whom I love most.  Happy Easter, and let today be a reminder of all He did so we can do all that we do.

Clean House

Hoping it will be my saving grace!

HopLike I had mentioned before, cleaning is not something that comes naturally to me.  I can clean and organize everything once, but the day to day keep up always manages to get away from me.  I talk up excuses all day everyday, "I had to work," "I was spending time with the baby," "We had youth and church all day."  Bottom line is: as a wifey and momma maintaining my home is about more than the love I fill it with.  So in my search for tools to help equip me, I stumbled upon a book of wonders at my mom's house.  And, after seeing the piles of laundry in my upstairs this past week, she chose to gift me with my very own copy.  So here's hoping that this new journey of cleaning is "REAL SIMPLE!"   I couldn't help myself.

The Pleasure is Mine

My name is Cadence, and I am so excited to meet you! I can tell already that we are going to be friends.  But before we get to that point, introductions are in order.

I'm a little cray!

I am a wifey and momma to the two most amazing guys in this world.  My husband Nate and I are youth pastors, and our little, or not so little as you'll come to know, Jezreel is changing the world right along with us.


I love clothes and all that is glitz and glam, and yes, I do own a pair of glittery "Barbie" shoes.


Nothing says love like a spray tan on a summery day.


My sissy is my best friend, but I am slowly working on getting better at close relationships.


Cooking and cleaning do not come naturally to me, but the more effort I put into them, the more surprised I am at how easily they can be learned.


I am passionate, and fiery and so much more than I appear.  Somehow I believe I was created such a small thing, because anything physically larger may have been intimidating with this personality.


Beauty is everywhere, and it is my goal to discover and display it in myself, others and the world at large.


Finally, life is not so serious!  So let's let our hair down, blast some tunes and dance the night away!