Happy Tummy!

This week is National Eating Disorder Awareness week and for all of you who are trying to remember that food is NOT an enemy and calories=energy for your body to live, grow, and move - I have a gluten-free meal for YOU!

Tinga is a favorite in the Elizalde casa - so here is the recipe!

Step one - put some chicken breasts with a little water in the crockpot on LOW. I know you're a busy working lady (or gentleman) so the crockpot (and crockpot liner!) is your friend! When you get home from work, pull out the chicken and shred it.

Take the chicken broth from the crockpot and put in a blender with a few tomatoes, a medium-sized clove of garlic, and some salt&pepper. Blend tomato mixture.

Meanwhile, cut lots and lots of onions into rings and saute in a large pot. (this pot was about 1/2 full of onions before they break down)

When onions are ready, pour tomato mixture in with the onions and add a can of Chipotle. Either kind will work (even the ChiLpotle haha) but if you do the individual peppers you'll want to only use 2-3 and put them in the blender with the tomatoes. Otherwise, just dump the whole salsa kind in there :)

Add the chicken and mix. If it doesn't seem like there's much liquid, you can add another 1/2c-1c of water. Then float some cilantro and 1 whole chile pepper, reduce heat and cover. Simmer for anytime between 30-45 minutes.

Enjoy on top of tostadas or chips. (I always add lime juice, but J tells me that's not Mexican. So consider lime juice the delicious Tex-Mex version)

And of course, remember food is your FRIEND, not your enemy! Happy healthy eating everyone!

You are my Master and I love You

You may recognize this quote for the fabulous movie Up! which is how we celebrated Valentine's Day (seriously have you ever cried so hard at the first 10 minutes of a movie?) But if you live under a rock, this is a quote from Doug the dog, and he's hilarious.

If you have a dog, you KNOW what I'm talking about - chances are you talk to your dog as if they were human and imagine them talking back. "You are my master and I love you!" I converse daily with my girl and this morning I realized how much I could learn from my pup about living with my Master.

Look to your Master for guidance

Trust your Master; He knows the way to go. He can see more than you; He is big and you are so small. He will lead you along the right path.

Crawl into your Master's embrace

He has so much affection to give just because He loves you. You don't have to be perfect or do something to earn it - just crawl into His lap as often as you want!

There's joy just being in the presence of your Master

In your Master's presence, the dullness of the day fades away and there is an explosion of celebration just because HE IS WITH YOU. It doesn't matter if you talk, if treats are handed out, or if you just sit quietly together - nothing can change the JOY of just being with your Master.

Trust Your Master to provide what you need

You may need to sit, stay, or wait, but your Master will give you what is good for you when it's the right time!

Your Master will discipline you

You're not perfect and you will make mistakes. Nothing is hidden from your Master - He knows and sees it all. Sometimes your Master will be kind and forgiving. Sometimes you will be disciplined. It might even hurt. But this is still always for your good.

Your Master is a Safe Place

When the world gets loud and scary, run to your Master. The loud and scary parts may not disappear, but you'll be with your Master and there is comfort there.

You may not always like it

Sometimes your Master will ask you (or make you) do something that you don't want to do. You might want to abandon ship and run away - but typically that just makes more of a mess. Instead, trust that your Master has a reason for the uncomfortable and trust that you are still in His hands throughout the whole process. 

Walk daily

Lift your eyes. Keep them on your Master. Walk like He does. Trust that He's got you.

Whew

I remembered my password to this blog.

*whew*

new post soon.

Kindergarten Hunger Games

The past few entries have been heavy. So today, when a friend made a silly comment about how Kindergarten is like Hunger Games, I thought "that sounds like fun"...

So here you go - 10 Ways that Kindergarten is like the Hunger Games

10. They're always trying to take their clothes off: I had a kiddo once who got so "hot" that he kept stripping down to his undergarments and we had to have the conversation about "please don't take off your pants at school". It took several days before he got the message.

9. There's rebellion: come on, they're 5, are you really surprised they don't want to stop playing computer when I've asked them to stop?

8. There's a lot of kissing: I remember saying my 1st week of Kinder "there is no kissing in kindergarten!"... I was wrong.

7. There's a lot of running: whether it's to get to specials on time, to stop a kinder from putting something in their mouth, to get a ball that's in the street before it rolls even further away, or to stop scissors from cutting a girls' hair - kinder teachers are always on alert and quick on their feet (and usually in slow-motion shouting the word "noooooo").

6. You laugh when people mention painting: let's be honest, we all laughed a little when Peeta's defense strategy was painting. And I do the same when people suggest that kinder is just "painting all day" - ha. ha. ha.

5. Every player is different: just as Katniss sizes up each of her opponents, each kinder teacher has no idea what she's getting each year. Meet the Teacher Night is, therefore, a night of sizing up the new bunch - who's sweet, who's going to be a handful, who's going to make you laugh, and who's going to give you gray hair.

4. There's a lot of blood: paper cuts, knee scrapes, nose bleeds, and even head-wound-blood if you're lucky (yay me!)

3. Conflict. Conflict. Conflict: Ms. Collins can write 3 books on it and she just made it up - us kinder teachers can write our own books based on real life. So. much. drama.

2. Alliances are made (and broken) every day: teachers must always be vigilant to know who's friends with who, who's mad with who, and who will kill each other if they're in the same table group.

Which brings me to
#1 Way That Kindergarten is Like the Hunger Games

Despite the conflict, blood, danger, & drama - you love it like a guilty pleasure.

Waste of time

I've been wanting to write this post for a while now, so here it goes!

I love missions. I love traveling. I love living amongst other people. I love the discomfort of it. I love learning about new cultures and speaking new languages. I love seeing things with fresh and uncertain eyes. It's hard. It's dark. It can get dirty. And I love it.

My husband and I met over this shared passion and we have maintained it despite living "normal life" here in the states until God calls us out again. The thing is, it doesn't matter where you are, we are ALL called to missions. Maybe we're not all called to live in a hut in Africa but we are ALL called to be missional in our speaking, acting, and living. To pray for missionaries. To send missionaries. To be missionaries daily in our community - we ALL have a job to do.

Recently my husband and I were sharing about this passion and we were told by well-meaning Christian people that it was a waste of their time to listen and learn about missions. Now, aside from the clear-cut statements in the Bible negating this opinion, I have something else to share with you, well-meaning, seat-warming, perfectly-comfortable Christian -- your job is not just to WAIT for Heaven.

You see, this world is hard. It's dark. It's crappy. It hurts. It's broken.
Jesus came to rescue us from this hurt. To restore the brokenness.
So, why then, would He leave us in the hurt to just sit around and wait for heaven?
Why not just pluck us up the moment we say "I want you in my life, Jesus" and BAM there we are worshipping Him in all His unspeakable Heavenly glory?

Wouldn't that be cruel of this oh-so-good-God to leave His children hurting, if it were not for a greater purpose?

No, it's not just purely so we can "know and trust Him" better because the Bible is clear that now we see dimly and know in part what we will fully see and understand in Heaven. There is no knowledge that must be attained before receiving our admittance into Heaven.

No, it's not to "do good deeds", grow to a certain stature of Faith, or earn Heaven in any way - that's a foundational pillar in many worldly religions - but Jesus says it is by HIS grace ALONE that we get into Heaven.

No, it's not because He is unkind, unloving, or punishing us. Jesus took the wrath of sin on the Cross and the Father now stands to welcome us with open arms.

So why?
Why leave us here in the world of misery, cancer, divorce, chronic pain, broken governments, hunger, hatred, death, miscarriage, and sin?
So that we may point others to Christ.

So that:
DESPITE the darkness, we can lead others to the Light.
DESPITE the hurt, we can show that there is a PEACE the surpasses all understanding.
DESPITE the hopelessness, we can introduce others to the Author of Hope, who will restore all things.

That we would look to our family, our neighbors, our co-workers, our enemies, and even to our opposites across the globe and say "There is something better than this world!" To take their hands, teach them and lead them to join us at the foot of the cross and worship God together - no, Christian, this is NOT a waste of your time. 

This is your job. This is why you still have breath in your lungs.

This is your mission.
Go in love.

2013 Recap

Yep, it's that time again. I don't know about you, but 2013 kicked my BOOTY. I'd like to sing a little chorus of Kelly Clarkson "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger" but honestly I think I'm closing out the year weaker, more dependent, and with emptier tear ducts.

January -
My voice issues from 2012 carried over into this year. We see doctor #2 and continue to go to vocal therapy with varying results.

My mom came to visit to help us get the house put together. This was the fun part of the year!

February - 

Elizalde Photography made it's debut in the LatinaGirl XV&Bridal EXPO in Dallas - I'm so proud of this man, his work, and his love of serving his clients. We had a LOT of beautiful weddings and family shoots this year!!

March - 

Birthday! Birthday! I love my birthday! J awoke a beast in me as I had never been to a NBA game before so that was so much fun! I couldn't scream, cheer, or even talk that much, but it was still such a blast that we attended several more games throughout the rest of the year.

3/14 Pi day with friends!

We also spent the majority of this month searching for another 4-legged addition to our casa. Many many many hours went into this and also much heart-ache as we prepared the house for a sweetheart who turned and viciously attacked my husband and our pup several times. We sent her back to her foster house, cried, and then found Ruby. 

Doctor #3 (and the most expensive, yikes!) suggested that my voice troubles were connected to my muscle problems in my neck so I began taking muscle relaxers that took the edge off my pain. He also suggested that I go see a chiropractor. I was VERY skeptical. 

April - aka the month of HELL. 

Termites poked their heads out of our living room. Home warranty company doesn't want to cover it (seriously Home Warranty of America is the WORST). I swear I can hear them munching through my home with every day that passes. I.cant.handle.it.

Ruby gets whooping cough and terrible terrible allergic reactions. She snores and scratches herself bloody, which then gets infected. This is a weekly cycle all throughout April. Vet bills like whoa.

Wake up to a leak spraying all over the laundry room. That's one way to wake you up in the morning. 

J gets in a car accident, thankfully he's okay, but the car is not. Buy a new car. 

I meet Dr. Howell @ A Family Chiropractic. I tell him I don't believe in chiropractors. He proceeds to guess all the health problems I've EVER had based on my xrays - who knew they were all connected? Then Dr. Howell gives a pretty scary prognosis, using words like always, never, chronic, and 25% impairment. Many tears ensue and treatment begins. Physical therapy, trigger point injections, and adjustments. I have moments of reprieve from pain, and moments of terrible spasms. Voice issues finally go away - hallelujah.

My kinders are driving me crazy. 

Old landlord who owes us upward of $1000 refuses to pay and threatens to call the cops on us. I consider suing but have no more energy due to all the other crappy parts of April. 

My sister visits - a sweet, silly, and much-needed time of relaxation. 

May - 

Begin to see a little progress in my health - this month is pretty much gobbled up by physical therapy and my husband gently serving me at every turn. 

My sister graduates from UT so we travel to Austin. I'm in blinding pain pretty much the whole trip due to a back muscle spasm for 36 hours. OUCH. We do get a chance to see the Whose Line is it Anyway? comedians and we have some much-needed laughs. 

Elizalde Photography does some exciting baby birthday and senior picture shoots. 

June - 

Finally made it through a difficult school year. My summer plan is to get stronger and focus on my health. 

Ruby's allergies get worse, it's a constant struggle to keep her from hurting herself. We discover that she is also food-aggressive when she attacks our other pup so now we're doing our best to keep them separated before.during/after meal time - this is getting wearisome.

Elizalde Photography does another beautiful wedding

 

I host my 1st (maybe annual) Book Swap party! It was so much fun, I just wish I had taken pictures!!

July-

A friend gets engaged! Yay!

4th of July 

Dog fights escalate to a lot of blood and hysterical screaming. With many many many tears, we take her back to the shelter and grieve together. We only get through it by remembering that if the Lord sees and takes care of the sparrows, He will take care of our sweet Ruby. She gets adopted (for good) 1 week later - praise God. 

Dallas Zoo Dollar Day was a lot of fun in the rain - until our car was towed.

My family came to visit!

August - 
Teach at VBS for a week - thankful to God for His wonderful lessons He gave and for the opportunity to share Christ one-on-one with several teenagers as well.

During this VBS time however, my pain comes back in full force. After talking with Dr. Howell, he recommends that I look at inflammatory foods. I cut out gluten for 1-week as a test and discover that within 3 days my muscle inflammation/pain and spasms have greatly decreased. This is a new beginning for me.

Went to a concert with my Anna! Gavin DeGraw, The Script, Train! When we bought these tickets I could barely whisper and I was able to spend the whole evening singing along! What a blessing!

My old computer dies. 

Heisenberg takes over our Sunday evenings. 

Started a new school year with 22 sweet sweet kinder angels (how did THAT happen?!?! Not that I'm complaining)

September - 
Another concert -- MUMFORD! It was one of the best moments of 2013.

Elizalde Photography attends another EXPO and is busy busy busy during wedding season!

Find out a best friend is pregnant :)

October - 
Our anniversary! I kidnapped J and took him to San Antonio & I make it through my first "travel" gluten-free!

I speak at our church as the last Missions Sunday about Compassion International. And some best friends come speak about adoption - bring home Baby J! 

November - 

We leave our church of 3 years. 

J celebrates his birthday. 

I hosted my first (maybe annual) Favorite Things Party! We had a lot of fun!

Thanksgiving brought sickness and more house drama! Heater broke, plumbing backed up on Thanksgiving (yay for potatoes in the bathtub!) and Home Warranty of America did nothing (again! shocker...seriously worst company ever)

December - 
Very very cold in the house as the heater was still broken. And then there was Icemageddon for 6 days.

Heater was fixed and I've never slept so well. 

Spent much of Christmas watching old family movies which was another highlight of my year. 

Christmas. Joy. Hope. Peace.

Okay, so I know this was SUPER long and if you've made it this far you're probably my husband or my mom. But reflecting on the year makes me so grateful - here I was planning to write about how difficult this year has been, but after poring over tons of pictures, happy moments, and amazing friends, I realize that God is truly WITH ME through it all. Every good and perfect gift comes from Him, and even stuff that hurts is for my good.

Let us usher in 2014 knowing that whatever may come, the all-powerful loving God of the universe sees, hears, and loves you!!