Lost and Found

Around the time of our move back to Logan, we misplaced our iPod touch. We thought that maybe it fell out in our cars, so we searched them. Nothing. We figured it fell in some boxes so we looked through all of them. Nothing. Then we figured that it could be at my mother's house and maybe had fallen in the couch cushions while we were there on Christmas Eve. Again we searched, and nothing.

We figured it was just not meant to be and either it would turn up eventually, or be lost forever. Nevertheless, we "moved" on with our lives.

Then, this past weekend, my mother said that she had something to tell us. So, we sat down at her request, with no clue as to what she was going to say. I believe a joke was made about her being pregnant...which of course, is NOT a possibility. Haha.

Anyway, she proceeded to tell us about this man who came up to her at work the other day and asked if she had a son-in-law named Michael Black. She told him yes and then he handed her an iPod touch. Our iPod touch. He then told her this long story about how he purchased a gray NordicTrack jacket from Icon and while he was at the airport, on his way to Brazil, he reached in his pocket and found the iPod. I can only imagine his shock when this happened!

So, he turned it on and began a search to figure out who this belonged to. He searched online and eventually located my mother's email address, which led him to realize a connection to someone he knew. Once he returned from Brazil, he contacted my mother and the rest is history.

Basically what happened was that my mother bought a gray NordicTrack jacket for Michael for Christmas and he ended up looking like a member of StarFleet...so he returned it for a black one of the same style. It looks much better. But, as he was trying on the gray jacket, he put the iPod in the pocket and completely forgot about it. A return was made and nobody knew until this kind man, on his way to Brazil, discovered our lost item.

Can you believe it? Doesn't this increase your faith in others? Don't you feel happy that there are still honest people in this world? Interesting experience huh?

Patience and Christlike Love

So, let's just say that recently I've been faced with a few difficult situations that stretch me to my limits and cause me to pray several times each day over these situations.

I'm trying to be patient and understand.
I'm trying to love.
But it is proving to be difficult.

I don't like feeling like it is a struggle to just be near or around what causes me angst.
I don't like it when something affects my family and those I love in a negative way.
I don't like crying over this because it makes me feel weak and unable to properly deal with the situation.

I'm experiencing flashbacks to a similar experience in younger life, which just seems pitiful and juvenile, but that is what I'm dealing with.

More prayers for patience and Christlike love...

The Time is Almost Here!

A week from now I will standing on a stage, in a floor length dress, singing my heart out.

I can't believe I'm finally performing my senior recital!

It's taken quite a while to get here, but it feels good to finally be nearing the end.

I'll be singing in French, Spanish, Italian, and English.

It should be a great evening, wish me luck!

Our Drive Home

So this afternoon we spent with Michael's family at his parent's house in Taylorsville. It was fun, relaxing, and nice, but that's not the point of this post. I must tell you what happened as we were driving back home to Logan.

We were heading northbound on I-15 around the Willard area when we noticed this beat-up Toyota weaving in and out of its lane. And when I saw weaving, I mean the car would ride over the line on one side, then the other. Also, the car would not maintain a steady speed, slowing down then speeding up. Over and over.

So we decided to pass the car. As we were pulling up next to it, we noticed the driver was texting. And it was blatant. Phone up, in hand, blue light on face, eyes darting from the road to the phone.

We immediately decided that this was dangerous and that we wanted to report it to the police. So, I called 411 (the Verizon information service) and they were able to connect me to police dispatch. I gave the information of the car, driver, license plate, mile marker and such. The dispatch worker thanked me and told me she would send the information right out to patrol officers.

Now, I don't know if the officers were able to find the vehicle and pull the man over, which I hope they were. But Michael and I knew that we couldn't just let such a reckless driver continue on in the night without reporting it. So many people's lives have been lost due to texting. Our opinion is, if someone wants to jeopardize his own life, that's fine. But don't risk taking some innocent person's life as a result of your stupidity.

We hope that this man made it to his destination safely and that maybe, someday, he will realize the risks associated with his actions and halt such reckless behavior. Life is too precious and too short to make decisions that can hurt yourself or others.

Zuppa Toscana, Our Version

photo courtesy of Two Peas and Their Pod

I found this recipe for Olive Garden's Zuppa Toscana soup on TwoPeasandTheirPod yesterday. A few alterations were made based upon what was in the fridge and I believe it turned out nicely.

Zuppa Toscana Soup
1 pound Italian sausage
1 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 large white onion, diced
4 slices bacon chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
8 cups chicken broth
2 cups Water
1 cup Heavy cream
3 large Russet potatoes, peeled and chopped
3 cups Kale, washed and roughly chopped
Salt and pepper, to taste

1. In a medium skillet, saute the Italian sausage with the red pepper flakes. Drain excess fat, set aside.

2. In a large soup pot, saute the bacon. When the bacon is half way cooked, add the onions and garlic. Saute until the onions are tender-about 5 minutes.

3. Add the chicken broth and water. Bring to a boil.

4. Add the potatoes and cook until soft, about 30 minutes.

5. Add in the heavy cream and sausage and cook until the soup is heated.

6. Stir in the chopped kale. Season with salt and pepper. Serve hot.

Serves 8 (We didn't make quite this much as just the two of us could never eat enough for 8.)

We tried to stay as vegetarian as possible, so the Italian sausage was omitted. The chicken broth was cut in half and we used about 2 cups of milk in place of the heavy cream and water. 2 potatoes instead of three were used. And instead of kale, we happened to have Swiss chard, which turned out beautifully. The stalks we cut up and sauteed with the onion, 1 carrot, and 2 celery stalks. And the leaves we used just as the recipe demands. I give this recipe a gold star!

Bring on the Spring!

So, I was able to go outside this afternoon, in the sun, and work in our flower beds a bit.

It was heaven itself.
The weather forecasts some rain and maybe snow.
But, the highs are reaching the mid-40s.
Hallelujah!