My first Sushi Party

First off, I would like to ask ya'll to pray for my nephew.  He is 18 and was in a motorcycle accident this morning, He is in stable but critical condition.  They have him in a drug induced coma as he is on a ventilator and his lung is badly bruised.  He also has a severely broken arm and leg.  Please pray for healing and peace for my SIL and BIL.  Thanks!

Tonight we had our first ever Sushi Party!!!

We invited our staff and it was a blast. 

If you are looking for a great, hands on type dinner party...this is it!!!

I had my dining room table all set with bowls for the soy sauce and chop sticks...

 But we used the kitchen table to make the sushi. 

 I found a video on-line that taught you how to make perfect sushi rice and between the rice cooker I borrowed and that video, I made perfect rice!!!

(I will be heading out tomorrow to buy a rice cooker)

 I made little name flags to put on each sushi roll so we could keep straight whose was whose!

I had all sorts of ingredients like...crab, shrimp, avocado, papaya, red peppers, asparagus, cream cheese, cilantro and quite a few others

 First we watched a video I found on-line showing us how to roll the sushi.  And then everyone dug in and got creative!!

 The rice is super sticky, so you had to wet your fingers to move it around on the Nori.

 Our worship pastor even made his own sauce......his roll won by the way!!

 We had lots of fun figuring out what all we wanted in our rolls.

 For it being everyone's first time, they turned out pretty darn good!!!

These two even have sesame seeds on the outside.

I was so impressed!

 And then there was my husband....who used enough rice for two rolls and when he got done, his looked more like a burrito than a sushi roll!!!

It took up more than half the mat!

 Actually, several of them ended up pretty big, but do you see his...the one at the top left...just a bit bigger than all the rest!!!  I have to say though, it was one of my favorites for taste!!

 Since he used so much rice, we wasn't allowed to make another one :) so he took the opportunity to snuggle our Youth Pastor's foster baby!

 Once all the rolls were made and on the platters, we moved to the dining room and dug in!!!  Oh my word, they were ALL good!!!  But in the end it was our Worship Pastor's that won....he made his spicy with jalapenos and some Texas Pete's sauce!

 here were the six different rolls

 This was such a fun party and one I will definitely do again!!  

I just have to get better at rolling the sushi!!

 And once it was all over, I made a bee line for this sweet thing!!

What better way to end an evening than snuggling a sleeping baby?!!!

Project 365 - Week 22

Week 22.

This has been a bit of a stressful week for us.  Last week of school for Jared, finals all week.  Looking for an apartment for Alyssa.....not finding anything we both are ok with.  Car issues.  My father-in-law was hospitalized and we are not sure what is causing his problems...and we are 7 hours away.  A mess in our pool....pictures to follow.

So, I have to tell you that a 3 day weekend with NOTHING on the calendar was VERY welcome!  I am usually one that likes to have a big BBQ on Memorial day or be going somewhere, but this weekend, I am content to stay at home with my family and relax.

Hope you are having a safe and fun memorial weekend!

Here's my week:

Sunday

Steve's throne chair broke.

It will no longer recline....he is making due till we get it fixed!

Monday

 My first calla lily of the season!!!

I think these are the most beautiful and classy looking flowers!

Tuesday

 These beauties are called Hot Lips!!!

Love them.

This is one of my Magnolia blooms.

Oh my word, these smell SO GOOD!!!

Wednesday

This is the hail that came down at my house this afternoon!

There were many bigger than this, but see the pointy edges on those?

Ya, I didn't want to run out there and grab any more....those would hurt!!!

Thursday

No picture today.

And to be honest, I am not sure why?

The good news though is that we found an apartment for Alyssa!!!  One that is convenient for her and SAFE for me!!!

Friday 

 This 1st day of summer started out perfect.....Alyssa made breakfast for everyone!!!

Jared has to play in the band for graduation...I love that he didn't even ask me to iron his clothes!!!

Saturday

Wanna come swimming at my house?!!

With all the storms, we have not been able to open our pool.  However, with the warm temps the algae has overtaken!!!  It's going to take a while to get this mess cleaned up....ugh.

Link up!!!  We'd love to see what your week was like!!

So thankful I have Hope....

I don't know about you, but I have just been heart broken over the pictures and video coming out of the Joplin tornado.  One story just about did me in....a boy being driven home from his HS graduation by his dad was sucked out of his car through the moon roof...they still have not found him as far as I know.  I am praying for his family.

And I'm also sobered a bit by how close it came to my son.....he is just 50 miles from Joplin.

As more tornadoes were headed toward that area last night, I was getting pretty anxious.  I mean reality is that my son is 19 and a BOY...all instincts tell them to go to the ROOF not shelter when a major storm is coming.....seriously.

But what I realized....anew....is that I am so thankful for the hope I have in Christ!!!

I can't control the weather.

I can't control whether my son takes shelter or not.

I can't control whether the house is sturdy enough.

I can't control the direction the tornado takes.

I can't even control my own anxieties!!

Thank goodness I don't have to.

Thank goodness my Hope lies in One that is bigger than all that.

And that I know He cares for my loved ones even more than I do.

But I am most thankful today that each of my children has a relationship with Christ and are following Him.  That each one has reached out and accepted the free gift that Christ offers us all. And with that knowledge, I have Hope that no matter what happens...they are ultimately taken care of!!!

And that.....is what allowed me to go to sleep last night.

.....plus a lot of prayer.

Project 365 - Week 21

 Week 21.

I have to apologize for not commenting on everyone's blogs last week....I just didn't have time.  I did visit and look at your pictures, but wasn't able to leave a comment....so sorry!!!

Well, we got Alyssa home and unpacked....my back is still killing me!!!  Sheesh, she has a lot of stuff.  We have spent the last couple of days looking into graduate housing, buying scrubs, and filling out paper work for her practicum.  It looks like she will live at home for the summer schedule and hopefully get into housing for the fall.....she is on the waiting list.  It is a bit smaller than she would like...but is priced right.  We'll see, a lot can happen over the summer.

After some glorious days of wonderful weather and thinking we were drying out, we are back to rain and flooding....ugh.  I just feel for those in AR that have not been able to get into their homes for weeks and now that looks like it will be pushed out even longer.  So sad.

Well, here is my week:

Sunday

 Everyone went home today, but I stayed to help Alyssa finish packing up.  Tonight, 2 of her best friends came to the hotel to hang out.  We all snuggled up on the king sized bed and watched the Survivor finale together......SO much fun!!!

Monday

 The cars are packed....to the BRIM....

 Alyssa made me one last dinner in her kitchen....

 ...and then it was time to say goodbye to her first home-away-from-home.

Tuesday

This was my view for 8 1/2 hours today.

The drive was uneventful and we made it home safely!!

Wednesday

 Tonight was our senior banquet at church.  We only have 3 seniors graduating this year.  What? you only see 2 on stage?  That's because the 3rd one is in Africa with her parents on the mission field.  so we videoed the evening for her!!!  Such a fun and uplifting night!

 Love these center pieces one of the ladies made!!

I can not wait to learn how to make these flowers.....very cute!!!

Thursday

With Alyssa home, we have a 4th for Euchre!

There's just a little bit of smack talking going on!

Friday

This is at 1:00 in the afternoon.

It looks a bit light out in this picture but it was so dark from the storm that it seemed like 9:00 at night. You wouldn't believe the amount of rain that came down...really, we might float away.  Rain is on the forecast for the next few days....ugh.

Saturday

 Made homemade pizza tonight.

This is Pioneer Woman's Caramelized onion and prosciutto pizza.

Can I just say......YUUUUUMMMMM!!

So..what were you up to this week?

Friday Fill-ins

 

I have been gone from Friday Fill-ins for a long time it seems and this week I decided to jump back in.  So here goes:

1. I see my daughter sitting next to me on the couch and I am so happy to have her home.

2. I think most foods are better if made from scratch.

3. They begin  to drive me crazy the minute spring begins and I hate them......allergies.

4. My memory was so much better so many years earlier, when I was young.

5. This I know: Jesus Christ died for ME and I will spend eternity with Him.

6. Last night, grilled chicken and asparagus risotto were for dinner.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to doing NOTHING, tomorrow my plans include doing nothing again (my schedule is finally free)  and Sunday, I want to enjoy church and spend time with my kids!

confession

I am not going to complete the 52 letters in 52 weeks challenge.

I so wanted to.

But as you can see from my sidebar, I am woefully behind

I really feel letter writing is becoming a lost art ....that's why I wanted to do it.....it may also be why I'm not completing it!  :)

So, for those of you that sent me your addresses.....my apologies.

However, I am going to keep them in their special file....just in case.

You never know......I may get a wild hair and send note some day.

Please, don't hold your breath!

Almost home...

Well, I am currently sitting in Alyssa's partially empty house.

She is visiting some friends for the last time....

..I am watching one of her roommates standing on a chair while her family tries to figure out how to bustle her wedding dress....she's getting married next week.

So many changes this weekend.

Watching my daughter graduate was so very special.

Sitting in the hotel room with her and her friends last night, all snuggled up on the king sized bed watching the survivor finale was even more special!

Today I am just hanging out as she says her goodbyes.....

....remembering how I felt when I graduated college.  

Knowing this is not such an "end" as much as it is a "beginning".   

Knowing that she will probably only stay in touch with a handful of these friends...at best.

Wondering which ones that will be.

Wondering what graduate school has in store for her....where will she live....what will all that look like?

So many changes.

Remembering the beautiful baby I prayed so hard for.... for years.

That I held in my arms and thought she would be young forever.

I am so proud of her.

My heart is so full.

God is so good.

Project 365 - Week 20

 Week 20.

I have a college graduate!!!!!

This was a great week!  lots of celebrating and tons of fun!!!!

Sunday

Today was crazy busy.  We had to rush out of church and head to Conway about 30 minutes from LR.  We met my BF and her kids for lunch before we quickly headed over to the auditorium on the UCA campus.  There Jared had his Youth Symphony concert....which of course was awesome!!!

Kind of a busy Mother's Day...

Monday

Tonight I hosted a going away party for my wonderful friend and neighbor, Dena (in the pink dress).  we are all so sad to see her move away, but thankful that we will always have her for our friend!!!

Tuesday

Tonight was honors night for our high school.  It's a great time to celebrate all the hard work that these kids have done....and it's amazing....7 National merit finalists in a senior class of 100!!

Jared won most Outstanding Band Student!!!

So proud of him!

Wednesday

These are my sweet bible study friends!!

Today we finished our study on Jonah and then all went out to lunch together.

Thursday

We drove 8.5 hours today to Abilene for Alyssa's graduation.

My parents drove in from AZ and Steve's mom flew in from KS.  So happy to have everyone today......but geez do I look like I spent all day driving or what?!!

who cares!  I am so happy to see my daughter!  :)

Friday

So we had a lot of free time. We met Alyssa in the morning to give the grandparents a tour of the campus and her house.  After lunch a few of us went to the local zoo...it was a gorgeous day for that!! 

 seriously...how do they do that?!!!  It was so windy out and they were swaying back a forth but never put the other foot down....crazy!

 Alyssa, Jared and my mom

  ok, there has to be a funny comment about that tongue.....but I am so tired and I got nothin'!!!

After grad rehearsal for Steve and Alyssa we all went out to dinner at a local steak house!

Saturday

 Our college graduate - with honors!!!

 Walking out with her dad. 

Alyssa chose her dad to be part of the ceremony. He escorted her in, hooded her and escorted her out...as a graduate!!

 Love this girl with all my heart!

Your turn to link up!!