strawberry cobbler

what do you do when you have 2 pounds of fresh strawberries and company coming over? you make strawberry cobbler of course. and this is my new, super easy, and oh so yummy recipe!

6 cups fresh strawberries, halved
3/4 cup sugar, divided
1/2 cup plus 2 tbs. flour, divided
juice of half a lemon
1/8 tsp. baking powder
1/8 tsp. baking soda
1/8 tsp. salt
31/2 tbs unsalted butter, slightly softened (or nonhydrogenated vegetable shortening)

1. preheat oven to 375. coat 11x7 inch baking pan with cooking spray (i use organic olive oil spray).
2. toss together strawberries, 1/2 cup plus 2 tbs sugar, 2 tbs flour, and lemon juice in bowl. transfer to prepared baking dish.
3. in a separate bowl, whish together remaining 1/2 cup flour, remaining 2 tbs sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. add butter (or shortening), and mix well with fork until mixture is crumbly. stir in 1/2 cup water. spread over strawberry mixture.
4. bake 20-30 minutes, or until browned and bubbly. let stand for 10 minutes before serving.

when served warm it taste divine with a little homemade vanilla ice cream (without high fructose corn syrup of course!).

enjoy!

drum circle

(despite it's blurry quality, i love this photograph)

we met up with some dear friends at a drum circle hosted by one of the local universities in our town. every year, the music therapy department (at TWU) provides all the instruments - mainly djembe's and encourages everyone to play and dance along.

i simply loved that all of the children (and adults!) played and danced along to the singing and drumming - coming alive and fully engaging  their entire beings to the music. it was such a beautiful and fun experience to see the community come together and just be present with their surroundings and with one another. to hear loud singing, hands beating in rhythm, clapping, feet stomping to the beat, and tiny squeals of delight and bursts of laughter, simply made my heart happy.

sparrow absolutely loved every aspect of the drum circle - the drumming, singing, and playing with all of the other kiddos. my little bird loves music so much, it awakens her body and soul, and it's so cute to watch her move to the beat. and as i see the wonder in her eyes, the passion in her smile, and hear her uncontrollable squeals, my heart can't help but swell with emotion. i love my little bird and it is pure joy to be at her side as she experiences all of life's firsts, even little hippie drum circles.

big friends & little friends

a perfect afternoon

 

i just love spring time in texas! we headed to a little bluebonnet field close to home and snapped some pictures of the bird.

texas teether found here

a half birthday

we (my husband and i) both celebrated our 26th birthday, and our sweet little girl turned 6 months. so we decided to have a little family photo session.and the start of a new family tradition - celebrating half birthdays!

the art of letting go

as i see the date of my last post, all i can whisper is grace, and gently remind myself that i have been living.

three months have come and gone so quickly, that i wouldn't even know where to begin in telling the story of those days. they are beautiful layers of love, strength, grace, and beauty. of nurturing a soul. days and nights spent with my family.

late night talks with my husband. long, beautiful walks with my daughter. breakfast dates with girl friends. reconnecting with my best friend from high school and meeting her daughter for the first time. zumba with my mom (and sharing a meal at our favorite cafe). meditating over coffee. trying new recipes.play dates with the cutest babies. serving in our community. meeting neighbors. listening to stories. discovering new music that sparrow loves. digging deep. watching my baby grow daily.researching the perfect co-op. laughing, clapping, and dancing. working on my garden.praying in hotel parking lots, for women who are in sexual bondage. discovering my passion for writing again. staying out way too late. ignoring chores.

experiencing God's goodness. fullness. His unfailing love.

there is so much life for us, if we just open ourselves up and learn to let go. that is something i am learning, the art of letting go. to release all of the expectations that i place upon my shoulders. a weight that i was never meant to carry. to allow my whole being, my whole heart to simply be. that is something, that i am not always good at. but, i want to be.

i have had many adventures.

i have gone hiking on some of the most beautiful mountains.
i have been to many musical festivals. and danced in the rain.
i have swam in the coldest ocean.
i have gone fishing.
i have seen a pink dolphin.
i have snowboarded in banff, canada.
i have gotten to ride horses. even while pregnant.
i have crowd surfed.
i have been to peru.
i have wished upon falling stars.
i have taught art to 300 hundred middle schoolers in lima.
i have been to machu pichu. and witnessed many americans seeking healing from a famous shaman.
i have gone canoeing on the amazon river. and almost lost my life.
i have swam with sea lions.
i have been para sailing over st.john.
i have volunteered in an orphanage in india. witnessed tremendous courage and sacrifice. and my heart fell for 200 beautiful souls.
i have been camping in the woods.
i have experienced an eco-tour, including hiking, kayaking, and snorkeling with the most colorful fish and massive sting rays.
i have worked with disabled children in mexico who were abandoned by their parents.
i have stayed in xilitla - a remote mountain village, met people with such beauty, and encountered the magical place known as las pozas - extraordinary surreal architecture designed by artist edward james.
i have sailed all across lake taxoma. and even met ross perot.
i have been to st.thomas. and ate the best ceasar salad i have ever had.
i have (and continue to) help girls come out of sex trafficking.
i have lived with many beautiful girls and had too many dance parties to count.
i have made the best homemade ice cream in georgia with my nana.
i have been a waitress, proffesional ice cream scooper, and personal stylist.
i have moved out on my own to pursue my dreams.
i have designed murals, kitchen backsplashes, and even worked in an art gallery in dallas.
i have been a  photographer for a dance company.
i have worked for my dream company-anthropologie.
i have zip-lined through forests.
i have done graffati on trains.
i have stayed in a hostel in chicago.
i have gone ice skating over a frozen lake. in canada.
i have stood by my best friend as she commited herself to the man of her dreams.
i have been cliff jumping.
i have traveled by train. alone. and with friends.
i have road-tripped to california with one of my best friends.
i have married the love of my life. the man i met when i was 16.

and now, i have sparrow. the best adventure yet.