Category: Food

Morning by Morning (5/8/17)

May 8, 2017

My daily gratitude for:

  1. The many wonderful nurses at Texas Children’s Hospital, and especially in the PICU and PCU.  These nurses are great friends, and even better caregivers for the children and families they come everyday to serve.  It’s so inspiring and humbling to serve alongside them.  Happy Nurses Week!!!
  2. The wonderful herbs and peppers growing in our backyard! They are looking very good, and I have had little to do with them other than watering. 
  3. George and Shannon, a couple in our neighborhood who are great parents and friends and such a joy! I can’t wait for their baby boy to arrive!
  4. Pizza, any day of the week!

Morning by Morning (5/5/17)

May 5, 2017

My daily gratitude for:

  1. Healthy children.  Work at the hospital for 1 minute and there is a reality check on what really matters.
  2. The PICU Physician and Fellow (Nick and Nate) who handled themselves with grace and immense skill this week during a tough set of situations.
  3. Elana’s return home tonight!!!
  4. The gift of the Mexican culture and people- and no that doesn’t include Dos Equis or cinco de mayo bar specials or any other exploitation of the holiday.  This culture is a sizable part of our melting pot here, and the people who share that culture are a gift and joy as I work with those families at the hospital and I interact in my community. I see love and family and care and joy and the depth I see in the Mexican heritage.

Morning by Morning (4/4/17)

April 4, 2017

My daily gratitude for:

  1. Teaching little kids about April Fools.  A kid was playing with Aiden and had just learned about the day, and when he was going to grow the baseball to Aiden, threw it in the opposite direction and said April Fools!!! That’s one way to do April Fools!
  2. The awesome turkey sandwich I made last night. Turkey, sliced avocado, cranberry cream cheese dressing, toasted ciabatta.  Yum!
  3. Our little dog Hot Fudge Sundae who died yesterday (she had to be put down).  Such a annoying dog, but a sweet dog and part of our family.

Morning by Morning (3/21/17)

March 22, 2017

My daily gratitude for:

  1. Breakfast foods.  Eggs, bacon, fruit, French toast, cereal, oatmeal, strawberries, chorizo, bagels and cream cheese, hash browns, etc.  I like to eat, and breakfast I do faithfully.
  2. Crawfish boils with neighbors.  We have a really great set of neighbors!
  3. Ryan learning to get his hands dirty and hold a crawfish!
  4. Our dogs. They are a gift and we don’t always treat them as such. But they love Ryan and Aiden, and always are so energetic.

Morning by Morning (3/16/17)

March 16, 2017

My daily gratitude for:

  1. Watching Ryan play, wherever it is.  What a delight!
  2. Getting a chance to watch players like Lebron James, Steph Curry, Russell Westbrook, Kawhi Leonard, and others in their prime.  They will be the ones I tell my kids “I remember when…”
  3. Ryan saying “Come on Daddy” when he wants time to come play or see what he is doing. It’s so cute and a precious reminder every time he says it that I am a father.
  4. Jumping on a trampoline.  The one in our backyard provides lots of fun and lots of flashbacks when I get on!
  5. Fish tacos.  I am gonna make some soon and see how it goes!

Morning by Morning (3/11/17)

March 11, 2017

My daily gratitude for:

  1. Having great in laws.  I have two brothers in law plus a great mother and father in law, and they are good good people.
  2. Tasting a cold soda after a long day.
  3. All the little things that a cell phone provides.  My phone was cracked yesterday and in the process of getting a new one went 4 hours without a phone.  I wasn’t able to make plans, distract myself from boredom, learn new things, pay bills, keep up with friends, or entertain my son with it.  I appreciate what it allows me to do!
  4. The time with my son Ryan that having no phone allowed.  I was able to give almost three hours dedicated without phone interruption and I was able to be silly with him and treasure his trusting clutch of his father as he fell asleep on me.

Morning by Morning (3/9/17)

March 9, 2017

My daily gratitude for:

  1. Sleeping in.  I’m not great at it but I have been growing into this lately and even during the weekdays, sleeping till 6:45 instead of 6am.  It’s a win! (Kids are exhausting!)
  2. The way the podcast “Code Switch” closes its interviews- asking people what song is moving them these days.  I’ve heard some great music through them, and just as important, hearing music outside of my sphere.
  3. My new found curiosity in coffee.  I mean, I’m not super thrilled about it yet, but I am least thinking about it some.
  4. Chicken Marsala, which I will make tonight as part of my goal in cooking through one cookbook this year. Excited!

Morning by Morning (3/8/17)

March 8, 2017

My daily gratitude for:

  1. Seeing kids from the neighborhood playing soccer in our church parking lot.  There is a gospel message there in their joy and our welcome and I’m proud to stand up for their ability to do that and build memories in a church lot!
  2. The way Ryan sleeps when he is in our bed. Loves touching us, back to back, sprawled around, feet dug into our midsections, and then hugging us when he wakes up. It’s beautiful and I treasure it so much!  (It shows he trusts us and seeks comfort in us so I think I have done well in that respect.
  3. Taryn Schuelke, who I work with on Bereavement at TCH.  She is so organized, energetic, and insightful and such a gift in her compassion and kindness to me. I appreciate working with her and helping on such a great task.
  4. The ice cream, Cherry Cordial.  I don’t know why I like it so much but I love buying it at the store and waiting on it at night!

Morning by Morning (3/3/17)

March 3, 2017

My daily gratitude for:

  1. The bright sun this morning that balances the cool morning.  Glad to have looked up to notice it!
  2. The podcast Code Switch I’m been listening to, which talks about race, ethnicity, and culture in ways that challenge me and help me learn about so many others!
  3. The chance to baptize E this afternoon, a toddler at the hospital I just treasure. His parents have been wonderful to visit with all their honesty, faith, and genuine love. What an opportunity to add to the relationship I’ve already shared with the family!
  4. Toast with butter, cinnamon and sugar.  It’s just so good.

Morning by Morning (2/6/17)

February 6, 2017

My daily gratitude for:

  1. Playing my best disc golf this month.  It’s fun to be decently good at something, even if I’m not great.
  2. Ryan finding a doghouse, evidently for his own home!
  3. The opportunity to watch Tom Brady play.  I will get to tell my kids that I watched the greatest of all time.
  4. A great time last night with my good friends- Stephen, Dawn Marie, Sherry, Belinda, Mikey, and of course Elana.
  5. Making deviled eggs. Just because it was fun to try.