I'm back!!!!

Well, I took an unplanned hiatus from the blog this summer, but today... the first day of fall... seems the perfect day to return. This is my favorite time of year... football, pumpkin candles, nutmeg, homemade apple pie, roasted tomato soup... all the scents of fall... I love it all.

It's a time to gather as family and friends around a big table full of delicious food with candles casting a caramel glow all around. And that's exactly what I plan to do. I got a new cookbook for my birthday. It's Ina Garten's (Barefoot Contessa) Back to Basics. I'm looking forward to trying out the recipes surrounded by those I love.

Oh, and next Wednesday I'll have a new one to love... my niece, Mary Linnley is coming and I can't wait to meet her!

Bird's Eye View

Yesterday, we chopped down a few bushes in our front yard that we inherited when we bought our house. As I was dragging one to the curb, I saw a tangle of twigs and twine and realized this had been more than a tree... it had been a home.

Thankfully, the birds are long gone by now, but I was amazed by what I saw in the nest. This momma bird had found a piece of dryer sheet, a small piece of foam and some white twine to add a soft touch to the nubby twigs. I carefully detached the nest from the tree because I wanted to save it.

I am in awe of the way our Creator gave each species a way to survive and thrive and my jaw drops when I look at His creation. How majestic is Your name and worthy of our praise!

Oh, and the bird was a Christmas gift from Matt's dad and step-mom from Wolfe Studio in Jackson. I absolutely love it! And now my bird has a nest :)

Going Green

Every summer, I spent weeks at my Mamaw and Papaw's Alabama farm. We woke up early when the earth was still pimpled with tiny drops of dew. When the heat reached its pinnacle, we would retreat inside, and Mamaw and I would watch I Love Lucy and snap green beans.

Yesterday, at the farmer's market we loaded up on the beautiful green snaps. I think green beans go with just about everything, and this is my favorite way to cook them...

1. Cut the ends off and wash
2. Heat up olive oil in a saute pan
3. Sprinkle oregano over the olive oil (I use LOTS of oregano)
4. Throw in the green beans and stir until hot but still crunchy

Delicious!

Cinco de Mayo

Last week, Matt and I were in an "ole" kind of mood and we made spicy chicken fajitas, the kind that leave your nose running from all the heat. What made them even better was using the cast iron skillet my daddy gave me that came from my great-grandmother. The cast iron skillet now has the place of honor in my kitchen.

It rightfully deserves that pedestal because last week that hundred year old skillet made the most delicious fajitas I have ever tasted. The sizzle of crisp green peppers as they hit the pan, the smell of sweet onions caramelizing and the color of jalapeno slivers with just the right amount of charring... ahh, delicious!

Oh, and the napkins... those were a Pottery Barn outlet find I just couldn't resist! Plus, your nose is going to need a napkin once you taste the heat in these!

Liss & Matt's Fajitas
- 3 Bell peppers (red, yellow & green)
- 1 large onion (the sweeter the better)
- 5 jalapenos (we like it hot!)
- fajita seasoning
- chicken breasts
- taco shells
- toppings

I drizzle a little olive oil (get the good stuff) in the cast iron skillet and sweat out the onions until they get a creamy, caramel color. Julienne the peppers and throw them in. Once the peppers have some color, slice the jalapenos and add them too. Pour the veggies into another container. Add a bit more olive oil and saute the chicken and fajita seasonings in the same skillet. Once the chicken is cooked through, add the veggies back in and get ready to feast! Ole!

i'm a nerd... i know...

My job deals a lot with writing, website and widgets (I really just wanted another "w" :). I get RSS feed for a lot of blogs dealing with typography because I'm fascinated by it. You see... I'm a bit of a font junkie. When you ride in the car with me, I'll often annoy you by naming fonts I see on signs or billboards. It's addictive... I can't stop.

I found the above picture on one of my favorite blogs- ilovetypography.com. This picture is two letter "O's" from the font Futura. I can spot this font a mile away because it's one of the two we use for Highpoint. The reason I include the picture is because everyone's always said that the "o" in Futura is a perfect circle, but lo and behold... that is simply not true. You can see a slight oblong shape! I realize probably no one else cares about this most miniscule detail, but I love little things like this...

from your quirky, nerdy, detail loving friend,
liss

Spring

If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant: if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome- Anne Bradstreet

This beautiful bloom was on one of our rose bushes and it was the first thing I saw this morning when I let Nola and Allie out. It smells even more delicious than it looks, and the color reminds me of the sunsets in St. Thomas. I couldn't help but bring it inside so I can look at it every time I'm in the kitchen. Each time, I step outside I breathe deeply, taking in the smell of fresh-cut grass and thinking how especially thankful I am for spring this year.

This winter has been hard, but despite the pain I am grateful for it all. Because now I know... His strength IS sufficient. His grace IS enough. His hope IS real...

Just like that rose bush was a mere brown twig two months ago, now it speaks to the glory of its Creator. One day, I hope the same can be said about me.

The Silver Lining

I love birch trees. In my imaginary house, I have a whole forest growing outside my library. When we're cruising down I-55 between Memphis and Jackson, I love to look outside the window searching for the beautiful sliver of silver in the camouflage of brown and green.

The first time I saw a birch tree I thought something was wrong with it... why else would all its bark be peeling off like a snake molting its skin? But take a step closer and you see the textural beauty in that bark. Peer underneath the bark and you see the smoothest piece of wood hiding there.

For the past few years, I've felt like that birch tree I love so much. I've had to look deep inside my heart and confront some things I didn't like about myself and be honest about who I really am. For the first 21 years of my life, I worked really hard at pleasing people, making the best grades and collecting awards and accolades because I thought they made me who I was. I couldn't stand to make a mistake because it meant I was a failure. I spent every ounce of energy creating a facade... making people believe I was invincible.

Slowly and unfortunately very painfully, I've peeled back the layers. I've learned it's okay to have a bad day, and I don't have to slap a sweet, pearly white smile on it. I've learned that happiness isn't the same as joy. I've learned that true friends laugh with you and cry with you and love you even when you don't love yourself. I've learned that it's okay to shed a few layers... to be vulnerable... to let people see the deepest part of me. Because hiding underneath all those layers is a heart... my heart... smooth and solid, forgiven and made beautiful thanks to the grace of its Creator.

Girl Power

So, Matt and I found out in February that we are going to be Uncle Matt and Aunt Liss in September, and on Thursday we found that we are having a NIECE! Sweet little Mary Linnley!
I can't wait to meet my sweet niece, and I've already worked up a small list of things Aunt Liss and Mary Linnley will be doing together...

1. Learning how to bake Uncle Matt's yummy chocolate chip cookies

2. Building sandcastles at the beach

3. Reading LOTS and LOTS of books snuggled up in a big, comfy chair

4. Having a tea party complete with feather boas, cookies and tea

5. Finger painting (and maybe some with our toes as well!)

6. Seeing all the animals at the zoo (and heading home with an armful of stuffed animals)

7. Painting our fingernails together

8. Going to Muddy's in a pink tutu (just ML in the tutu, not me) to get a yummy cupcake

9. Teaching her to say, "Roll Tide!" ;) (lucky for me, her dad's a big Bama fan!)

10. Being not just aunt and niece but one day... best friends...

Mary Linnley, I can't wait to meet you! And, I really can't wait for your parents to decide how they're going to spell your name, but for now I'll go with what I like best ;)

Love,
Aunt Liss

Catch-up and Ketchup

The past week has been crazy busy, but full of wonderful times...

- My mom and Mamaw came to Memphis Friday night and we went to Abuelo's for dinner. I got the mix and match enchiladas (one cheese with chili con carne and one avocado). They were so yummy! Plus, the papas con chile are to die for! I could eat a big bowl of those any day!

- Saturday, we ran the Bunny Run... that's right! We RAN it! We finished the race (a feat in and of itself for us) in 33 minutes, so that's like a ten and a half minute mile. Now, I realize we're not going to be going for the Olympics anytime soon, but that's really good for us. Now, we're gonna start working on a 10K... woosh!

- The main reason for my lack of writing is that I have been sick since the middle of last week. The stress of Easter when you're in ministry plus pollen on every static surface makes for sinuses that aren't very happy... hopefully, relief will come soon.

- I'll have to put up pictures later, but our backyard is looking much better this year! Last year, it looked like a jungle (literally, my sister-in-law looked outside last year and said, "Oh, it's so tropical!" :) But this year, we have a new picnic table with herbs growing in little pots on top, two new red metal chairs that Matt's mom gave us for Christmas, two new crabapple trees blooming like crazy (a surprise since we got them for 5 bucks at the end of the summer last year) and at last we are using our grill now! WOO HOO! We grill burgers at least once a week, and if you know me at all you know I have a fetish with sauces, so my burger has to have LOTS of ketchup!

So, there you go... catch-up and ketchup! Happy Monday!

Splish Splash

The past month Matt and I have been on a running program to get ready for the Bunny Run for Special Kids 5K. My love for the Special Kids program first started because of a friend I met in college...

Within a few weeks of moving to Alabama for school, I found a church with a college ministry I loved. I quickly joined a freshman Bible study hoping to make some new friends since I moved to college knowing no one! The leader of my group wanted us to find a place to serve in Tuscaloosa, and she had a connection with the the Special Olympics swim team. She asked us to come and cheer on the team at their next practice.

I'm thinking that by "cheering on the team" we will be standing on the side clapping, yelling, you know... cheering. I didn't think anything of it when she told us to wear swimsuits because we might get wet. I figured if they swam anything like I do, there might be a lot of splashing, after all it is a pool!

Boy, was I in for a surprise when we get there and we aren't just cheering them on. No, we are fully submerged in the water and we are supposed to COACH these kids. Now, I don't know if you remember or not, but I don't really have an athletic bone in my body. I like to swim as much as the next guy, but I certainly won't be winning any awards for technique or speed. To add to the pressure, they were going to Auburn for state competition in four weeks, so we needed to get busy.

Well, I dove in and was paired up with a guy named Kevin. Kevin was a teenager, but because of some medical issues he had been diagnosed at a child's mental level. Kevin was funny, outgoing and a very hard worker. I knew it would be easy to work with him. What I did not know was how much Kevin would teach me.

I still remember that first competition like it was yesterday. Kevin was swimming in the 200m. While his illness had affected his mental capacity, physically he was very strong, a much better swimmer than me. During the competition, coaches could stand at the end to cheer the competitor on. I was so nervous for him because I knew how badly he wanted to win gold. We had practiced for hours and hours to increase his speed. Now, he was coming on the last leg of the race and he was dead even with one of the guys. I was screaming as loud as I could telling him to keep going, keep going! Suddenly, he was nearing the end and it seemed he might make it... he might win the gold. His hand hit the wall and I looked at the judge to see the scores. Sure enough, he had done it. Kevin's parents were ecstatic. Hugs and high fives were given all around, but the moment I will forever treasure occurred when they handed him his gold medal. He carried it over to me so I could see it and he said, "I did it! I did it! You told me I could do it and I did it!"

Kevin knew where imagination and hard work can take you. He taught me that life isn't worth anything unless you dream big... a lesson I carry with me to this day.

Roberts Reunion

What do you get when you mix 6 members of the Roberts family, 5 rambunctious but adorable dogs, 2 crazy hippos at the Memphis Zoo, 1 stolen Coletta's menu and 1 slightly cracked cake courtesy of Mississippi roads... a weekend to remember!

For months, we've been saying we all needed to get together and we figured what better reason than to celebrate my sister-in-law's 30th birthday. So, last Friday we all converged in Memphis to let the fun begin. Friday night, we went to the original Coletta's and enjoyed a scrumptious BBQ pizza, lasagna, spaghetti and cheesy garlic bread... all family style of course! Then came the unveiling of the slightly damaged but oh so delicious cake from Campbell's bakery in Jackson where all of Ashley's childhood cakes came from.

Saturday, we braved the cold and explored the zoo. The hippos put on a show for us, and we had a blast seeing all the animals. Matt and I had so much fun that I think we're going to get a family pass. We got home and bundled up while Matt grilled up some yummy steaks, and of course I couldn't let them come to Memphis without having Muddy's cupcakes :)

Much love to all my Roberts Family, especially the wonderful one who decided to marry this girl!

Cajun Shrimp and Pink Polos

I have this habit of "accidentally permanently borrowing" things from my mom. I thought about this the other day as I was driving to Mississippi for a wedding Matt was shooting. I was wearing one of my favorite shirts, a pale pink striped polo. It's one of those shirts that only gets better every time you wash it, and I always feel a little better in pink... it's just one of those colors. That same day, I needed to paint my toenails because they were looking a bit bare, and I was wishing I had a bottle of OPI Cajun Shrimp nail polish with me. Years ago, Mom found this color and when I saw it in the bottle I thought, "NO WAY that's going on my toes... It's ORANGE for crying out loud!" But sure enough... get a little sun on my skin and that nail polish is the most perfect shade for summer... not to mention it's named after one of my favorite foods :)

You see... I don't actually mean to "permanently borrow" them. As soon as Mom, being the completely selfless person she is, sees that twinkle in my eyes knowing that I've found a new "favorite" she insists that I take it. I protest a little (and I do mean just a little... it's actually not much at all) but of course she always insists. Sometimes, she'll stick it in my bag without me even knowing. Mom, it's time to break out the polos, flip-flops and Cajun Shrimp polish... summer is almost here and I can't wait to celebrate with you!

One Day

i'm dreaming of you today
do you have a pile of brown curls
cheeks all chubby and round
eyes that sparkle like your daddy

i'm remembering you
that tiny heartbeat
the miracle of life

i'm wishing i could hold you
smell you
kiss you

i'm thinking of you dancing
laughing
smiling
enjoying your Creator

i'm hoping you know how much i love you
miss you
can't wait to meet you...

...one day

Paint and Petals

I took this picture Saturday while Matt was shooting a wedding in Pickens, Mississippi. Seeing the delicate, veiled petals of a fresh hydrangea beside a 150 year old wooden window with cracked paint and beautiful old glass captured my attention. I love old pieces of furniture, family heirlooms, keepsakes passed down from generation to generation. Even more, I love pairing those pieces with modern accents and new finds. In the old piece, you find a rich history, an enchanting story, a mystery waiting to be unfolded, and in the new you find a breath of fresh air, a clean start, a new creation just waiting to be loved. Put the two together, and I think you find what humans are really made of. I am only one person, but I carry with me the strength of those who went before me... a past that might have some cracking paint from mistakes made but underneath it carries a wisdom forged from lessons learned. And then I see the vibrancy of life, captured in a thousand tiny petals glimmering from the sun's glow, each one offering a new opportunity, a new discovery, a new day to grow.

Bright beams

So, after throwing a bit of a pity party for myself yesterday (who? me? :) God has overwhelmed me once more with the brightness of His blessings. Through the kind words of friends and the generosity of bosses, He reminded me that even on my worst day I still have so much to be thankful for.

Today the sun is shining brightly. I enjoyed a wonderful club sandwich with lots of sweet, spicy mustard with one of my good friends as we talked about dreams and goals, girl stuff and writing. After lunch, I stopped by Muddy's to pick up a half dozen scrumptious cupcakes to enjoy tonight after we grill some burgers with friends.

Good food, amazing friends, a flood of sunshine and yummy cupcakes... delicious!

The sun'll come out tomorrow...

Do you remember the children's book Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day? This was a favorite of mine growing up, and today I feel like I could write my very own version.

It's just one of those days. My closet is piled high with clothes but I have "nothing to wear." I look in the mirror and feel like I ate my weight in peanut butter fudge ice cream (alright, I had a little bit but not that much!). My face is all broken out from the hormone shifts after the miscarriage. I can't manage to get anything right at work, and there is dust creeping out from every corner of my home. ugh... it's just one of those days.

All I want to do is crawl in bed and call it a day. Unfortunately, I'm pretty sure when I wake up in the morning it will all still be there. So, I'll muster up my non-existent energy and run a couple miles, trudge myself to FPU tonight because I know it's good for me and hopefully the sun will be a little brighter tomorrow (literally and figuratively).

107 and counting

Right now it's cold, rainy and just plain yucky outside. It's only March and already, I'm counting down the days until the Wentworths head to the beach. Already I can see the drive down there... Mom and Matt and I usually go down on Sunday afternoon after church since Sundays are pretty important for our jobs. Mom will be driving her red convertible singing at the top of her lungs. Several hours later as the humidity is creeping up and my hair becomes increasingly curly with every passing mile, we arrive at the beach house. Hugs abound and the smell of salty air holds a hint at the week to come.

And then... there are the dinners. Some people love the beach for the sun and the waves. While I think both are pretty cool, it's what comes out of those waves that interests me most. Dinners with the Wentworths are not 30 minute meals (even though my dad loves Rachael Ray :).
Instead, we all shower and clean up from the salt and sunscreen and gather in the kitchen. Instantly, my favorite smells wash over me... guacamole with the essential lemon pepper, grilled fish caught that morning, fried calamari, and the smell of crab boil rising from the pot of boiled shrimp the size of my palm... my personal favorite. I sit down with a BIG bowl and spicy cocktail sauce and I can think of nothing better... but wait, I hear the sound of homemade ice cream churning... ah, paradise! Only 107 more days.

HOUSE

Matt and I have a new obsession, one I'll quickly blame on my sister :) When I was staying with Gracie at the hospital, she got me hooked on HOUSE and now Matt and I can't get enough. It's a show about medicine and relationships, strange circumstances and keen deductive skills, all with a sarcastic edge. What's not to love?

The best part is some nights there are 3 or 4 episodes and we can cook some pasta or bake a pizza and have a little HOUSE marathon. Of course, I should probably be cleaning my real house, but oh well... it's way more fun to snuggle on the couch with Matt and the girls! :)

9.19

Some girls pray for a dollhouse or the latest Barbie for their 8th birthday, but I was praying for something far greater. When I woke up on September 19, 1992, I got the greatest birthday surprise of my life. My parents told me that they were headed to the hospital because my sister Grace was on her way.

You see, for months I had been praying... begging... pleading God to let my baby sister be born on my birthday. There was no way I could have known then the joy that she would bring to my life.

Gracie has filled my life with so many wonderful memories... all the hats my mom made her wear as a baby (which I secretly thought were the cutest things imaginable), the infamous broken leg and the ensuing full-length cast that she drug around the entire summer, all our shared birthdays and a lot of pink, strawberry cakes with pink candles, our love of football (and more specifically Alabama football), the many tears I cried when I had to say goodbye to her as they left my dorm room for the first time, how flattered I was when Mom told me that she slept in my bed when she would miss me, how happy I was to have her as my maid-of-honor and the shrill in her voice when I told her that she was going to be an aunt... I can't wait to hear that sound again when God blesses us with another baby...

She's more than a sister and we share more than a birthday. This past week, I was reminded once again of how much my life was changed on September 19, 1992. I will never be able to tell her how much I love her, but I will never stop trying. I love you, Gracie!

Lazy Sundays

I hear my phone beeping... it's telling me it's time to get up... of course, it's also telling me that it's 4:30 AM. This is my Sunday morning routine. I was grateful that Matt had set the coffee maker this morning, so there was hot coffee waiting after I stepped out of the shower into our very cold house (I refuse to give MLGW a dime more than I have to).

Sunday mornings are a whirlwind... stage set-up, rehearsal, services and today we filmed a new project I've been working on called SML (Sunday Morning Live). More on that later!

So with the craziness of Sunday mornings, Matt and I usually take it pretty easy on Sunday evenings, and tonight was no exception. I am currently sitting on my sofa with Nola curled up on my left (snoring of course) and Allie stretched out to my right. I just finished a delicious piece of Primo's strawberry cake. My parents and sister came to visit this week and they brought me my favorite confection! I'm sipping another cup of coffee and watching the Oscars with Matt. I love the creativity, the sets, the way they use media... and I'm really enjoying Hugh Jackman hosting this year. In another life, I would have been in Broadway... for tonight at least I can pretend.