Ten Things I'll Miss Most About Duluth: #9 Hawk's Ridge in the Fall

If you've been lucky enough to visit Duluth during the 3-week climax of autumn, I'm sure it took your breath away.  You have to time it well...it seems to come and go as quickly as cherry blossom season in D.C.  And if it's too cold, the colors aren't nearly as brilliant.  But when all the conditions are right, WOW.  It *almost* makes the 8 months of winter we endure worth it! 

Hawk's Ridge overlooks the city of Duluth from the hillside, and also provides a sweeping view of Lake Superior.  We like to stop and hike the small trails to hidden scenic overlooks, and frequently make stops along Seven Bridges Road for beautiful pictures.  Waterfalls, streams, stone bridges, gorgeous views....all just a few minutes from our house!

 

Ten Things I'll Miss Most About Duluth: #10 Fitger's Brewhouse

As our days in Duluth wind to a close, I thought I'd take some time to appreciate all the things I've grown to love about this city. 

If you have come to visit us during our time in Duluth, you HAVE BEEN to Fitger's Brewhouse.  It's our go-to Northland dining experience for visitors, date nights, and gatherings with friends.  It was the first place I ate when visiting Duluth.  In fact, on that fateful day, our table was positioned under the "You'll Love Duluth" sign.  I made jokes about it at the time, but it was truly quite prophetic.  And it was the first meal I had after my labor with Kendall (in the hospital, thanks to my loyal runners!). 

I have devoured more of their beer-battered fries than I care to think about, each one totally worth the souvenir calories it comes with.  Chris' mouth starts watering at the mere mention of the "Beau Burger", and though I'm no beer connoisseur, the unique flavors and brews are the best around. 

There WILL be weekend trips to Duluth in our future, if not only to re-visit one of our favorite restaurants, Fitger's Brewhouse!

Dance Break!

Observe the following awesomeness:
1.  My daughter's affinity for punk rock.
2.  Her attempt to breakdance at 1:45.
3.  The fact that she has surpassed her father in coolness at fifteen months.

Happy Blogoversary to ME!

If you can believe it, tomorrow marks the FIFTH year of this blog!
Now, I was blogging a bit before that on another domain, but this particular blog kicked my commitment into high gear.
You can travel back to that first post here.
And many of you have been following for YEARS! 
Thank you for keeping up with me and our growing family. 

Here's to many more happy blogs to share!

I'd love to know if you've been following for a while- leave a comment (maybe you've never done that before...it's easy!) and share some love!  And if you have a blog that I don't know about, do share your link!

K.S. Phone Home

Yay!  Gonna call Grandma!!

It's ringing...

Wait a second...I can't hear anything....

Connection lost!?  Dang it, AT&T!

Fifteen months old, and she can power on my phone by sliding her finger across the screen.  She particularly loves scrolling down on text messages.  By five, our kids are going to be schooling us on the latest technology- it's pretty scary! 

I Got Skills.

I was reflecting today on all the various jobs I've held in my life, and how each of them supplied me with life skills that have long outlasted my employment.  It was a fun walk down memory lane!  In chronological order, here they are:

The Bible House (Stockton, CA)
-How to work a register
-How to gift wrap a package
-How to discern between different translations of the Bible
-How to supervise a team
-Familiarized with Christian authors and artists
-How to execute EXCELLENT customer service!

Nutcracker Sweet (Stockton, CA)
-How to create a gourmet gift basket
-Tasted every kind of chocolate imaginable :)
-How to work humbly under difficult management
-How to deal with crazy Beanie Baby collectors
-How to bum sandwiches off of the cafe workers for lunch

Alder Market Catering (Stockton, CA)
-How to create wonderful food presentations
-How to fold a napkin :)
-Gleaned numerous ideas for my wedding
-Took away secret hors d'oeuvres recipes

Bath and Body Works (Stockton, CA)
-How to annoy customers with pushy sales tactics
-How to respond after being assigned one night a week (quit.)

Pottery Barn (Sacramento, CA)
-Team-driven retail
-How positive incentives affect employee motivation
-Retail has big perks (40% discount, people!)

First Baptist Church (Stockton, CA)
-Responsibility and authority in Ministry
-Ability to organize programs
-How to lead worship authentically
-How to care for the spiritual needs of children

Lakeside Christian School K-8 (Stockton, CA)
-How to put together daily learning experiences for a classroom of children
-How to work with and establish trust with parents
-How to engage children in meaningful activities
-How to successfully manage large groups of children

Biola University (La Mirada, CA)
-How to inspire prospective teachers
-How to keep a paper trail for EVERYTHING
-How to use a MAC computer (life changer!)
-How to be attentive to detail in paperwork
-Understanding the teacher licensing process in multiple states

Mommy (Duluth, MN)
-How to make a baby giggle
-How to meet daily needs of children
-How to balance being a wife and mother

How about you?  Have any of your previous work experiences given you useful life skills?  Any that stand out to you?

Kendall and the Purple Crayon

We enjoyed Barnes & Nobles' children's storytime the other day, featuring the children's book "Harold and the Purple Crayon".  Kendall enjoyed the opportunity to make her own artwork with her very own purple crayon.  Although, she spent more time fixated on how to get her neighbor's orange crayon...

Daddy Daughter Rock Chalk.

Kendall was a supportive daughter last Sunday, sporting her Jayhawk gear to help her daddy cheer on Kansas in NCAA tournament.  They enjoyed (endured) the game together, a game that ended sadly with a loss.  

Before the game.

After the game.

Seeing Red.

Nice job, Kansas.
Way to disappoint us yet again. 
Closing the book on March Madness this year with a dead bracket.
Beep.  Beep.  Beeeeeeeeeeeep....

Like a Big Girl!

Wearing Mommy's shoes and feeling like a big girl.

Seriously....wearing Mommy's shoes is my new favorite thing.

Standing up tall like a big girl.

Helping with the laundry like a big girl.

 

Climbing the stairs like a big girl.

Playing with...well, let's just say there are some perks of being a LITTLE girl, Kendall.

Tough Stuff and Big Changes

You know that saying, "God will only give you what you can handle"?
Such a lie.
We deal with stuff all the time that we can't handle.  Sometimes it just feels like it's burying us.
And when we think we've reached our capacity for sanity, God assures us that He's there to carry the load- if we'll let Him.

So, I guess it should read, "God will only give you what HE can handle."
And I'm okay with that.



So it has been the last few months of our lives.  We've been thrown some serious curveballs that have put our faith to the test: 

A miscarriage in January.
Major home damage in February.
Countless bills from both of the above.
A job offer for Chris in a place far from where we wanted to move.

In the midst of it all, it was like walking through mud.  Our serene daily routine was replaced with contractors, phone calls, doctor appointments, paperwork, yadda yadda yadda.

And knowing that God was up to something, I tried putting the pieces of the puzzle together (which never seems to work).  God, you make ALL THINGS work together for the GOOD of those who love you (Romans 8:28).  This must be no exception!  As frustrating as it was, this was the truth to which I pressed in every day.

The culmination of all of this mess is that Chris accepted a position in Fargo, and we will be moving from Duluth to the Fargo/Moorhead area in late April.  When the job offer first came about, I was totally shut down to any consideration.  After all, Chris and I had visions of raising our family somewhere completely different, and that singleness of goal has been with us our entire marriage.  I was even reluctant to PRAY about the possibility, because that would give God a foot-in-the-door to make it happen.  Thankfully, several of my friends offered to help me in this area, praying with me, encouraging me, even giving me prophetic words of community and peace that they feel is waiting for me in Fargo.  I have received many soft assurances from God, and do believe that this is the best decision we could make for our family at this time.

And, though I'm not in the"YAY!  I'm so excited!" stage of this change, I can see how God has been piecing this move together supernaturally.  Perhaps the timing of our pregnancy wasn't right in light of this move.  And perhaps all of our home repairs saved us thousands in the long-run as we prepare to sell our house.  And maybe, MAYBE, God has this next phase of our lives under control too...

Brilliantly Pointless Street Fliers

There are more here, but these are a couple of my favorites.  And, it's been a while since Lionel Richie got a shout-out on my blog.

I realize this is also a brilliantly pointless blog entry. 

It's Spring, You Say?

I looked out my back window this morning and saw this lovely spring sight:

Pfft...Yeah, right. We haven't seen green since October. It actually looks pretty much exactly like it did in October. White, white, white.

So, while the rest of the world enjoys the flowers and showers that come with spring, we're paying attention to the blizzard warnings for the coming week.

From the Duluth News Tribune today:

Duluth, MN (Northland's NewsCenter) - The national weather service in Duluth has issued a blizzard warning in effect from 1:00 PM Tuesday to 7:00 PM Wednesday.

An intense snowstorm will affect the Twin Ports region Tuesday through Wednesday, including cities of Duluth, Cloquet, Superior and Two Harbors.

The strongest winds and heaviest snow will occur Tuesday night into Wednesday morning.

12 to 16 inches of snowfall is expected by late Wednesday afternoon.
Heavy snow and northeast winds of 30 to 45 mph will result in blowing and drifting snow across the Twin Ports with white out and blizzard conditions likely.

Power outages due to downed trees and power lines are also possible.

For the rest of the Northland, a Winter Storm Warning has been issued meaning snowfall rates of 1-2" per hour and difficult driving is expected. Storm total snow could be 6-12" in these areas with wind gusts over 30mph possible. Drifting snow is also likely with these high winds.


That's all for now....I'm off to the grocery store for some daily rations.  Sigh. 

A Little Weekend Treat

This week was a doozy.  More on that later.

I thought it was a good time to make something special for Chris and I.  A couple weeks ago, I attended a class at Whole Foods Co Op on Pizza Making from scratch.  They demonstrated an appetizer Pear and Cream Cheese pizza on an herbed crust, a dinner Greek Hummus pizza, and a Chocolate Dessert pizza.  I have since made ALL of them at home and, while the Pear concoction remains my favorite of the three, this chocolate goodness comes in at a CLOSE second.

That's ricotta cheese, blackberries and raspberries on a chocolate pizza crust, topped with chocolate ganache.  Go ahead- repent for your gluttonous thoughts...I already have.

So We're in THAT Phase Now.

She finally found them...cabinets, doors, and all that's behind them.
Looks like my job description just doubled!
I'm keeping a keen eye on this little one...
but letting her have some supervised fun, too.  :)

Tick-Tock, Where's My Dinner!?

This one's for you, Mom :)

State Hockey 2011

It's a Stavenger family tradition.  Hockey?  What hockey?  I was having too much fun enjoying the reunion!  This was Kendall's second go-around at the State Tournament, this year she was a little more engaged.  Aside from the tourney, we paid a visit to the Mall of America, where last year Kendall slept through the excitement.  This year, she pointed excitedly to every balloon in sight, stared wide-eyed at the giant Dora the Explorer, and took her first ride on the Merry-Go-Round.  And Chris and I continue to enjoy seeing all these experiences through new eyes as she takes it all in for the first time.

The black and orange clad Stavs.

Grandma and Grandpa with the grandkiddos.

Our cute little Spuds fan!  (And not so cute mommy and daddy, thanks to a day of travel!)

Mallory has a thing or two to teach Aunt Carrie about smiling for the camera!

After riding this quarter-carousel at the Mall of America once, Kendall pointed to it EVERY time we passed by.  She was ALL about it, and got to ride it a few more times.  Just her size, too!

A break from all the fun with Daddy.

Marcus, Mallory, Uncle Eric and Lauren enjoyed a ride in the caboose.

First time on a REAL merry-go-round!  Kendall is staring up at a giant cartoon of Dora the Explorer, of course.

Losers like us.

A night out with all the sibs.

Just the girls...and a guy with a green vest, no shirt, and a barbed wire tattoo.

Get Your Cheer ON!

Let's get this game STARTED!

Alright SPUDS!  Do your thing!

Darn!  Thwarted by the goalie.

REF!  How could you not call that check!

Nice play, boys.  Nice play.

Where I lack a certain passion for the game of hockey, looks like Kendall is picking up the slack.  I love watching this girl!

Puck Hunting

We're off to the annual State High School Hockey Tournament in the cities.
Hockey enthusiasts in California are few and far between.
But, boy is it a celebrated sport here!
Hockey is such a peculiar game to me.
I have a hard time following the puck on the ice...and I have outstanding eyesight.
Most of the time, I just clap and sigh when everyone else does.
It would be nice if they doubled the size of the goal so that some scoring can actually happen.
I will say it's fun to be a part of the energy in the arena.
And we'll be rooting on Chris' hometown team in the playoffs.
Go Spuds!  (That's right....Spuds.) :)

Fruit and Meat...Together?

This is the question my husband asked when I told him what was on the menu for dinner.  This recipe featured one of my FAVORITE combinations....pork and apples.  It's not a crazy idea- they are paired together often, with the sweet apples complimenting the bitterness of the pork.  And it's certainly not the first time fruit and meat have been featured together (ahem, cranberries and turkey).  The best part of this recipe- 5 ingredients.  FIVE.  So easy, there's really no excuse not to try it.

Apple Pecan Pork Tenderloin Medallions
(serves 4)
     1 lb Pork Tenderloin
     2 Tbsp butter
     1 (16 oz) can sliced apples, drained
     1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
     1/2 cup pecans, chopped

Trim fat from Pork.  Cut into 1/2" slices.
Melt butter in large skillet over med-high heat until it sizzles.
Reduce heat to medium.
Arrange pork slices in skillet.
Cook 2 minutes, turn slices.
Spoon apples over pork.
Sprinkle with brown sugar and pecans.
Cover and cook 4-6 minutes more.

Vision and Leadership

I had the privilege of spending the whole day on Saturday with the Women Leaders of the Vineyard Church.  We dined, we made pizza, we had coffee, we sang, we watched a film at Zinema...it was a FUN day!  Additionally, we cast vision for the future, but not before talking about what vision means.  I loved the outline Jordan gave us for recognizing Godly vision.  I think it applies beyond the perimeter of ministry, so I thought I'd share it with you.  Has God given you vision for your job?  Your family?  Your education? 

1.  It's Clear.  When we have refined vision, we understand it clearly and the people following us can articulate it as well.

2.  It's Challenging.  It calls yourself and others to rise to the occasion.  One of the biggest defeaters of momentum is a vision that is too small or requires too little commitment.  We want something worth investing our lives into.

3.  It's Possible.  It's actually attainable, though not without hard work and sacrifice.  There is authentic possibility in it.

4.  It Consists of a Mental Picture.  It lodges into our minds and the people we share it with.  It is connected to compelling images and memories.  You can describe what it looks like.

5.  It Relates to the Future.  The vision talks about what could be, even if the present reality isn't.

6.  It Carries a Sense of Urgency.  When you have a vision, it's always tagged with "this has got to happen!"

Vision is the most important commodity that you can have as a leader.  Without vision there is fear, insecurity, misdirection, aimlessness and lack of purpose.  Without vision there is no leadership."

Picture Perfect

I took Kendall out for her one-year-old photos (at fourteen months, but nevermind that) a couple weeks ago.
Ignore also the jenky number one that tilted every time she stood with it.
But we still got a good crop of faces!

Unexpected Conversations

Emily (left) and Chantal (right)

Our new kitchen flooring was (finally) installed today. 
Home Depot sent a burly-type contractor to do the work.
So with Kendall asleep, I turned on the end of "The Bachelor", which I had recorded from the night before.
And then I heard from the kitchen:

"Did you miss this episode last night?"

"Yeah- just catching up now."

 "It was a good one.  Surprising, but good."

"You watch The Bachelor?!"

"Yeah, my wife likes it, and I really like it now that I'm familiar with all the characters."

"Who are you pulling for?"

"I really thought Ashley and Brad had good chemistry, but it seemed like he was trying to make their communication haywire as an excuse to get rid of her.  I didn't see that coming at all.  I like Chantal, but my wife doesn't like her at all.  She seems kinda fake, I guess.  We both like Emily, but it seems like she never opens up to Brad like the other girls do, and she's got one helluva past- that's gotta scare him."
(I was cracking up on the inside at this entire conversation.  Clearly he is not ashamed at all of watching this show!)

So, now I have a kitchen floor and the latest dish on The Bachelor, compliments of the handyman.
Team Emily!

 

It's Cookie Time!

I know what you're thinking.
That's one bad-a$$ looking Brownie.
Maybe it was the feeling of authority that came with snapping on that orange criss-cross tie and pulling up those tasseled knee-highs.
Or maybe that glare is the aftermath of cookie season- a season which I dominated year after year.
100+
250+
300+
I racked up badges like crazy.
This achievement was earned by hauling that brownie beanie door-to-door, and flashing that adorable brownie smile.

As a teacher, I had ample opportunity to get my annual fix of Samoas and Tagalongs.  A box here, a box there.  But since I moved to Duluth, the Girl Scouts have been eluding me.  I heard that cookie season was upon us, but I didn't receive (nor did I expect, given the chilly winter weather) any knocks on my door.

I almost missed the opportunity altogether, until I saw that friend Kathy's daughter was getting ready to collect her cookie orders.  NO!  WAIT!  I need cookies!!! (I pictured myself carelessly sprinting toward her, waving my cash in the air and subsequently diving into a pile of cookie boxes.)

Kathy to the rescue- she's picking up a couple boxes for me.
Crisis averted.

Did you get your cookies this year? 
Thin Mints, anyone?  :)