My Best Buds

These are my best buds, with the exception of a few people that are not pictured. I could not imagine doing life without these people. Whether it be a text message, email, letter, note on my car, or a silent prayer my life is enriched by their presence in it. I am going through a rough spot right now and though every weakness in me tells me that I am alone in this battle, all I have to do is look at this picture and I know I've got battle buddies. It is their constant love, support, and encouragement that inspires me, motivates me, and challenges me. I am truly honored and blessed to have these individuals in my life. They are more than just friends, they are family and I love them. So, I write this to remind me - they've got my back, that I'm not alone and that I truly am blessed by them. I wouldn't want to "do life" with anyone one else but these guys. Though some now live far away, I know they are still close in spirit and just a phone call away. So, to these best buds I say, "Thank you for filling my life with love, support and encouragement. I love you all, and you mean more to me than you'll ever know. Thank you for being my family."

Pictured besties: Brian Foster, Connor Beech, Matthew Kirby, Zach Binns, Melanie Binns, Beth Foster, Matt Stone, Tara Stone.
Not Pictured besties: Meredith Maines, Laura Beech, Elizabeth Turpin, Stephen Turpin, Emily and Jason Howell, Anne Lord.

Penne Spinach Pasta

To all seven of my faithful followers: I apologize for the delay in posting something new. I have been slightly overwhelmed with life at the moment, but I wanted to add something to my pile of posts. So, I give you a recipe. I found this recipe online and modified to my liking. It is a bit on the spicy side - but what New Orleans girl doesn't like spice?

Penne Spinach Pasta

Ingredients :
1 pkg. penne pasta (or orza pasta)
2 tbsp. olive oil
bacon bits (real ones)
I can diced tomatoes (I used the diced tomatoes and green chilies combo- just gives it a kick)
I bunch of baby spinach, rinsed and torn into bite size pieces
2 tbsp minced garlic
pinch of basil
pinch of cayenne pepper
chopped onion ( I just used a little bit because I don't like a lot of onions in my meals)
grilled chicken (I marinated chicken strips in Italian seasonings ahead of time)

Directions:
1. Bring a large pot of water of lightly salted water to a boil, add pasta - cook 8-10 minutes.
2. Meanwhile sautee onion and minced garlic. Add bacon bits after about 2 minutes. Then add the basil, and cayenne.
3. Add can of tomatoes to sauteed onions and seasonings, cook until heated through.
4. Place torn spinach in a colander and drain pasta over it. Transfer pasta and spinach to a large serving bowl, then add heated tomato mixture. Toss together. Serve hot and enjoy!

I made this one night and it was very tasty! It was easy and I had everything in the kitchen already. Hope you like it.

Happy Mother's Day!!!

I'd like to dedicate this post to my mom, Julie Catherine Delaune Trauth.
My mom is by far the best mom. I know that some might argue you that, but it is true. Words cannot describe the amount of love, gratitude, and admiration I have for this woman. She is the kind of woman who, along with my father, raised three children to not only love the Lord, but follow Him with all their heart. She is beautiful both inside and out and taught us to find the beautiful part of horrible situations. My mom is generous, caring, self-sacrificing and the most encouraging person I know. No matter if it was a little note on my lunch bag when I was in school, or a care package when I was in college, or a card in the mail as an adult, I knew I was always on her heart. She always says to me, " love you to bits and pieces" and I think it makes me cry every time I hear those words. She is the person I want to lay my head on when I am sick so she can play with my hair, she is the person I want to tell all my secrets, and she is the person I want to talk to on the phone everyday. She is not only a mother, but a friend who I don't know what I would do without. In short, she is amazing.
I've always hoped to be a mom like her, one day. I still dream of that day, and if I'm lucky I will have a little girl I could name after my mom. But, for now I'm eternally grateful that she is my mom, my friend, and my confident. To you mom - this is your Day and I'm sad none of us kids could be with you. But know we love you with our whole heart.

Taste and See

As one of the leaders of the 7th grade youth girls at Christ Community I have been challenged to "Taste and See" the Lord in small sections of scripture. As each day holds a new truth, promise, nugget of gold I cannot help but repeat that phrase over and over again in my head. I want to taste and see that the Lord is good.
The word "taste" with all its enticements of rich flavors, and small portions of "just enough" to get one wanting - even desiring more lingers in my mind. Taste. If only we could just taste the Word of the Lord we would see that He is good and we would desire more! Taste. Just a little nibble, one or two verses and it wets our appetite. Taste. See that it is good. Not only do we get a small dose of some pretty rich stuff in the Bible, we get to "See" those words in a fresh new way. We see that the Lord is good.
I have been stuck on one word, through my tasting, one small bite of what is a BIG feast - Faith. Over and over again I have been reminded that faith is a process.... it is continuous ..... it hurts.....it is beautiful. In 2 Tim 4:7 Paul calls us to fight the GOOD fight of faith. It is going to agonizing at times. I have seen it all over the pages of scripture - you will struggle.

Isaiah 40 tells us that we will be weary but to wait on the Lord to renew our strength.
Joshua 1 tells us that we must be strong and courageous because times will be tough.
Romans 12 echoes the words of Paul "urging" us to present our bodies to be living sacrifices -
urging us because it does not come naturally. Don't conform to the world.
Psalm 119 David asks "How can a young man keep his way pure?" by living by the Word of the
Lord.
Matthew 7 tells us to be wise in our foundations. A foundation on the rock of Jesus prevents us
from a GREAT fall.
Hebrews 11 - here we get to the heart of the matter - the faith chapter of the Bible - one I love!
In verse 25 it says this about Moses " .... choosing rather to ENDURE ill treatment with
the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasure of sin...."

If I am living my life to enjoy the passing pleasure of sin, where will that lead? Am I willing to endure - to long suffer - to persevere in this good fight of faith and to throw away the passing - get that - passing - that means it will not last - pleasures of sin? I say that I am. Because I taste. I taste and see that the Lord is good.

Anne of Green Gables

As a little girl I loved to watch the story of Anne of Green Gables unfold before me on the TV screen. Anne, with her melodramatic charisma, captivated my attention. I recently found some quotes from such story and couldn't help but share them. May you delight in the melodramatic words of Anne, may you never fall into the depths of despair, and may you find a kindred spirit....

"I believe the nicest and sweetest days are not those on which anything very splendid or wonderful or exciting happens, but just those that bring simple little pleasures, following one another softly, like pearls slipping off a string."
— L.M. Montgomery

"I'd like to add some beauty to life," said Anne dreamily. "I don't exactly want to make people KNOW more... though I know that IS the noblest ambition... but I'd love to make them have a pleasanter time because of me... to have some little joy or happy thought that would never have existed if I hadn't been born."
— L.M. Montgomery (Anne's House of Dreams)

"Isn't it splendid to think of all the things there are to find out about? It just makes me feel glad to be alive--it's such an interesting world. It wouldn't be half so interesting if we know all about everything, would it? There'd be no scope for imagination then, would there?But am I talking too much? People are always telling me I do. Would you rather I didn't talk? If you say so I'll stop. I can STOP when I make up my mind to it, although it's difficult."
— L.M. Montgomery (Anne of Green Gables)

"Perhaps, after all, romance did not come into one’s life with pomp and blare, like a gay knight riding down; perhaps it crept to one’s side like an old friend through quiet ways; perhaps it revealed itself in seeming prose, until some sudden shaft of illumination flung athwart its pages betrayed the rhythm and the music; perhaps . . . perhaps . . . love unfolded naturally out of a beautiful friendship, as a golden-hearted rose slipping from its green sheath."
— L.M. Montgomery (Anne of Avonlea)

New Project

I haven't done so well in introducing people on Mondays. I am not giving up on that project, but the new project I have started is a bit more tangible. Inspired by the Adventure Book in the movie Up, I started a "Happy Book". I will one day make an Adventure Book, but for now I will record the things that make me happy.
Here is a peek at my book.....

Monday Meetings

The Lord has blessed me with some incredible people in my life. I only thought that the natural thing to do with this blessing of people is to share a little bit about them with you. I decided to make Mondays my day of introductions of those that I find special. Today, I will introduce you to my sister.
Meet Laura Marie Trauth Beech..........
Laura is a 25 year old, 6th grade history teacher, and wife to Connor Beech. But more importantly than all of those things is the fact that she is my little sister. If I could have somehow pre-ordered my siblings, picked out their personalities and designed their attitudes I would have still gotten it wrong. The Lord knew exactly what I needed in a sister and He created Laura Marie, or as some call her - Lou, and I have been forever grateful. Laura and I have not always gotten along. My mom used to get frustrated with our fighting, and would ever so kindly remind us that one day we would be best friends. I thought to myself "yeah, right." But I was so wrong. We did become best friends and I honestly don't know what I would do without her. Laura is one of the most merciful and compassionate people you will ever meet. She thinks of others before herself, she is kind, genuine, and fun to be around. Now, she will argue with you until you are blue in the face, but she just likes the debate. Laura cares for her students, she is an excellent wife, and more than anything she wants to glorify the Lord with her life. Laura has been my rock, my strength in hard times. She has been a source of not only encouragement but a source of wisdom and understanding. She has the great capacity to love not only in times of great joy, but in times when my face is swollen with tears, and my words unrecognizable with bitterness. To have Laura as a friend is lucky indeed.
She is also a woman of great talent in the area of craftiness. She sews with a naturalness that can only come from the genes she inherited from our grandmother. Her work is beautiful .... just like she her personality.
So, if you know her send her a little "Hello" and lift up a prayer for her this week.

You can follow her at www.fleur-de-lou.blogspot.com.