Carrier Classic!!

Growing up I didnt really think much of Veteran's day. It was a day off from school, which I very much appreciated, but the meaning of the day would barely even cross my mind. Things have obviously changed, and days like veterans day make me reflect on my love for this beautiful country, and the people who serve and protect her. This veterans day I had the special opportunity to spend the day with our men and women in uniform...and two top rated basketball teams aboard the magnificent nuclear carrier, the USS Carl Vinson (the very same one that buried Bin Laden at sea).  The first ever Carrier Classic was quite a sight. My husband was especially childlike, getting to talk briefly with childhood heroes and great men of basketball, and not so great men, ahem Vince Carter (but that is a story for another time).  The game was great, the event was fun, but the best part was being with the men and women who have earned this special day through their hard work and sacrifice. 

Getting Ready to go into the game:

 Yes! We won tickets! You should have seen my cute husbands face when he found out that he won the lottery for tickets to the game.

 Magic talking to an WWII vet, one of the greatest generation.

 Obama giving his speech before the game/ shaking hands (aka recruiting votes)

 Us toward the end of the game:

  Way to go Tar Heels!

spaghetti squash with turkey sausage

Lately I have been on a bit of a health kick. And in sticking with my cooking something new every week that I started awhile ago, I decided to try this out. I LOVE spaghetti, but pasta is not really on the healthy food list (yeah I know there is whole grain pasta, but still). This was so so easy! I think our spaghetti days may have changed forever. you just cut the squash in half, fill the bottom half with water, put the top half over it cup side down (like you glued it back together) and microwave it for 10-15 minutes. Then I cooked some onions and turkey sausage together, added marinara sauce, and ladled it all over the squash "noodles". YUM!

I Heard a Rumor

Last night while working an event I was approached by a coworker who wished to share with me a rumor she heard about me in the office.  I do not really like rumors and I started wracking my brain thinking about what people could possibly be talking about. She said it may not be true and did not wish to offend me, and then proceeded to whisper under her breath, "Marissa, are you a Mormon?". I had no problem saying "Yes!". The rest of the conversation went like this...

Co-worker(with puzzled look): "Mormon...Like Sister Wives?"
Me: "No, nothing like that,"
Co-Worker: "But those people are Mormon"
Me: "No they actually are not, though many people think that. Would you like to hear about the differences?"
Co-Worker: "Yeah tell me, I dont know very much."
I gave her a basic outline on what I believe.
Co-Worker: "So you are basically just Christian then? Because I am Catholic and what you told me was different but it wasn't that different"
Me: "Yes, yes we are" (Happy to hear a catholic admit that a Mormon is a Christian)
Co-Worker: "Cool, I've never met a Mormon before so this is really fun" (although I am pretty positive she has met a Mormon before, and sweet she thinks I'm fun)

I got a bit of a laugh out of the entire situation. Then today, when I got to work, there was a new girl training for one of the financial positions. And guess what, she's a MORMON too! My catholic co-worker was in awe. She went from knowing no Mormons (as she believes) to 2 Mormons in only 2 days.  We are going to take over the office!  The only problem is, she went to the U so we can't be friends. Darn.

It still rained on Noah

Last week was wonderful... weather wise. It was nice and cool and there was even a little bit of rain. I was a little bit upset when I went out to 80 degrees again today (although I know my friends experiencing snow would not agree that this was a disappointing thing to have). But other than the weather, it was a very rough week. One particularly rough day as I was driving home from work reflecting on all that had happened that day, I started to tear up, and then I started to pray. I like praying on my way home from work. Sure its completely unconventional, and no, I cant bow my head and close my eyes or fold my arms, but I have 30 minutes of silence where I can express my feelings and listen for answers. I have been struggling with why's lately. Why is a question I know I should not ask because I need to just have the faith to accept the trials that come my way and learn from them, but I often wonder what I am doing or have done (in other words is this punishment) to bring particular hardships on myself. As I was praying and thinking about this, the rain started to come down pretty hard. The fact that the weather matched my mood was making me even more depressed. I finally got off the freeway and started to drive up the hill toward my home. As I approached the top of the hill, traffic slowed down. It was a little bit odd for there to be traffic on this particular stretch of road so of course my mood did not improve (and now you all think that I am just super moody). But when I finally got over the top of the hill, I saw what all the fuss was about. Straight ahead was the largest, brightest, most beautiful rainbow I have ever seen. And intertwined in the first beautiful rainbow, was a smaller, slightly duller but no less beautiful second rainbow. People were pulling over to take photos, and I imagine everyone was in awe just like I was. I started to think about rainbows and what they mean. And then it occurred to me. Noah was a very righteous man who was so loved by our Heavenly Father, but the floods still happened to him. He did not avoid the rain, but he had the tools and the faith to be safe and remain dry and comfortable throughout the storm. So maybe my trials are not a result of something I did, but I can still be faithful and find a way to remain safe and comfortable (or more at peace) throughout the storm. I felt instantly lighter and so much better. And this probably isn't the truth, but I think that rainbow must have been placed there just for me to see. What are some of the rainbows in your life?

Prosciutto Wrapped Stuffed Chicken

(Pictures Coming...as soon as my husband gets home from work and tells me where he put the camera cord)

I bought this lovely Prosciutto at the store on Monday determined to come up with something yummy to make with it. I see it on Food Network all the time so it must be delish. I gave David a taste of it and he quickly told me "That is NOT good!". Well after that I certainly had to prove him wrong. I came up with this recipe and it was SOOOO good. It looks fancy but it's super easy. Its a little bit of a twist on my moms famous Chicken Cordon Bleu Try it and tell me what you think.

Ingredients:

-4 Large Chicken Breasts (tenderloins attached)

-1 package cream cheese (regular or low fat)

-1 cup cooked chopped broccoli

-1/2 pound thinly sliced Prosciutto (found at the Deli counter)

-1 tablespoon fines herbs (or Italian herbs)

-White cooking wine (the kind you buy near the condiments that you don't need ID to purchase is fine)

-Salt and Pepper

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spray a 13x9 baking dish with cooking spray and set aside.

2.. pound out chicken breasts. (If you dont have a mallet like me, use the back of a skillet. Just cover the chicken in plastic wrap and start hittin!)

3. in a bowl mix chopped broccoli, cream cheese, and herbs

4. Sprinkle Salt and Pepper on both sides of the chicken (Taste your Prosciutto to see how salty it is before you over-salt. It will still need a little salt on the inside but maybe on the outside)

5. Lay out Prosciutto on a clean cutting board. Depending on the width of each piece you may need 2 or 3 slightly overlapping to be the width of the rolled chicken breast (which you will do in step 6)

5. Spread 1/4th of the broccoli mixture on the first chicken breast. roll it up. Then lay it on the prosciutto and roll the prosciutto around it so that it covers the outside of the chicken. Lay seam side down in the baking dish (you could also use toothpicks to hold it together)

6. Repeat Step 5 with all of your chicken breasts.

7. Pour 1/2 cup of white wine in the bottom of the baking dish. Cover and bake for 45-50 minutes.

8. Serve over white rice, using some of the pan drippings as a sauce over the top.

Lord, I would follow Thee

Today, in Relief Society, we sang "Lord, I would follow Thee" for the opening song. The words to the second verse really struck me. "Who am I to judge another, when I walk imperfectly? In the quiet heart is hidden sorrow that the eye can't see." This didn't strike me because I am a very harsh critic of others, but more because I am a harsh critic of myself. I find myself often comparing myself to others and always coming up short to their fabulousness. I could relate to having sorrow hidden in the quiet heart, and I realized that others who I saw as much better than I, also have trials and also experience pain. I still ask often what I have done to not be worthy of the blessing of children like so many around me. And maybe it isn't me at all. Maybe the spirits meant to reside in my home are not ready to be here yet. Maybe Heavenly Father's plan for them does not start until much later. And maybe the sorrow in my heart has a purpose for my life and my learning. The atonement has always been real to me. I have felt the pain that sin brings, and the healing joy that Christ has offered. But I have learned more about the atonement and about my Savior through this trial, than any other. I understand my Heavenly Father's love for his children more, and I am trying to learn to not compare myself to others but rather be the best that I can be and be satisfied with that. And until I am blessed with the thing my heart yearns for, I will continue to say "Lord, I would follow Thee."

Marriage Enrichment Weekend

David and I were very fortunate to be able to attend the Marriage Enrichment Weekend with CREDO southwest this past weekend. CREDO is a program run by military chaplains to enrich the lives of service members and their families. The retreat was held at the Hilton Hotel in Mission Valley and was Friday night through Sunday afternoon. The hotel and all the food was paid for (really nice since FREE is my favorite number) and the CREDO chaplain had marriage classes each day. A lot of it was from Gottman's book (which I read twice in college) and I highly recommend.

The retreat is designed for couples who are doing well in their marriage and want to keep it that way. We got to make a colored timeline of our relationship, practice better communication skills(for when we are together and apart), go on a special date, give each other gifts that represented what our spouses love means to us, and write special love notes that will be mailed at some future unknown date. The whole thing ended with a very beautiful prayer offered by the chaplain.  I am really glad that the military supports families like it does, especially since being a military family is not easy.  It was nice to really focus on the routines and rituals in our lives that define us, and show each other how much we care. It definitely put a smile on my face to be able to spend such a wonderful weekend with my husband who I love dearly. What are some special or ordinary things you do in your home to show your spouse you love them?