Friday night Ty and I went to Millard North vs Millard South High School football game.  Laura Slosson, one of our Calvary youth, snapped this photo of us.  We did not even know it till she posted it on Instagram the next day.  Her caption touched my heart. 

 I am so thankful that 26 years ago I married my best friend.  I am also thankful that God gave me a vision for my marriage and my role as a wife.  I realized that how I loved my husband was directly connected to the kind of man he would become and visa versa.  We have been blessed with a fulfilling, life-giving relationship.  God's ways work!!!  I am so grateful to The Lord for how He has blessed our marriage.

I found the following recipe in a magazine and decided to give it a try.  It has become a favorite.  I especially loved being able to pick the basil fresh from the plant on my deck.  Love fresh basil.  Oh the smell

Quinoa and Bean Salad

One 20 –ounce can kidney (or black) beans (drained and rinsed)

2 Cups cooked quinoa (3/4 cup raw)

1 red onion finely chopped

2 bunches fresh basil leaves chopped

Juice of 2 lemons

½ cup extra-virgin olive oil

In a large bowl, mix together the kidney beans, quinoa, onion and basil.  In a small bowl, whisk together lemon juice and olive oil; season with salt and pepper.  Pour dressing over quinoa salad and toss to coat evenly.  Serves  4.

PS if quinoa is new to you here is what it looks like in the box:

and here is what it looks like once it is cooked

looks like couscous but even smaller

ENJOY, let me know how you like it :)

My daughters, my friends

When your daughters become grown, they become treasured friends.  I feel so blessed to have two beautiful, wonderful, amazing daughters who I love more than words can express.  Annie is visiting from Austin this week.  Emily(left) and Annie(right) and I had a mother daughter outing this morning.  We started with coffee of course.  Then we headed to the farmers market in the old market.  We bought beautiful tomatoes and other fresh produce to make homemade salsa, and a tomato basil tart.  Next we headed to lunch and had time to just chat and catch up.  I love having them to share my heart and dreams with and to hear theirs.  They are as different as two girls can be.  I love who each of them have become and all that they bring to my life and others who know and love them.  I love how much they love each other and I love to hear them reminisce about their childhood and all the memories.  They are both incredible, but I am one biased momma!!!

Annie loves to cook as much as I do and Emily is liking it more and more.  Yesterday Annie and I cooked and baked all morning.  Since Emily now lives in Omaha we are getting to cook together more and more.  Today we dreamed about the day we can travel together to Italy.  When we go, I hope we can take a cooking class or two. 

So today was a best day ever day, and I will cherish the memory of a day with my beautiful daughters.