Living Open Wide

A friend of mind posted this on her blog... thought I'd share...  

Living Wide Open: Landscapes of the Mind

I will not die an unlived life

I will not live in fear of falling or catching fire

I choose to inhabit my days,

to allow my living to open me

to make me less afraid

more accessible

to loosen my heart

until it becomes a wing,

a torch, a promise.

I choose to risk my significance, to live

so that which came to me as a seed

goes to the next as a blossom

and that which came to me as blossom

goes on as fruit.

(Dawna Markova. 2000. I will not die an unlived life: Reclaiming purpose and passion)

...sisters...

These days, any time spent with my sister, is not taken for granted, as in only a few short months she will be  married and moving out of the country with the man of her dreams!

So tonight...I'm just sitting here...cherishing the past 5 hours...

After fresh flowers, a delicious dinner, sipping wine, shopping for shoes, purses, jewellery, clothes, listening to new music, dyeing hair and having a cup of coffee together...I'm really realizing I'm gonna miss that girl!  We've had so much fun in the last few months getting ready for the big wedding day and just hanging out!  I feel so blessed and thankful she's been home these past 6 months - spending some time with us before she goes - a blessing we never thought we'd have!

These are the times I'll never forget!  

Blessed!  

~A sister is a forever friend.   - Author Unknown

The "Perfect Pair" - A Wedding Shower

This weekend we threw a surprise wedding shower for my dear sister who is getting married in September!!!  It was a SHOE theme and it was so fun to plan!  I thought I'd share some of the highlights!  The planning fun started because I found the perfect napkins and cups at Party Packagers several months ago!  A fun 'girls night theme with a zebra print and pearls -- something my sister wears ALWAYS!

Punch cups

Napkins

From there, I began searching online to try to find some gift ideas.  My sister will be travelling out of the country after the wedding and so her and her new husband will not have much travel space.  After searching I came across the idea to have the guests bring their gifts in a small shoe box, so gifts would be small enough  to travel with.  This lead to the shoe theme - a perfect fit for my beautiful fashion diva of a sister!!  Below are some of the highlights of the evening!

Shoe sugar cookies

favour boxes

All the favor boxes ready to go.  The idea was from this blog

The Cake
beautifully designed and made by talented Ashley!

this shoe was completely edible, and a replica of the
bridesmaids shoes for the wedding!

The shower was a perfect surprise, with some wonderful people and some good fun!  It came together beautifully.  My sister was pampered, there was lots of laughter, and some memories were made!!  

What a night to celebrate two 'sole mates'!  

My Incouragement for Today...

It's time to kick out the lies in your life...

We all hear the sneaky whispers…

You’re not enough.

You’re not really loved.

You don’t have what it takes.

But here’s the truth...

You’re wonderfully made.

You’re not alone.

You have everything you need to fulfill God’s purpose for your life.

We don’t have to live with the lies anymore.

It’s time to put on our pointy-toed shoes and kick them to the curb.

Yes, ma’am.

Who's with me?

Taken from www.dayspring.com blog Heart to Heart with Holley 

ORANGE PEPPERS!!!

So this weekend, I was away at a conference and I met some women who together wrote a book called Eyefoods.  They are two optometrists that have written a book to help people understand the importance of diet and nutrition to the health of their eyes.  We have always known about the links of diet to macular degeneration and the importance of taking antioxidants and vitamins to keep our eyes healthy.  I bought a copy of this book and I've really enjoyed reading it!  It is now a new addition to our waiting room!  For an interesting read, and some eye-healthy recipes - check out their website.  http://www.eyefoods.com/index.html

What I found to be one of the most fascinating things is that one of the most healthy things for the eyes are

ORANGE PEPPERS!

These are some of the recipes they have including orange peppers on their website:

1.  Sweet Potato and Orange Pepper Soup


2.  Stuffed Orange Peppers


3.  Turkey & Mango Orange Pepper Boats


Pretty awesome since I can have an unlimited supply of orange peppers!!!  Thought that was pretty cool!  I should be sending all my patients down to Havesome Produce for their supply of healthy eye products!  :)

Another great recipe discovered!!

Tonight we tried a new recipe from Our Compliments called Mediterranean Portobello Mushroom Caps. It was absolutely delicious!!!  You should try it for yourselves!  Very very good!  We will definately make this again!

MEDITERRANEAN PORTOBELLO MUSHROOM CAPS

http://www.compliments.ca/en/Recipes/Recipe.aspx?ID=11269

4

portobello mushrooms, cleaned, stems and gills removed

1/2 cup

tightly packed Compliments Organic Baby Spinach

125 mL

1 tub

Compliments Roasted Garlic Bruschetta Topping

227 g

1 cup

Compliments Finely Shredded Mozzarella Cheese

250 mL

3 tbsp

fresh basil, cut into fine strips

45 mL

4

ciabatta buns

Energy:

400  Calories

Protein:

19 g

Fat:

16 g

Carbohydrates:

45 g

1. Lightly oil grill and preheat barbecue to medium-high.
2. Place mushrooms, cap side down, on a cutting board. Layer spinach, bruschetta and cheese on mushrooms.
3. Grill mushrooms, with lid closed, until cheese is melted, 2 to 5 min. Garnish with basil and serve on buns.

Happy Easter!!

Really I'm left a bit speechless this Easter...  

just awed by the fact that today I can stand truly 

http://christianrich.tumblr.com/


Thank you Jesus for this most precious gift!  I am humbled and amazed!