Do you wear a....

PEDOMETER?!

I am really enjoying wearing mine. My daily goal is 10,000 steps (recommended by weight watchers). It's just lunchtime now and I'm already at 9,000 steps! Working out for just a couple miles a day really helps boost those steps. Get one and try it. You'll be amazed at how active it reminds you to be. Mine even tells me how many miles I've walked throughout the day (even just doing things around the home). Being active, managing stress, eating right...it's all part of being healthy-which feels so great!

"Do you not know that your body is a temple of the holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been purchased at a price. Therefore, glorify God in your body."

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Want a great deal on photo prints?

Through July 11, Snapfish is running a special offer of 50 prints for 50 cents + shipping!





....and when checking out use the code JULY4PENNY.

Also, if you are a first time user you will get 50 free prints for signing up.

Yay! It seems like I always have pictures that need developed, so I was excited to find this deal today (thanks, Bethany!) I have at LEAST 50 prints to print, but for only 1 cent, I will start with 50! Can't wait to get those scrapbooks started!

St. Maria Goretti, Pray for us

Feast day: July 6th
Saint Maria Goretti was of a pious nature and often at prayer. In 1902, at age 12, she was stabbed to death, preferring to die rather than be raped.

From a homily at the canonization of Saint Maria Goretti by Pope Pius XII:
"...So let us all, with God's grace, strive to reach the goal that the example of the virgin martyer, Saint Maria Goretti, sets before us. Through her prayres to the Redeemer may all of us, each in his own way, joyfully try to follow the inspiring example of Maria Goretti who now enjoys eternal happiness in heaven."

Out on the Boat

Sunday we spent the day on the water with the Gates family. They often invite us to their Marco home and we finally got the chance to go! They have a cozy home and a family full of children. We loved being on the boat all day! After a long day on the water fishing and laughing, enjoying the water, we returned to their home for a delicious dinner: chicken wings, shrimp, salad, corn on the cob and veggies. THEN we all went to watch the sunset on the beach! HOW BEAUTIFUL! Finally, we returned to their home for rootbeer floats and lots of great conversation. We are blessed with their friendship! Here are some memories from the day:

Psalm 19:2-3
The heavens declare the glory of God; the sky proclaims its builder's craft. One day to the next conveys that message; one night to the next imparts that knowledge.

6 months of wedded bliss...

Happy Anniversary, Sweetheart! I can't believe how quickly the first 6 months have flown! Thank you, Lord!
"I found him whom my heart loves."
Song of Songs 3:4

May-the month of Dance Recitals

The past few weeks we've been busy going to dance recitals. Since I've loved to dance and teach dance for so many years, I try to stay current in what's happening in the "dance world" and support my former teachers/students at local studios.

In mid-may we went to Dance Impact's recital, to support my friend of more than 10 years, Tracee Brann. Tracee has been a huge inspiration to me and has taught me so much about dance and the art of teaching dance and studio owning. She is an amazing dancer, teacher, studio owner and ARTIST! She has taught me so much about stage presence, choreography, costuming, artistry, and how to teach this to the very young (2 year olds even!)....I wanted to support her very much...so Mom, Gary and I went. Mom and I have been going since I was a dancer myself in Naples and have always loved the hours of dance. But Gary had never beento a dance recital before and he was so excited to support me in this area of my life, which he never really knew. It was heart warming to see his reaction to the opening number, imagining me up there when I was younger. He is excited to someday watch his own daughter up there on stage (as am I!). I'm so thankful he wants to learn about it and just be there with me. I get so excited by it all!

I do miss teaching dance so much and I'm blessed with a dance studio right here IN AVE MARIA! Ave Maria Dance Academy just performed its 2nd annual recital, which was AMAZING. Considering how small our town is and how much WORK it is to put a dance program together, I am very impressed with the girls' dancing! Karen Ledesma, the owner, is a wonderful friend and I pray I can teach there someday! A few weeks later we went to another dance recital with Tracee. We went to see Maria's work and support her studio in Naples, Dance Arts by Maria. Maria actually bought "the studio" from Tracee who owned it for 10 years under the name Tracee's Dancin' Starz. Tracee sold the studio four years ago and now owns Dance Impact in Estero/South Ft. Myers, FL. It was nice to see Tracee and the girls-my how they've grown!

GUMBO!

Today Gary taught me how to make Gumbo! It was an adventure and quite delicious too! It's fun to learn new recipes and this one has a cajun flare! Gary's friend, Dwayne, from Texas, taught him how to make this. Here's what we did:

Start with a 'roux': equal parts flour, oil and a couple tablespoons of butter; saute that over high heat until it is dark brown. It was fun to watch because at first it was golden and smelled delicious, but then as it continued to cook it really started to stink!(you almost burn it to get it to the right color). Here's how it starts:

and here's how it should look when it's done:

Meanwhile saute the 'trinity' (chopped onion, green pepper and celery) along with 3-5 cloves of minced garlic.

In a large stew pot bring to a boil 2 1/2 quarts of water, then add roux and boil for 5 minutes. Reduce heat to simmer and add sauteed vegetables (trinity), raw chicken cut into cubes, seasoned with Tony Chacheres, one package of sausage, sliced (we used turkey sausage), 1 chicken bouillon cube and shrimp if you want (we didn't).

Simmer for 87 days until flavor permeates and you will enjoy! Add more Tony's to taste! (just kidding...simmer for an hour) and serve over rice.

mmmmm! cooking made with love is so much fun!!