The Scoop on Balance

Fitness Friday :: Spinach Egg Wraps

2013-06-07T14:20:45Z

Two things that seem like more trouble than they are worth since school let out:

1. blogging

2. cooking

So, today I throw all caution to the wind and choose to blog about cooking.

Do hard things, Sandy Cooper. Do. Hard. Things.

Whenever we can, Jeanine and I meet for a walk and breakfast. Jeanine is my new-ish real life friend, but feels very much like an old-ish forever friend. We met at the beginning of the school year on a field trip and immediately bonded over the subject of school lunches. Our conversations quickly turned to how we both drink smoothies every day with spinach, and how we both love Jesus more than anything and how we both hate corporate work functions and how we both desire more than anything for our kids to grow up and serve other people more than we desire them to function well in a churchy environment.

We both have adopted girls with brown skin.

We both have kids entering middle school.

We both have teens.

We both get ridiculously excited when Michael Pollan is talking about his new book on NPR.

Over the months, we found ourselves talking more and more and seeking out more opportunities to be together. When I’m with her, we jump from subject to subject quickly. Time passes, like we’re in a time warp.

We say “Me, too!” a lot.

She laughs at my stupid humor.

I love that in a friend.

So, we decided to meet for walking (she loves fitness) and breakfast (she loves healthy eating/cooking). During our time together, I usually share with her all my drama and she always speaks incredible words of wisdom into my life. We strengthen our hearts (literally and figuratively). And then we eat outside at this amazing little cafe at the end of the walking trail.

We usually linger so long at breakfast that I drive home hungry and have to make a smoothie.

I love that in a friend.

The first time we met for breakfast, we both ordered the Spinach Egg Wrap, and fell in love. (Have I mentioned she also gets really excited about good food?) Jeanine went home and recreated the wrap in her own kitchen and encouraged me to do the same. She promised me it would be every bit as delicious as the ones at the little cafe at the end of the trail.

She was right. I’ve made these 3 times since then. And they are amazing.

You can serve these for breakfast, alone or with a side of fresh fruit. You can also serve them for lunch with a green salad. Or fruit. Or for dinner with salad or fruit. There are no rules here. Just deliciousness.

Without further adieu, here is my version of The Spinach Egg Wrap, from The Anchorage Cafe.

This recipe makes 2 whole wraps, each cut in half. Serves 2 – 4 people.

Total time in the kitchen is about 10 minutes from beginning to end.

Ingredients:

2 Tortillas (any kind will do–I like the ones from Costco that come uncooked)

2-3 whole eggs (The Anchorage Cafe uses egg whites, but I’m a fan of the entire egg)

A pat of real butter

Fresh pesto (you can make your own or use it from the jar–I use it from the jar. Obviously, if you’re making your own pesto, there are more time and ingredients involved.)

Handful of fresh baby spinach leaves

Crumbled goat cheese

Fresh mushrooms (I do not like mushrooms, so I did not add this to mine–the original has mushrooms. And since I don’t like mushrooms, I’m not sure if they’d taste better fresh or sauteed in a little butter here. So, one of you, please volunteer to test this in your own kitchen and report back to me. Thank you.)

Salt and pepper

Directions:

1. If using uncooked tortillas, toss one in a frying pan over medium heat and cook it up. About 1-2 minutes on each side. Set aside. Cook the other one. Set aside.

2. In a small frying pan, melt the butter over medium heat.

3. Beat eggs in a small bowl with a fork and pour into hot pan with melted butter. Season with salt and pepper and cover. Leave cover on until eggs are firm on the top, but still a little wet. That magical moment between runny and dry.

4. While the eggs are cooking, spread a spoonful of pesto on each tortilla. The pesto is a very strong flavor, so you don’t need much (I found out the hard way).

5. Layer baby spinach leaves over the pesto, across the entire tortilla.

6. If using mushrooms, I’m thinking this would be a good spot to layer them on.

7. Sprinkle with goat cheese. (Mmmm….goat cheese….)

8. When your eggs are perfect, divide your them into 2 portions and gently slide the half the egg onto the edge of each tortilla.

9. Carefully roll the tortilla, starting at the egg side. Roll and tuck, roll and tuck, until you reach the end.

10. Seem side down, cut the wrap in half.

Take a bite. And then think about how much you love me. Because you will, after you try this.

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Linking up with Jill, who is about to run a super-duper long race. Go over and encourage her. :)

A Parenting Pep Talk. To Me, From Me. But Also, to You.

2013-06-04T13:10:22Z

“the degree and intensity you have to fight for something is directly related to how much it matters to you.” Jon Acuff

In four short years, this beautiful child of mine will be an adult.

Which is so odd, because exactly four days ago, she looked like this.

In four short years, she will be working and driving and dating and voting. She will be doing her own laundry, buying her own clothing and choosing her own food. She’ll have a bank account and a car. She’ll be getting ready for college. Probably moving away from home.

The changes over these next four years of high school will be rapid and radical. I know that.

And I’m scared.

I’ve got my work cut out for me. Not only for her sake, but also for the two younger children coming up behind her. As I sit here—the first day of summer break with an emerging high-schooler, middle-schooler and first-grader—the reality of the passage of time strikes me more severely than ever before. I know I’ve got to get my head on straight for this next season.

I won’t sugar coat this next statement: middle school was hell. For her. For me. For Jon. For me.

While I hear other parents swear to me it gets better in high school, I’m not counting on it. (They lied to me about the Terrible Twos. They can’t be trusted!) That’s not me being negative. That’s me being realistic. I mean, even if high school brings with it growing maturity and balanced hormone levels, I’ve got two more entering middle school behind her.

No matter how you slice it, I’m screwed.

Without disclosing too many details, I will tell you that our middle school experience was probably typical on some levels—but, it was so NOT typical on others. We fought battles involving mean girls and bad attitudes and appropriate boundaries and adolescent depression and my evolving and ever-changing role in all this.

We fought each other. A lot.

For the record, I’m not a fan of battles. In fact, if this season of parenting has done anything for me, it’s revealed what a wimp I really am when it comes to battles. More and more, I find myself retreating in battle. Running into a locked room and crying into a carpeted floor because I don’t know what the hell is happening and how I’m supposed to navigate it.

I don’t know if I’ve always been such a wimp, but without a doubt, parenting a teen has unveiled my complete disdain for tension in the home. I will do almost anything to avoid it (the tension, not the teen) (okay, sometimes also the teen) including but not limited to

Failure to set firm boundaries, in hopes she’ll just do the right thing on her own.
Failure to follow through on consequences when she doesn’t do the right thing, because I don’t want to rock the boat (see previous statement about disdain for tension in the home.)
Coming down too hard on the kids who actually DO obey me, because it’s easier than coming down on the one who does not.
Outright refusal to confront my teen because I’m sick of being Bad Cop, thereby handing over all necessary negative confrontations to the loving hands of my capable husband (who always gets to be Good Cop).
Who, turns out, also hates tension in the home and will avoid it at all cost.
Causing me to be angry and frustrated with my capable husband for lack of follow through in administering consequences that I am trying to avoid.
Causing me to retreat to the nearest locked room and cry into the carpet.

It’s a vicious cycle, this wimpy parenting.

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Sometimes when I’m in the middle of a confusing or difficult situation, it helps to pretend I am counseling someone else with these same problems. It seems like I always have words of wisdom and encouragement for others. But when it’s me, I don’t know which end is up.

So, this morning, I’m giving me a pep talk. It’s by me, for me. But it’s also for you, if you happen to be a parent who is also in need of a pep talk.

If you were sitting across my table having coffee with me, telling me how weary you are from the incessant battles of parenting your teen, scared for what the next four years and beyond might bring, this is exactly what I’d tell you:

1. Be Strong. Don’t avoid confrontation because it’s uncomfortable. When your child makes unwise choices—and she will—it’s not a reflection of your bad parenting. It’s a reflection of her immaturity, combined with her sin-nature. It’s a reflection of her need for parental guidance and clear boundaries.

Though every-last impulse inside her maturing brain tells her she does not need you, she does. She needs (needs!) a stronger, wiser adult to guide her.

You are that Stronger, Wiser Adult.

And when she recoils at your instruction –and she will– this is not the time to second-guess every boundary you just put in place and every consequence you just implemented. It’s time to stand firm and confident that you’ve done the right thing.
And even if the “right” thing ends up being the“wrong”thing—even if you make a mistake and over-react

or under-react

or put up the wrong boundary

too high or two low

or let your emotions override your better judgment

or hold on too tightly

or too loosely

or yell at the wrong kid because he’s an easy target

or crumble before your face hits the carpet behind locked doors…

God’s grace is sufficient to cover every parenting mistake. Every. last. one. Oh, thank God for His grace. What would parents do without it?

And BTW, you are not (repeat, NOT) permanently harming your child when you take away a cell phone for the day.

Or restrict internet usage.

Or forbid a certain social media outlet (or all of them) for now or for as long as you see fit.

Or insist she participate in household chores.

Or make her miss the sleep-over.

Or require that she stay seated at the table until everyone is finished with dinner.

Or ask that she respond with “yes m’am” instead of rolled eyes.

Yes, she will fight you and huff at you and blame you for ruining her life or her weekend or her evening. She will accuse you of embarrassing her. She will misread and misunderstand your motives. She will use her best hyperbole to attempt to convince you that you are extreme and terrible and clueless…and tell all her friends that you are extreme and terrible and clueless…but it doesn’t matter.

You are The Parent.

You hear God’s voice for this child and seek Him daily for His wisdom. Sure, she will make you feel like you have lost your ever-loving mind. And she may make you temporarily question your sanity or at least the sanity of the choice you made. You may need a break

or a friend

or a glass of wine

but you are not crazy.

You are The Parent.

2. Apologize. There will be times when you make a mistake. You will make them daily, probably. So what? It’s fine. We all make them. And when you do, here’s what you do: go directly to your child and admit you were wrong, humbly, sincerely. Model for her the humility and sincerity that God expects from you and from her.

Because, really, isn’t that ultimately what you want her to be? Humble? Sincere?

In your mistake-making, The Enemy will try to convince you you’ve irreparably damaged your integrity and/or your Christian witness and/or your relationship with your child.

Parent, that is a LIE. A lie from the Pit of Hell. (Which consequently, is also where middle school was created.)

One of the most compelling arguments for the amazing grace of God is the way He so freely forgives and restores when we make mistakes. God uses those mistakes to sift you and refine you and strengthen you. Please don’t fear mistakes.

3. Mine for Gold. Every day, dig and dig until you find ANY reason to celebrate your teen. It’s not easy when you are blinded by a trashed bedroom and erratic emotions. But dig, you must. This adult-child is the display of God’s splendor. Hand-crafted by the Master. Useful. Precious. Uncover the beauty in her—the beauty even she, herself, fails to see.

Did you know the same Enemy that’s been whispering into your ear that you suck as a Parent is also whispering into hers that she sucks as a Kid?

Dust off the gold, polish it up, and present to her what you’ve extracted:

Thank you for being on time this morning. I know you were up late working on that report.
I heard you speaking kindly to your brother. That was nice.
Thank you for straightening up your room .
I love when you enjoy time with the family.
Great job on your Chemistry test.
I’m proud of you for making it through this school year. I know it wasn’t easy.
I think it’s great that you reached out to your friend when she was hurting.
You look beautiful with your hair like that.
I saw the way you encouraged that girl on Instagram. You are a great witness for Christ.
Thank you for playing with your little sister while I worked in the house. It really helped me.

Mine and dig and extract with every bit as much passion and backbone as you do the boundary-setting and consequence-implementing. This will balance it all out and let your teen know she is safe, even if she does feel like she is temporarily imprisoned.

4. Tell her often, “There is nothing you can do or say that will make me love you more or less than I already do.” It’s good for her to hear. It’s good for YOU to hear.

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Hang in there, Parent.

Cling to Jesus, always.

Cry in the carpet, as needed.

You are not alone.

And you are doing a fantastic job.

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Linking up with Jen today

Everyday Balance, Vol 3 :: Spring Edition

2013-05-28T13:39:08Z

Grocery Shopping Day. I do not want to hear from ANYONE that there’s nothing to eat. You hear me?

This is what my husband did when I was in Washington DC. Planted an organic vegetable garden. I have always loved the thought of a garden. But for the last few years, it’s been on my To Don’t List (#14), because I was afraid it would be more like, “Look, Honey! I planted YOU a garden for YOU to maintain!” But Jon’s been great! He built it, planted everything, and has been watering it every day. I haven’t had to do a thing. Except neither of us has a clue as to when the vegetables are ready to harvest.

Like the broccoli.

And all those lettuce leaves. How do I know?

Here are the herbs that still need to be transferred to some pots by my door. I’m excited to have the herbs.

Oh look! It’s a bin of old sand toys right next to the new herbs! I forgot all about these until now. We haven’t had a sandbox in probably two years. And the lid to the bin cracked centuries ago. So, what you can’t see at the bottom of that bin is about three inches of sludge.

I have been entirely too neglectful of the maintenance and beautification of the outside of my house this spring.

Oh wait…I did find some GORGEOUS hydrangeas at Costco a few weeks ago. Only $19.99! Those beautify the front step of my house.

Tulips to beautify my kitchen.

For me, from me.

That makes it sound like my husband doesn’t buy me flowers. He does. He’s really good about that. In fact, he’s really good at buying gifts, period. Remember when I dropped the hint in this post about the MacBook Air?

Guess what I got for Mother’s Day….

What you see pictured there is the brand new computer– with a case and everything– sitting on the counter, unopened.

Because I’m scared of it.

I have a history with technological-ish things whereby I sit and try to work them by myself and end up losing about a week of my life.

If someone who is not afraid of technology would please come to my house and open this box and plug it in—and then show me how to get all my stuff from my Dell over to my Mac, well, that would be just swell of you.

Here is one of the things Elliana gave me for Mother’s Day. It’s her old shoe turned into a flower pot. Makes me want to cry.

And here is one of the hundred or so notes she has given me to tell me that she loves me.

Elijah wrote out ten reasons why I’m the best mom ever. In a world where I feel like I completely suck most days, this is good to read.

Speaking of feeling like I suck…I walked into my teenager’s room the other day and nearly came out of my skin from the mess. Instead of telling her (again) to clean her room, I decided to do the opposite. I put these right in the middle of the mess and shut the door behind me.

(Remember when George Costanza decided to do the opposite of every natural impulse and he ended up with a girlfriend and a job with the NY Yankees? Yeah, I’m gonna try that with parenting my teen and see how it turns out.)

Jon took Elliana to her first Father-Daughter dance at school. She wore her flowergirl dress from a wedding in January. She looked so adorable…

As cute as she looked, I was so excited to find out they took formal pictures for purchase at the event. Imagine, then, my sheer delight when I opened them up and found these:

Yep. We paid for those. We have wallets and 5×7′s.