Fuel For The Jet Guy

If you want your man to run out and voluntarily do the grocery shopping, then try making this one day for him for breakfast and the next time you need something picked up at the store, I guarantee you he will gladly volunteer to do so and he just might bring home some extra items so you can make this again. =) 

This is a yummy omelet type egg casserole that has become quite the hit at our house. Not with just the Jet Guy, but also the kids. It can be done in several varieties, but the one I'm posting is a favorite. I sometimes substitute peppers, instead of mushrooms, add some cheese, top it with salsa and sliced advocado. Pretty much any variety of veggies would be great in it. Be creative! The best part of it all,  is that it's so easy, but yet tastes like it took you hours in the kitchen preparing it! Gotta love that!  

First, dice you up some mushrooms 1 cup, green onions, about two stems, and a good teaspoon of minced garlic. Saute them in some olive oil until the flavors begin to mix well (the smell is amazing) cook until veggies are soft. Once done, drain them on a paper towel lined plate and place them to the side until it's time to mix them in.

 Every southern girl knows her heart belongs to good ole' Jimmy Dean and hence her cooking wins the heart of her man. Every good omelet has to include sausage, so here it is unfrozen. Cook it in the same pan you sauteed the veggies in and cook until no longer pink. Once done, drain it and also put to the side until it's time to mix it in.

 So everyone knows my Jet Guy is serious about his eggs. He eats a lot of eggs a day so in my recipe I use 7, but you could use anywhere between 6 and 8. 7 was a happy medium for us! =) Don't forget to salt and pepper here to your taste.

 The next step is to add in some coconut milk. I use about a half of a can, full fat and whichever brand I can find in the store. Remember coconut milk has solid and water consistencies so a good idea is to pour it out in a bowl mix it until blended and then pour half of that mixture in with the eggs. This gives the omelet the fluffy look like milk would do. This is just a more healthier version and don't worry it does not taste like coconut. This southern girl would not mess up a good omelet with something fruity if I thought it would alter the taste. Mama and Granny taught me better than that. Moving on...

 Oh, you must entertain the said 15 month old with a little country music while cooking. She loves her some Blake Shelton and Boy's Round Here. Chew tobacco, chew tobacco spit, really gets her moving. So a little line dancing may occur, but who wants to cook in a quiet kitchen. Not us! While dancing take the opportunity to heat your oven up to 350 degrees. Get that kitchen hot and moving!!!

 So take out your handy dandy whisk and make sure you whisk in that coconut milk and eggs until there are no solid pieces left. Think of it as mixing in a box cake mix (not that I would know ;-0 ) Afterwards, add in your veggies and meat and mix well into bowl.

So despite what people tell y'all, always grease your baking dishes, eggs will stick like no other. I use a 9x13 baking dish and I oil it with coconut oil. Pour your meat/egg mixture into the pan.

                            Clean up crew isn't much help, but she sure is cute to look at =)

 So bake your Jet Fuel at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes. It should be a golden color on the edges and fluffy like an omelet. I sit it out to cool and then cut it into squares and place in a lidded tupperware container for Jet Guy to have over the next few mornings for breakfast. Some days it only last two because the kids want it too before school. Anything that helps the school mornings run more smoothly, I'm all about it! Who's with me on that one?!?!

 Sometimes,  I even slice myself a piece or two for lunch and share it with my favorite cup of coffee and savor the moment that my little one is napping and that breakfast is now complete for at least two days.  So much goodness!

Well it really is that simple y'all, so go ahead and add this to your next meal planning calendar and see just how much of a hit it will be. Watch your hubbies start volunteering and the children will sing your praises. Nothing to not like here. If you have any questions. Please don't hesitate to ask them.

Latest Happenings

So things have been super busy here as you might expect with a family of five! There is never a dull moment around here and now that my computer has gotten some of its memory back, I can post some of our most recent pictures.

Poor Caroline started her new year off hospitalized for a bacterial infection. Poor thing was sick for 10 days. Her sweet friends from school and gymnastics sent her get well cards, flowers, and a little art kit. I have honestly never seen her be so still for so many days. This little jellybean had me very worried, but so thankful for all of our friends and family that prayed for her. She is good as new and back to being on her hands more than her feet these days.

 One of my favorite things about having a tween is their ambition to want to try new things. One day after school, G came home and made everyone a dessert, all by herself. She looks so grown up to me these days. She is definitely turning in to quite the young lady.  I remember when I was her age, that is when my mama began to teach me about cooking and meal prepping alone. One of the reasons I believe I have always loved to cook. This brings back so many great memories for me as I watch her grow.

 One of our favorite things we did over the recent holiday weekend was go to the air and space museum. The kids had a great time touring the planes and space ship. They even had a scavenger hunt for the kids to do while there to keep their interest in all of the planes and sites. My girls and the friends that came with us thought it was great. They ended up earning a prize for finding all of the pieces to the puzzle. As you can see, Daddy was smitten with the planes, totally in his element, while baby girl was smitten with him. Let's just say she has him wrapped tighter than a rubber band.

 So this sweetness, AKA Pickle has finally decided she likes bath time. For a while she would pitch the biggest fit about getting wet. I honestly can't blame her with the cold temps here. Who wants to take their clothes off and get wet and more importantly, back out in to the freezing air.  A few new bath toys and now she is hooked. I can't believe she is already 15 months and she is still such a joy for us all. Not a day goes by that this smile doesn't brighten our day! She's still not walking (loves being carried by... you guessed it, sisters), but her vocabulary is taking off and she has recently started mastering some animal sounds. Her favorites are lion and monkey. She thinks it's pretty hilarious to mimic me.

 Well the girls finally had their first official snow day and they spent it with their friends sledding and building snowmen. If I had to guess their favorite part was coming in and having warm cookies and hot chocolate. Seriously, if I'm honest that's the only way I'm going out in the cold. Needless to say, we are having fun here, but these southern girls are ready for their flip flops and warm weather.

 Did I mention, how grown-up my G is looking these days. I look at her in amazement. I see this beautiful little caterpillar changing in to quite the beautiful butterfly. She is kind and has a heart of goodness and faithfulness. This picture is taken with her best friend here in Va and her name is also G.  They both had a 5th grade play and my G got a casting role in it. She was so excited and proud of herself for putting herself out there for a try out and then making it. Although she didn't get a singing role she was still so excited about her acting debut. I could be partial, but I thought she was awesome.

 When you are as busy as her, you do not have time to be fooling around with so much hair. So at her request, we chopped her hair off. Now, I just want to eat her up.

 As for myself, I have been busy making a collage in G's room. I bought this sign from a company called houseofbelonging and it is the exact message I want her to reflect on, not today, but everyday and through all steps of life. So I am adding some details to this awesome piece and more of that will be shown later. I will say my favorite part of the project was sanding and painting. The smell of wood and the work itself reminds me of my Daddy and his awesome talents. I'm no where near his skill level, but it is a fun reflection.

So that's a wrap for us, we also celebrated a recent birthday in the family, but I'm going to leave that for a blogpost all of its own. So much goodness in that one. Thanks for following us and check back for updates, projects, recipes and more the Walker Crew is trying. One good thing about snow days. Is the gym never looked better ( swimsuit season will be back, right?!) and the opportunity to craft and try new foods. Good thing we got that new Crossfit membership. We are going to need it! Ha! xoxo to you all!

How Many " Likes"

It is amazing how when one person decides to take a break from FB or other social media sites how it can stir a frenzy. People automatically assume the worst, something has happened, or there is secret drama behind the exit sign. I can honestly say there really isn't any real or at least interesting drama behind my choice to take a different route for a change. I can tell you, that an interesting conversation with my soon approaching tween, is what caught my attention. She is young, vibrant, very into pop culture, media, friends, changes about herself and etc. So it shouldn't have surprised me to hear her comment on the "like" frenzy that FB and other social media outlets have created. In her young mind and world a " like" seems like a validation, a ticket to "friends". In her world, it is what defines you as popular, hip, the next big thing. That moment, I had a realization. I have set that tone, I have shown her that it is ok to get validation this way. As adults we have modeled that behavior. We have taught our kids that is where we get our personal edification from, how things we cannot touch or feel, have so much control over our emotions, perceptions, interests and families. After thinking and talking with her about the "like" frenzy, I decided it was time to do some serious modeling, realigning, studying, and good old homegrown life lessons. What I want her to learn most from this next year is the fact that social media can be good, but can also be dangerous, misleading, and bad. It is a great way to share and reconnect, but it is also a place where people can hide behind platforms, people can solicit you, "follow", "friend" you. In actuality, very few of those "friends" have any other contact outside of the "like" button. It is an unpersonable and insincere avenue to communication and connection. It can be malicious, superficial and untruthful. Frankly, the idea of being a "friend" but yet you can still be a "friend" while unfollowing someone is a indication that these social media outlets are coming to be nothing more than a game. A avenue for sales, a way for someone to make their case for how they feel on matters, a way for some one to look at themselves and compare themselves and their families to others. It can be passive aggressive, a way for people to only be in your life when they want to be, on their own terms. What I want my daughters and others to know about this next year is that despite what is happening on social media, THEY ARE ENOUGH, YOU ARE ENOUGH! Who cares, how many "likes" a picture gets, who cares what outfit got the most hits, who cares which blog is taking off with the most followers. What matters is how you are living your life. What you love about yourself. You ARE enough. The game of comparing and keeping up with Jones' life is exhausting. Believe in yourself, believe your spouses ARE enough, believe your children ARE enough and believe you, yourself ARE enough. You do not need validation from any where else. Quit looking at other people lives and what they have materialistically and comparing them to yourself. Take the time to validate your own marriage, your spouse and what they are trying to do to provide for the family. Quit setting up your children to meet unrealistic expectations. Quit comparing yourself to so and so. Be happy in the moment you are in. There is a lot to be said with the saying, " The grass is not always greener on the other side." Be content, still! We, including myself, have all been guilty at looking towards those things, feeling those feelings. The validation is an inward action, it's a verb. It is something you do and only you can do it. You might ask, why I know you are enough, well because my Heavenly Father said so. He bought each of us at the highest price possible and we are far more worthy to him than rubies and precious stones. BELIEVE that. He doesn't do half jobs, each of us were created to be set apart from others. Be BOLD! He believes in you. You are by far His most precious work! I am certain of this, he would not want myself, or anyone else comparing ourselves to the "like" factor. Be DIFFERENT! Change is hard, habits are hard to break, but I think the consequence of not changing our society's view of the "like" system is far more costly. We have lost our purpose that we were designed for. Life is hard enough and the devil works hard enough to separate us from happiness. Why give that happiness away so freely. How many times has social media effected your mood, what you thought about a subject or person? Maybe even innocent articles have pulled you away from the truth. How many times has a "unfriending" upset you? It is a vicious cycle that has removed us from free living. We no longer talk on the phone, send real letters or even email anymore, instead we hide behind a smoke glass, putting on a show for those to see.

What I want for my family to know is that they are more than that. They ARE enough and although our life is crazy, full of chaos at times, it is our life and it is very real! It may not be perfect, but we are renewed every day through HIM! His Grace abounds through us. We owe it to him to push on. To consider ourselves more! We were never mean't to be just a simple "like" we are His. This year, we want to simplify things and get back to basics. We want to share our real deal with you and your families. We want to connect in a sincere way. This year, our family goal is to travel more, see our "friends" in real life, connect with them "old school". Might I dare say we will even pick up the phone and call someone. Cards will be sent for birthdays, not because we were automatically reminded, but because we remembered on our own and went and bought one and then mailed it to you, to precious you. Why you ask? Because my friends you are ENOUGH and you DESERVE more. My Lord told me so!!!

 “For you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” I Cor. 6: "For you were formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you. for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well." Ps 139:13-14

Claiming my blog! Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Simplify

The word simplify means, to make simple or simpler. To make something less complex, to reduce fundamental parts, or to make something easier to understand. The idea of the word simplify delights my soul. It gives me thoughts of things being easier and less stressful. It fills my spirit with quietness and hopefulness. It is encouraging and motivating. Every New Year brings about a new challenge and sets of resolutions. I personally usually do not make resolutions, mostly, because I don't like the idea of setting myself up for failure. So I'd rather surprise myself at the end of the year with what I did do and learn. This year, I am singing a new tune. I have sat down and thought extensively about some things that I want to do differently. I have gauged new priorities and I'm going to focus on goals that I have been wanting to achieve, but have been put on the back burner. Why not now? Simplify! This year you won't find me on FB instead I will be writing more, playing more, exercising, reading, traveling, learning a new trait and worrying less, and focusing on people who engage and share in our family's happiness. It may not sound simple to you, but it does to me. Focusing on things that quiet my soul are things worth doing. It's being happy with what you have (material things), but yet engaging in making more memories with your family (traveling with them, playing with them). Being a parent that says, "Yes" more than the one that says, "No". Engaging with friends and family that want you to be in their life. Putting the phone away at night and using that time to talk to my husband and share in his daily happenings. Being more present in the now and less distracted while sharing with him. Here's to a New Year. We encourage our friends and family to take this journey with us. We are currently trying to get a way for you to subscribe to our blog and receive updates on our progress. Like anything new, I will need to do my homework to make that work. Thank goodness my hubby is more tech savvy than myself. Here you will find updates, pictures and the happenings with us. Above all, we hope our family is an encouragement to yours. Life is hard, but friends and family make it worth the ride! Hold tight because Team Walker is taking off in 2015!

You Are My Sunshine

As I sit here and write this blog entry, I can't help, but to reflect upon the past 8 years. My husband and I went through infertility issues following our oldest girls and for the first time, we understood the meaning of being told no, over and over again. With each new medication, chart, thermometer, we were met with the reality that a third baby just was not going to happen. I remember how sad that made me and how many times I questioned God why he no longer chose me to be a mother. I prayed earnestly, I prayed that he would hear my pleas as much as he heard Sarah and Abrahams. Fast forward to 7 years later and one morning after feeling sick for days, I learned we were expecting. I remember how I laughed at God's sense of humor. The timing was all wrong, we had moved on and accepted the reality of two is it for us. Then it hit me, it was not about our timing at all. It was about HIS timing and HIS plan that HE had laid out for our family. HIS grace over me was shown in that first ultrasound when we saw our sweet pickle for the first time. I cried. It was blurry and alien looking, but it was my sweet baby, my answered prayer. My pregnancy was difficult, HG took a toll on my body. I was physically and emotionally drained, but I was diligent in prayer. Never once wishing this would not have happened. Finally, 9 months later, October 15th, we had our sweet Riley Joy. She was beautiful and perfect in every way possible. Amazing things happen to you with each child you have and Riley Joy has been no exception. Maybe it is because we know she is the last baby we will have, but I find myself holding her longer, pushing her less to meet developmental milestones, I study her toes and each little roll and crevice she has. I have held her longer just to hear the diaper crinkling in my lap, the heavy, grumbled breathing, just so I can remember. I savor each time I can rock and sing to her. Our current favorite is " You Are My Sunshine". Last night, I actually got so teary singing it thinking these last couple of days are my last baby days. Wednesday you will be one and transition to a toddler. Oh the things that await in this next season. With each line I sung, memories flooded over the past and all I could think of was gratitude and humbleness. God knew I needed this one more baby and so he granted me my request. My prayer for her is that she knows how much she is loved and wanted. How special it is that God saw each step of her creation. How if she draws near to HIM, HE will draw nearer to her. HE will guide her along this life's journey. She is HIS light and she shines brighter amongst her peers and I pray that no one will ever take that sunshine away. Happy Birthday Riley Joy, AKA Pickle! Mama, Daddy and Sisters love you! You are my sunshine, My only sunshine, You make me happy when skies are gray, You'll never know dear, How much I love you, Please don't take my sunshine away.

Wow Almost One Year!

Well as you can see, I haven't written in quite a while. A lot has happened over the past year and it is hard to believe that we have had a baby, finished deployment number 8, moved from California to Virginia and are now looking forward to our sweet Riley Joy turning the big one. Seriously, one, I can't believe it! She has truly been our family's greatest delight and she makes HG something of a distant memory of when my heart ached and my body felt broken. Now almost a year later, this Mama is starting back her fitness journey, trying to get kids settled in to a new school and area, while my crazy and favorite fighter guy is learning to navigate a desk job instead of F/A-18d. Not an easy task and so much to catch my blog up on as far as the family happenings. All in all, God continues to lead us while we cling to his never changing hand. We are all thankful that we are together and embarking on a new journey that God has placed us on. Stay tuned for pictures of our sweet baby girl and her amazing sisters from over the year as we embrace the BIG ONE!