The Best of 2013

January 6, 2014 by HappyGoStuckey Leave a Comment

Annnnd… we’re back!

While most of you are one week into your New Year, I feel like mine has just begun. We had a wonderful 2nd half of Christmas celebrating with family and I definitely could have stayed a few more days– but sadly, reality dawned and it had to come to an end. So, Lance is back at work. Lucy’s back at school and Abby and I are making the effort to try to get our house back in one, post-Christmas piece. Well, I’m making an effort… Abby is helping by “un-doing” everything I do. Ha! Toddlers. Speaking of, she is going to be TWO in one month. WHOA.

So, here are my favorite highlights of 2013—

JANUARY:

44028830004 — Three things stand out to me– Abby is so tiny!!! And barefoot. And Lucy is so little looking! You can see the thousands of other visitors to the Happiest Place on Earth behind us!

We took a little two day trip to Disney– thinking it would be a good time to go, but we were dead wrong! Apparently everyone else was NOT back in school like we thought! But, we still had an AMAZING time. Next time we hope to go in a less busy season. Lesson learned.

In late January, Lance and I also had the chance to take a quick weekend trip to one of our favorite places and former home: Raleigh, NC! Some of our dearest friends were moving away so the girls got some Nana & Papa time and we zipped up there for a couple days.

One of our favorite visits was a coffee shop that opened after we left– Jubala Coffee! If you happen to live in the Raleigh area and you have not been there yet- Go! right now!

A Brown Sugar and Cinnamon Latte and a homemade Liege Waffle! Fabulous!

February:

Abby’s 1st birthday!!!

March:

Our favorite March event was Lucy’s first Ballet Performance in the Roar of Love. She did so great and we loved seeing our little almost 4-year old dance in such a wonderful performance.

April:

Our beach vacation was certainly the highlight of April! We stayed at a great little condo in St. Simons Island and enjoyed a relaxing week together.

Our sandy shoes at the condo where we stayed — Our sandy shoes at the condo

May:

Lucy’s 4th Birthday!

She was having so much fun, she rarely looked at the camera! Sweet little 4 yr. old!

June:

After a pretty busy spring and early summer, in June– we just RELAXED!!!

July:

Lance's 34th Birthday! — Quite possibly my favorite part of July– was that Amy and I began our morning walks! So refreshing and so good for us! Lance’s 34th Birthday!!!

August:

September:

My favorite part of September was the DotMom Conference! The fantastic weekend in Chattanooga with a couple close friends from church was just what this tired mama needed!

Honorable Mention: Painting the Fireplace!!!! This was a project I had considered for a long time and I’m so glad we finally did it!

And as much as I liked it in September, I was blown away by how it looked when dressed up for Christmas! I should have done it sooner.

October:

ALLUME was certainly a memorable part of October. I learned so much, was stretched beyond myself and found the freedom to keep writing.

November:

Definitely, without a doubt, Lance’s new job which God provided, started in November. We are still a bit awestruck at this blessing.

December:

It’s hard to put a finger on one particular event in December, the whole month was full of blessings and love. It was so nice to be able to spend a lot of time at HOME this year. For that I am very thankful!

Still Christmasing….

December 30, 2013 by HappyGoStuckey Leave a Comment

I hope you had (and are having) a wonderful Christmas.

We have had a wonderful time both at home and traveling to be with family. Christmas Eve was wonderful as we were able to attend (for the first time ever) the Christmas Eve service at our church. We’ve decided that’s a new important part of our celebration. Christmas morning was simple and perfect. We read the story of Jesus’ birth, opened presents and baked cinnamon rolls and sausage balls to take to our friends house for breakfast. Four Adults, one teen, and four kiddos– all of us in our pajamas, enjoying good food and coffee together. There’s nothing like chowing down on cinnamon rolls with your exercise partner. HA!

Here we are, NOT working out on Christmas.

Here’s a few photos from our Christmas morning—

And where much of the country is busy packing up their Christmas decor today– I am not.

Because we aren’t done with Christmas! The way our family celebrations work out, we don’t finish Christmas for about another week– so we are still in full-celebration mode! (Except for the fact that we’ve starting exercising again and I’m being more careful with what I’m eating– because frankly, I cannot wait until January for everything!)

But I’m SO looking forward to 2014. I cannot wait to see how God uses us and grows us next year. I’ll be back soon to talk about our favorite January topic– goals!

Happy Monday!!!

Merry Christmas!!!

December 25, 2013 by HappyGoStuckey Leave a Comment

Merry Christmas from Our Family to Yours!!!

Stuckey-35 — And another…just to prove Abby smiles.

Wishing you a wonderful Christmas season close to everyone you love.

I hope you have joyful and non-eventful travel times and that the kids take looooong naps on the road.

I wish you long first sips of good coffee from a familiar mug while wearing pajamas and socks in your parent’s kitchen.

I hope you find yourself savoring the first bite (and the last!) of something your mama (or mom in law) made.

I hope you get to share meals with your grown-up (or not yet!) siblings, and smirks over the dinner table at inside jokes.

I hope you enjoy waking up next to your spouse a bit later than normal and relishing the vacation days… and hold hands!!!

I hope you stay up late watching slightly cheesy Hallmark movies with your dad–

I hope you take mental photographs of the way your children look on the lap of your grandparents (or theirs.)

I hope you hug soon, hug long, and hug often.

But more than all this, I hope you find some time over the next few days to get alone with God and THANK HIM for this great gift. He has given us so much in this life, But through His SON He has given us SO MUCH MORE.

Even if this season has left you exhausted and stressed and you are just realizing that you think you “missed it” again…

Well, don’t lose heart. It’s not over yet. Let Heaven and Nature SING!!! Repeat the Sounding Joy…

Merry Christmas, dear friend! See you in a few days!!!

(We can talk about all we ATE and share good recipes for Green Smoothies to get us back on track!)

This too, has passed.

December 16, 2013 by HappyGoStuckey Leave a Comment

So let’s see.. quick recap.

One week ago today I was in the ER with my first ever Kidney Stone. (WHAT???!!?!) Yeah. I woke up with horrible knife like pain in my back and could not sit, stand or function. My dear friend, neighbor and walking partner lovingly took me to the ER before the sun came up and sat by me and watched me writhe for 2 1/2 hrs. until I received pain meds. She sat by my bedside and took care of me in the sweet ministry that is Emesis bags and wet paper towels. Jen Hatmaker said at DotMom this year that “she has learned that just about every problem her kids have– can be cured with either a wet paper towel or a glass of water.” I’m convinced that’s true. No joke, there was service in those wet paper towels. There is seriously something so comforting about having a friend that doesn’t mind taking you to the hospital. ( Thanks, Amy! I promise to do the same for you should the need ever arise. ) She also helped watch my babies that afternoon until Lance took over and sent them home with a new Veggietales Movie.

By the time I got home from the hospital my mom had made the 5 hr. drive from Florida, (I’m pretty sure she just wanted to see my Christmas Decorations and catch up on Downton Abbey re-runs before the new season begins. Which we did–once the meds kicked in!) Also, each of our dinner meals that week had been taken care of by members of our small group. Another friend picked Lucy up from school and took care of her and the list just goes on of people that took care of us!! Such love!

Unfortunately, the same can NOT be said of all the emergency personnel we came in contact with. There should be a law against making “jokes” when your patient is doubled over groaning in pain and you KNOW you have absolutely no intention of helping her for at least another 2 hours. The meds did eventually come and life was sweet…

Until the official diagnosis came by way of the Dr with about a ‘2’ on the bedside manner scale.

Dr. What’shisname: “So you have a kidney stone.”

Me: “ok.”

Dr. What’shisname: “You know a lot of soda can cause them… do you drink a lot of soda?”

Me: “No, not really at all.”

Dr. What’shisname: “Oh well, do you eat a lot of greeny leafy vegetables?”

Me: “YES!” (hopeful, just knowing I’m about to pass this test!)

Dr. What’shisname: “Yeah, that can do it too.”

*Crickets*

So apparently I am supposed to avoid soda and green leafy vegetables. It figures. I knew all those salads and green smoothies were going to catch up with me someday. Here I was, just frittering away all my servings of vegetables and making sure I got enough vitamins like there was no tomorrow. Just eating green vegetables willy nilly– and never thinking about the consequences. Blast you, food pyramid.

So my ever gracious and compassionate Mom arrives. I don’t care who you are, you always need your mommy when you’re sick. If there’s one thing my mom is, it’s sympathetic. Which is nice, seeing as she spent all those years in the medical field– you’d expect she would have that “I’ve seen it all– get over it-you’re just fine” attitude. But not her. All I have to do is tell her I have a headache and she’s acts as though I’ve just had to remove my own appendix. It’s kinda nice. Like I said, you always need medical sympathy from your mom.

Within a day or two (or three?) I was feeling much better and things seemed to have.. you know– cleared up (out?) but I made the mistake of never making the official announcement that I had indeed passed the kidney stone.

I know this because the night before last, Lance and I had the following enlightening chat.

Him: “So how are you doing?”

Me: “Oh, I’m ok. much better now that I don’t think we’re going to catch the flu the kids have.” (Yes, the FLU!! what a week!!)

Him: “So… do you think you’ll pass the stone soon?”

Me: “WHAT??!?!?! Babe, that happened days ago.”

Him: “Really? Because people at work keep asking me if you passed it and I keep telling them no.”

So now I’m just a little embarrassed that everyone thinks I’ve just been walking around, hanging on to kidney stones for an inordinate amount of time.

Well, you know– hanging on to kidney stones and munching on way too much spinach and all.

I’m such a rebel. I might as well get a Harley.

Enough

December 13, 2013 by HappyGoStuckey Leave a Comment

Nestled in the small book of Judges are a few chapters which tell the story of Gideon. You might be familiar with the part where Gideon sets out the fleece before God. We see how Gideon is a little bit unsure of if and how they will defeat the Midianites… so He goes to God, fleece in hand– hoping for clarification. God confirms. Gideon asks again and waits. God confirms a second time.

But I want to draw your attention to the part just after. God has confirmed HIS plan for Gideon, and then He begins to work. But instead of fitting the men for battle with visible supernatural armor and giving them the tools to build a giant structure which would cause the Midianites to cower…. instead He tells Gideon His army is too big. So God removes 22,000 men. Leaving only a third. Surely Gideon felt daunted, yet perhaps he trusted still (even a little? ) in what was left of their numbers.

Then comes God a second time to Gideon, “The people with you are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hand, lest Israel boast over me, saying ‘My own hand has saved me.” (Judges 7:2) I can just imagine Gideon’s palms sweaty and his face clammy with fear as he watches as all but 300 men are removed and sent home. 300 men. That is a very small number to face such an army. “With the 300 men who lapped, I will save you and give the Midianites into your hand..” (Judges 7:7) Notice God says, “I will save you.” Not that there would be any confusion at this point. They were outnumbered. Completely.

And what happened? God delivered them. He provided. He protected and HE FOUGHT THE BATTLE! Gideon may have been leading them into the valley, but it was GOD’S Battle to fight and to win. And the amazing thing that God knew was that there needed to be a huge disparity between their resources and what they needed to be successful– so that when victory came, as it did– they would turn to God alone with their praise.

In her video series on Gideon, Priscilla Shirer said that this is exactly where God wants us to be. The space between our (God -given!) resources and what needs to be accomplished in His name. She refers to this space as “God Margin.” The space where He can work. She goes on to say that that He loves weakness as His strength is made perfect. I love that. Made perfect– as in lacking nothing.

Because let me just say, I am not lacking nothing. More accurately.. I feel as though I lack just about everything.

Time.

Energy. (especially given the events of the past week!)

Motivation.

Do you find yourself focused on what you do not come to the table with? You desire to have a homemade, fair-trade, every-gift-bought-feeds-a-village Christmas but your time and financial resources end after about one local artisan gift? Don’t ask “why bother?” Buy that one gift. Give that one gift. And trust God to make your small offering big for the least of these you ache to help.

Perhaps you KNOW for certain God is calling you to adopt. Your heart feels incomplete and you have space for “at least one more.” But the details are staggering and make you want to crawl back in bed. Don’t allow what you do not possess in your own strength to craft a mountain of “why you cannot.” Walk ahead. One step at a time, and when you must stop because your energy & resources run out– just wait. Wait for Him to act. If He has called you, He will provide.

Maybe it’s just… Christmas. (12 days from today.) Maybe 2 months ago you had great designs of how to avoid the rush and hustle and bustle and missing the manger altogether– but now… you might not get it “all” done if you don’t continue at breakneck pace until the 25th. You worry that you’ve missed your chance to make it meaningful and a true season of celebration of HIS birth. Start today, do something small for someone else. And pray that HE will increase your efforts and still your heart.

For some, it’s just continuing on the path that He has set you on. You know He has called you to what and where you are about– but how? How can you get there from here? GOD MARGIN.

Let Him fill the space that we are not, with ALL that He is.

Faithful.

Sovereign.

Patient.

Unceasingly Merciful.

And as we walk forward (behind Him, certainly– as He goes before us) we must walk in courage. In hope. And in the joy of the victory that is already ours. Because it is already HIS.

He is more than ENOUGH when we are not quite.

Roasted Butternut Squash Risotto

December 4, 2013 by HappyGoStuckey Leave a Comment

This is a perfect dish for a cozy dinner by the fire– maybe while you finish addressing those Christmas cards? Or in my case, begin choosing a card design. It’s simple enough to come together in under an hour, and yet elegant enough for company.

Butternut Squash Risotto is not difficult at all to make. You roast the squash, and then all of the Risotto happens in one pot. It may seem labor intensive to add the chicken stock in three stages, but it really comes together quite quickly. You do not need to stand over the pot stirring constantly, but watch to make sure your liquid doesn’t evaporate too quickly. Lower the heat if you feel it is.

_MG_6313 — Yes, those are my Christmas dishes. Fun!

Roasted Butternut Squash Risotto

1 Medium Butternut Squash, Peeled, seeded and chopped into 1-2 inch chunks.
Olive Oil- 2-3 tbs. – divided
Kosher Salt & Pepper
8 oz. white mushrooms- cleaned, and quartered (optional)
1 tbs. unsalted butter
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 cup Arborio Rice (Risotto)
3 cups Chicken Stock
1 tbs. chopped fresh Sage (or 1/2 tsp. dried)
2 tbs. Softened Lower Fat Cream Cheese
1 tbs. Grated Parmesan Cheese
1 tbs. Fresh Parsley

To roast Butternut Squash- Preheat Oven to 425′ and lightly spray a rimmed baking sheet with cooking spray or olive oil. Add squash pieces to sheet, add an additional tbs. of olive oil and toss with hands to ensure oil is evenly coated. Add a pinch of kosher salt and pepper and toss again. If you are using mushrooms, add them to one end of the cooking sheet. (If you have a good bit of squash and mushrooms, you may want to use a second sheet– roasted veggies require space to roast properly. Have to let them breathe! Use parchment paper if you want to minimize the clean-up.) Roast for 10 minutes and then stir well. Roast for an additional 8-12 minutes until done. Squash should be slightly brown, tender but not too crispy. Set aside to cool.

To make Risotto-

In a large pot (I used a Dutch Oven– but anything would work– just watch it for sticking!) melt 1 tbs. butter and 1 tbs. Olive Oil over medium heat. Add chopped onion and cook for 3-5 minutes until soft and beginning to take on color. Add dry risotto and stir for 2 minutes. Add 1 cup of Chicken Stock and stir. Risotto will absorb stock slowly and will become softer. Once there is not much stock sitting in the pan and most has absorbed, add the second cup of stock and stir often. Once it has absorbed, add the final cup of stock and stir often, allowing it to absorb. Add cream cheese and stir until it is incorporated. Add squash pieces and mushrooms along with sage. Taste for seasoning and add an additional pinch of salt or pepper if needed. Top with Parmesan and Parsley. Enjoy!

(If you need to allow it to sit for a few minutes, add a small amount of milk or cream (1 tbs. at a time) and stir until creamy again just before you serve. )

Serves about 4 as a main dish with salad on the side.

Monday & A TREAT from English Tea Paperie!!!

December 2, 2013 by HappyGoStuckey Leave a Comment

Hello there. Remember me? The girl who blogged three plus times a week? I promise I’m still here. Last week, I had no intentions of taking an entire week off for Thanksgiving, but I had a few technical issues and so, I did.

And it was quite refreshing. There was a lot of sitting, drinking coffee, seeing dear friends, eating (and eating again) and all manner of Fall fun. I was even able to spend a few hours on black friday JUST my mom and me! We had lunch at a favorite place and walked around the Town Center, casually shopping– while people around us made mad dashes for whatever they were in search of. It was pure bliss!

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving and though I plan to share some thoughts and photos from the week, I wanted to make just a few quick unrelated comments real quick!

Chloe from English Tea Paperie is offering a nice little treat for you lovely readers!

Today, being Cyber Monday– ETP is offering 25% off site wide and as always FREE SHIPPING!!

BUT, she offered an extra little surprise for my readers! If you enter HAPPYGOSTUCKEY in the “How did you hear about us?” category, you will get a FREE set of the Little Notes in a surprise design she picks out for you! All the designs are sweet and I’m sure you could find a Christmas gift or two over there– so why not head over, and consider supporting one of my very favorite Small Business Mamas?!??!

One of my last purchases from ETP– They come all ready to GIFT!

The Best of 2013

JANUARY:

February:

March:

April:

May:

June:

July:

August:

September:

October:

November:

December:

Still Christmasing….

Merry Christmas!!!

Merry Christmas from Our Family to Yours!!!

This too, has passed.

Enough

Roasted Butternut Squash Risotto

Roasted Butternut Squash Risotto

Monday & A TREAT from English Tea Paperie!!!

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