Happy September! I hope you enjoy this Chicken Quinoa Black Bean Bake recipe today! Yesterday we went to church, met friends in town for breakfast, and came home to have a relaxing Sunday. It’s so good to set apart one day of the week to slow down.

Recipes with quinoa

This is a great fall recipe to make (you can use fresh corn), and a great potluck dish. We love quinoa, and here are a few other recipes to try: Southwest Kale Quinoa Salad, Cheesy Stuffed Chicken Sausage Quinoa Peppers, and Chicken Quinoa Freezer Burrito recipe.

Chicken Quinoa Black Bean Bake

It’s also DELISH if you leave out the chicken and make it vegetarian. (more…)

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Friends, we spent a day this week getting ready for winter! I hate even talking about it. I wish every day was an October day, for the rest of my life. But reality is, winter is coming! And quite honestly, I do enjoy the 4 beautiful seasons we’ve been given!

Dill Pickle Cornbread with Bacon

Just in time for “cozy,” we made my delish Bacon Pineapple Chili and this Dill Pickle Cornbread with Bacon for dinner last week. I love Ina Garten, and I bet you’ll love this recipe, too! And dill pickles? The best! (more…)

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A simple any time meal or snack, enjoy these Spinach Sweet Pickle Tuna Flatbread Melts!

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Friends, do you ever feel “stuck?” Possibly it’s because life feels heavy, like you’re drowning in obligations, personal stuff, clutter, bad relationships, you’re not experience joy and happiness? I read a great quote today, and I could not have said it better. You’ll find it at the end of this post…..

Black Bean Vegetarian Enchiladas

But first, earlier this week I made a couple pans of enchiladas for my daughter, and her friends who came to stay with us for a few days. One of the gals was Vegetarian, so of course I wanted to make a dish that she would enjoy!

Saute the veggies, add the beans and corn, make the sauce, and bake. (more…)

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When my friend Joan sent fresh green beans from her garden over with her son, who was headed on a backpack trip with our son, I got a little homesick for some of our friends in our hometown, and also our garden!

One of the things my husband and I have learned, in the last 6 weeks of being in our new home, is that we could love the home we’d had (garden, pool, beautiful backyard, so many memories), but leave it anyway. Because now we are loving our new space, as we’re working hard on a few DIY projects. (more…)

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Friends, we’re in the home stretch now with our new move to Central Oregon. Welcome to our new home!

I can’t wait to share more about the house projects, the surprise French countryside treasures that were left in the kitchen, and how much we love this area.

We’re in the process of redoing the kitchen, painting many (but not all) of the wood walls, refinishing all the hardwood floors, painting the fireplace (yes, inspired by Melissa’s fireplace)—to name a few of the projects.

My husband and I have decided that moving is not for wimps! It’s like training (packing), and running a marathon!

The last 3 homes we purchased were for sale by owner. This time, even though we quickly sold this house we have loved (thanks to Craigslist!), getting into the new house was—well, let’s say, stressful.

Moving to another town was also a first for me – ever!

We’ve had so much help from friends and our kids, so we feel blessed, but downsizing and moving is indeed quite a task, and one that we do not want to do again for a long time. (more…)

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Friends, we have sold our house and are downsizing our family home. It’s happening rather quickly for us now, but just in time, my friend Marni wrote a book that I’d love to recommend to anyone even “thinking” about doing such a thing.

Downsizing The Family Home

Right when we put our house for sale on Craigslist, and saw my friend’s brand new book out, Downsizing the Family Home – What to Save, What to Let Go, by Marni Jameson. Marni also writes for The Denver Post and a few other syndications.

I love her forward, to her parents, “who taught me the meaning of a home.”

I’ve always told our kids, our home is where love is, our hearts are, and we have each other. It’s not our surroundings. Now it’s time for me to practice that, after living here in Medford, Oregon for 52 years!

I also want to let you know some of the chapters in Marni’s book, that may be of interest to you. She talks to those who have aging parents, those who have a hard time letting go of stuff, offers tips for yard and estate sales, how to find value or appraising antiques, what to sell where. And then, these are very important chapters: Knowing when it’s time to make the move, How to ship valuables, What to keep, not to keep.

She has some heart-to-heart talks about real issues. Some of the same issues that Paul and I have told each other we will be prepared (as can be) for downsizing early, not expecting our kids to agonize over our stuff.

It’s a gift that we can give our children, friends, not hanging on to too much.

How stuff defines us

Also, I think about how our stuff possibly defines us? Or does it?

The more we have, the more we are. Or, we think we are.

“A lifetime habit of judicious edict is a gift you give yourself and your children. Living well no matter what your stage in life means letting go as you grow, shedding your old self to make room for the person you’re becoming.” – Marni

Paul and I do not want to cling to that false sense of security. We want to try to live on less. We want to be ahead, and for us that means less stuff.

And so the new journey begins. For us, it’s all about attitude, dreams and goals. We don’t want “stuff” to get in the way.

More of Marni’s wisdom

You are not your stuff
Less stuff equals more happiness
Get wiser with age sooner
Manage your expectations
Know what you love
Ask your kids, and allow for time

I will keep you posted, friends, as we forge on through to our new adventure!

Many of my readers know that Shauna is one of my favorite authors. This quote caught my eye, and I’ve been taking it to heart.

“Some of the most life-shaping decisions you make in this season will be about walking away from good-enough, in search of can’t-live-without.” – Shauna Niequist

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Most people let their moments slip through their fingers, half-lived. They avoid the present by worrying about the future, or long for a better time and place. They forget that they are creatures who are subject to the limitations of time and space. They forget their Creator, who walks with them only in the present. — Sarah Young

Wow. Every moment that we have is alive, and full of so much potential, if we only would embrace it. Our lives matter, today.

Which is partly why my husband and I decided to sell out house and move to Bend, Oregon. Yes, we are heading to Central Oregon and we are very excited. We’re actually buying a fixer-upper home, and I’ll be sharing quite a bit here on RE about the updates! Let me just say, it’s not your normal type of home, it has some unique features about it.

I’m scared to death, to leave my little community of wonderful people and so much support, but I’m also up for the adventure of new things. My husband and I have prayed for over a year about this move, then BAM! Everything fell into place.

The risk.

Back to living in the present moment. That thought reminds me of a lunch date with a new friend in my life, this past week. (more…)

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