This week marks an extended vacation with my family centered around my sister, Kimberlina. She wed the love of her life, Rafeek, and I am now a sister-in-law. Much like the warm golden rays, the memories of this trip are full of warmth and joy.

God sent His grace to our family this week. He was faithful to both hear and answer our prayers that His love would lavishly through us to our yet-to-be-saved family members. He arrived at the ceremony with palpable glory, touching even the hardest of hearts. Young cousins of ours witnessed the truth of the gospel and the love of the Father, whether they knew it was Him or not. I think they did. 

As God did that, He did not neglect His children in the Worrell family. At every Kimberly and Rafeek are a match literally made in heaven. They will be a force in Christ’s kingdom with which the enemy will have to reckon. 

{On a less reflective and poetic note…here are some pics!}

Rehearsal dinner with the Lentz girls!

From left to right: Nader (brother of the groom), Rachie Cakes, Kimberlina, Rafeek, me, and Anson Garçon

Wedding party, aka PAR-TAY!

As we waited, we ate.

My gorgeous sister and the groom

Morning after (yes, the real morning after) with the whole family. Pure love!

A man we all love and respect lost his wife over the weekend. She was the love of his life, his best friend. She was a good wife to him – his countenance showed it.

It happened suddenly. She had some headaches a couple weeks ago that somehow turned into a stroke. The stroke left her unconscious until she went Home on Friday.

I forget sometimes how sobering death is, especially when it comes without warning. I heard someone say once that it is good to experience at least one birth, one wedding, and one death every year because it gives us a proper view and reverence for life. With a flurry of pregnant friends and continued weddings…I agree with him.

Celeste, I never got to meet you personally. However, it is evident you lived and love well. Your husband’s face radiates love and joy, which I’m sure stemmed from the love he shared with you. You can tell he wanted to go home to you. Thankfully, he’ll get to come Home to you soon. Until then, you are missed.

David, may God’s comfort fill your heart. May His nearness be more real to you than the pain. May He lift your heavy heart when you can’t lift it yourself. May you lean on Him for strength and in that leaning find His joy.

Kief is beautiful, quiet, smart, sensitive, loyal, faithful, funny (she will surprise you), grounded, servant if there ever was one, and classy. She watches things with the eyes of wisdom and chooses to believe the best…even when it hurts. She lives in grace. Aaaaand she has the BEST blonde curly hair you ever saw!

When I bought my home in November 2010, Kief was the first friend I asked to move in with me. We hadn’t known each other all that long, but our friendship had already begun to form a special bond.

I remember going to Central Market when I returned from a missions trip to Greece to meet up with Kief. She told me then that while she wanted to move in, the timing wasn’t right. From then on, I would tease her (probably too often) about the day she was supposedly going to move in with me.

That day finally arrived after about a year. December 1st, Kief became Roomie to me. What a joy it’s been!

I just celebrated my 25th birthday this past Monday, the big QC (Quarter Century)! I returned from a girls trip with Lovey to see Minda Ann in Tallahassee, FL (more to come on that) to Kief who told me to go in the other room. Um, bossy lately?! She eventually brought out this BEAUTIFUL orchid plant that she bought from one of my favorite stores (you’ll never guess!).

Cube Shelf

But that wasn’t all, ladies and gentlemen! She also got me THIS!

Mother of all Gardening Magz

You may have heard I’m planting my first garden this year. This magazine has answered almost all of the questions I hadn’t had time to research yet:

What can grow in shade?

What are some alternative planting methods?

When do I plant which fruit or veggie?

Then there’s pure inspiration…one day, one day.

Dream Garden

My creative juices are pumpin’ right now – let’s hope they translate to a green thumb!

Plump, vine-ripened tomatoes.

Resplendent citrus and avacado. Vibrant, leafy greens.

Mmmm. A full bounty.

I plan to plant my first garden in the next few weeks. My roomie’s dad is coming to help us build the planters. Soon, I will have my own farmer’s market in my backyard. Yippee!

What do you think I should plant?!

Say, whaaaaat? A retailer standing their ground? Staying true to their beliefs and values? What about the competition?!?!?

That deserved a tweet:

“For this reason alone, I would (and probably will) shop @Nordstroms. BRAVO!!! http://consumerist.com/2009/11/nordstrom-continues-to-oppose-christmas-creep.html“

I would like Mr. Nordstrom to know that I fulfilled my promise. I bought Anson Garςon a pair of TOMS ‘Classic’ Plaid Slip-On shoes for Christmas.

If I could talk with Mr. Nordstrom, I would tell him:

“Sir, I bypassed the discount at my place of employ (we’re going old-school here, people!) just so I could shop with you. Why? Because you, unlike many other retailers, upheld the sanctity of the sacred Thanksgiving holiday in this country by reserving Christmas decorations for…well…Christmas! And it was my pleasure to do business with you.”

Three cheers for @Nordstrom!

Great question! I don’t know. But if you layer it with sweet potatoes, cheese, bread and eggs…it makes deliciousness!

I called Mother Dearest a couple weeks ago, asking her if she knew of any addictive, scrumptious breakfast recipe I could use for work. I was, after all, displaying my domestic diva-ness to all my co-workers. It had to be a winner.

Thankfully, Mother Dearest came through. I’ve made this recipe twice now (I changed it a bit from mi madre’s), and it’s been exactly what I hoped: addictive.

Let’s face it though, what’s not addictive about bacon?

Enjoy! (Sorry there’s no picture!!)

Bacon Sweet Potato Breakfast Casserole

INGREDIENTS
6-8 slices of white or light wheat bread
1 cup (or more) of shredded cheese
1 lb bacon
1/2 sweet potato
10 eggs
1/2 cup milk
Pepper, salt, and a 1/4 packet of ranch dressing seasoning

PREP
Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees
Cook the bacon until slightly crisp
Cut the crust off the bread
Slice the sweet potato in thin round slices
Whisk the eggs and milk together thoroughly, including the seasoning

INSTRUCTIONS
Layer the pieces of bread into the bottom of a 9×13″ pan so it’s entirely covered
Sprinkle the cheese evenly over the bread
Layer the cooked bacon on top
Layer the sliced sweet potato evenly on top
Pour the whisked eggs evenly over all the layers
Sprinkle more cheese on top (if desired)
Leave it in the fridge overnight
Bake at 350 degrees for one hour the following day

Her name is Noel, aka Noelita the Eraser. She erases everything I draw. She has no mercy.

No mercy unless, of course, the sketch pertains to her. She seems to be more lenient in her erasing policy: Gone in 24 hours. This one lasted for 48!

She thought Leo was weird. I found him adorable. He barely lived to see the sun.

Noelita actually commissioned this work. She was looking forward to deep dish goodness!

(This was another cube-mates out-of-office sign. I couldn’t help myself, so I transitioned momentarily to post-it notes. I say spread the drawing doodle cheer!)

This technically isn’t a stiletto. I don’t care.

I challenged myself to draw my friend’s business logo from memory.

Noelita couldn’t help herself: She drew the mitt.

This absurd creature can barely be called a cat, but it made Noelita  laugh in hysterics nonetheless. I think it was the earring that pushed her over the edge.

Noelita doesn’t erase as much anymore. She became an enabler when she joined the fun and started drawing. She didn’t erase this Thanksgiving doodle for a week! (It’s because she added the bee, I just know it!)

We are now onto Christmas sketches. Ah, a partridge in a pear tree…

Rest assured there will be more to come on Noelita’s whiteboard! I wish you a whiteboard art series of your own this Christmas season.

Not one to leave things plain, I got the itch to doctor it up. A dash of almond extract and a handful of dried coconut flakes, this tea was on its way from rags (hello, $0.50 Lipton) to riches! Perfect Sunday afternoon treat.

I grabbed my colander to strain the coconut out of the tea. Pour, pour, pour….STRAIGHT DOWN THE SINK!

By the time the synapses in my brain realized what I was doing, the tea was halfway gone.

So, I had some very nice coconut flakes infused with tea. So gourmet.

PS. Menfolk, it’s deep wading in the waters of the e(strogen) pool. Consider yourself warned!

Angus, me love, you er the cutest!

(I almost stole him from my friend’s dad!)