Now that it's warming up, the grill is turning on or the charcoal is being lit or whichever way it works best for you. Visiting family, I always try to do my part and get busy in the kitchen. After all, there isn't much else I can do. Having more energy in the second trimester, I have found that getting back to the basics and cooking is positively wonderful. It started the other night when Clark's little sister and I made this chicken stir-fry, then last night I baked Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies. And now tonight I will be sharing a recipe with you for Spinach Turkey Burgers, which also have the option to be Spinach Turkey Burger Steaks... try saying THAT ten times fast!

So, you can also cook these on a broiler. Being blessed to be visiting people who have a sufficient grill, unlike our $20 one from Walmart, we are cooking them in true summer-style. However, if you don't have a grill, not to worry. These burgers will still taste delicious if you have to cook 'em up on a broiler in the oven.

SUPPLIES:

- 1 lb ground turkey
- 1 1/2 C chopped fresh spinach (or you can buy a bag of the ready-to-go-stuff if that's easier on you)
- 1/2 C breadcrumbs
- 2 TBLSP finely chopped bell pepper (I will be using green, but I'm pretty sure any color of bell pepper would taste really good!)
- 3/4 C chopped onion, about 1/2 of a medium sized onion (once again, any color will work just fine for your taste buds)
- 2 TBLSP Dijon mustard
- Cheese, if you wish, to top off the burgers with! Yummm.... and Mozzarella tastes REALLY good with these!

All of this makes about four decent sized burgers, so if you want more than that I would suggest doubling up!

This is easy. All you have to do is use your hands (yes, it gets messy) and mush everything together. So, you go from this:

To this:


Then, you throw them on the grill or broiler.

I did make the mistake of not chopping up the spinach, which I'm assuming holds them together much better than just making them with the whole leaves. Be warned that turkey is much different than hamburger, and you should lightly coat the burgers with Pam or whatever kind of nonstick spray you have. When turning them, be gentle. Our Spinach Turkey Burger Steaks ended up being Spinach Turkey Burger Crumble... but it was still delicious!

*Added 4.03.12*

- Make sure to add 1 EGG to help bind everything. I did this not really thinking about it because I add it to other burgers I make *recipe to come Summer 2012*, and it worked like a charm! Add an egg, chop the spinach, and you should be golden!

If you are a normal family or couple, you've moved at least once. Whether this be into your new apartment, your new home, or from one home to the next, you've experienced moving. There are boxes to be packed, suitcases to be secured, valuables to be titled "FRAGILE" and so many details to account for that sometimes it's hard to breathe while you're doing it all.

My husband and I have experienced moving several times. The first was when we moved out of our respective dorm rooms on campus into our first "starter" apartment. This was interesting. The poor thing has fond memories, but the apartment was definitely one that I would not wish on anyone. It had that classic feel of "first poor married couple's apartment" or "first apartment out of college" or whatever label you want to give it. We lived there for about eight or nine months. From there we moved to "nontraditional student housing" on campus. Unfortunately, pets were not allowed, and I was craving a kitten. We were there for eight months. We then proceeded to move to another apartment, which was really a house. There we had some issues because the realtors couldn't find anyone to rent the "unit" below us that was really the basement re-done. So, unless we wanted to pay twice the rent for the whole place, we had to move. We were there a grand total of six months.

Finally, we moved to our most recent place. It was twenty minutes outside of town, in another town, but it was well worth it. We could have our cat, and the added addition of the puppy, and live happily with amazing realtors who were understanding of every little problem we may encounter. I had to do the move on my own, at least without Clark because he was attending MCT (I believe it stands for Marine Combat Training) for the Marine Corps. I had an army of guys from my then-current-work helping me, as well as Clark's two uncles and one aunt. It was amazing. It went so quickly and I didn't feel too much stress at all. I packed in advance so no one else would have to, and I just felt so successful when it came to a close. We lived there for a year and ten months. We are now moving once again.

This time, everything is up in the air. We stored all of our things and are currently bunking at family's houses (Clark's side, that is). It's stressful, but I have to keep reminding myself that things could be a lot worse. Plus, it's great to have family helping us out and to have time to relax. I'm not sure just yet on how to relax, but I'll let you know once I figure it out.

There will be another moving post when we successfully get everything out of storage and move forward with our next stage in life. We're in an "in-between stage" right now. It's one of the worst and best places to be, depending on how you look at it. I'm just choosing to be thankful, stay positive, and "Just keep swimming," as Dory from Finding Nemo would say.

So, I'm out of class for good and tomorrow if my graduation from college. I had a night to celebrate with a movie and a personal-sized pizza, and then another night to spend with visiting cousins. Both were wonderful. Now, however, I have to have a cleaning day. The family is arriving sometime this evening (along with the hubby) and I have all day to get the house back in order.

I always tend to let things go when I have the house to myself. It doesn't help that I had exams or that I'm exhausted from carrying around a growing baby that is now the size of a cantaloupe. But, anyway, I'm not a clean freak when I don't have to worry about anyone seeing the house looking like a tornado ran through it. Part of the reason I do this is so I can actually have a cleaning day.

I'm one of those strange individuals that finds cleaning soothing. I set aside a whole day and do the laundry, dust, vacuum, clean the bathrooms thoroughly, organize anything that's been a little out of whack, and so forth. I love it. If Clark's home, it doesn't work as well. He's always in the way or trying to do something to "help"
but it's just frustrating because I was planning to do it. Don't worry. He understands. He can't clean when I'm in the house, either. So, we make it work one way or the other.

Cleaning requires the right supplies. There have been times in our marriage where we had to improvise one thing for another. Like, we didn't have enough Windex so we added water to the bottle and said it would work. We were out of mop-head covers so we sprayed some bathroom cleaner on the floor and went over it with paper towels. It's been interesting. Luckily, I had all the proper supplies today.

I'm still working, of course, but if you're someone who wants to give the house a thorough clean, here are the supplies I suggest you have ready for use!

Bathroom:

- Sponges
- Broom
- Mop (traditional or a swiffer with wet cloth-covers)
- Paper Towels
- Comet
- Windex or a Clorox bathroom-cleaner spray

Bedrooms/Living Room/Den/ etc.:

- Vacuum
- Pledge + dusting supplies
- Windex (to clean windows, TV screen, etc.)
- Carpet powder (if you have pets and want to get rid of any smells that may be lingering, they spell special powder you can sprinkle on the carpet before vacuuming and I LOVE it)

Kitchen:

- The precise same products as you need for the bathroom!

I'm pretty sure you can figure out what to do with all the supplies, but try to make the cleaning relaxing rather than stressful. Play some loud music, have the TV on, or something that keeps you moving and focused on what you're doing rather than why you're doing it!

To talk of many things. Of shoes and ships and sealing wax, of cabbages and kings...

Life often reminds me of Alice in Wonderland. Either you're too big or too small, you're upside down when you're supposed to be right side up, you're following a rabbit that's "late for a very important date", you're celebrating a very happy un-birthday, or you're just going with the flow trying desperately to ultimately figure out what's going on.

As a wife and soon to be mother, I sometimes find it hard to do what I need to do. Though the laundry may be piled up on the bed or sofa needing to be folded, or the sink is full of dishes that must be washed by hand, all I want to do is sit a while and enjoy the fact that I'm not doing any of it. I mean, come on, what wife or mother doesn't? If you have a moment where the kids aren't at home, or the baby is sleeping, or the husband is away... you take moments and revel in the fact that you don't have to do anything. Even if you're only carefree for those few moments.

Lately, I've felt like Alice. I've felt like I'm following confusion after confusion and I just want life to make sense for a minute. So, I'm taking a moment to sit, ignore the commotion around me, and ponder.

Graduating college, I am a young wife and mom-to-be. Most of my friends are figuring out graduate school or where they're going to work. Me? I'm looking at baby furniture and making sure everything is in order for us to move so my husband can finish school. It seems so strange to be at the same point in life and yet have completely different values and priorities than my friends.

I haven't been very up-to-date with the blog lately. This is because I've been so boggled when it comes to what I should write about. I haven't had anything on my mind except school, baby, and sleep. Cooking has moved to the back burner, house work has been shoved in the closet, and the lense has been covered.

Life will resume its normal pace soon and when it does I promise to keep you as updated, full of food and advice as I have in the past. Until then, know that I'm constantly thinking about you and hoping that you stay tuned for when I truly return.

For a closing note-- in case you didn't know-- we found out on April 25th that we are expecting a BOY! What an amazing blessing he is going to be.

It's here. The LAST day of April. It's amazing to me how fast time passes. I remember thinking spring would never get here, then April, then May... and all of a sudden they've all come and almost gone. Well, except for May, of course. May comes tomorrow.

When I was younger we used to celebrate May Day. It was something we had not heard of, I believe, until we moved to Minnesota. You put together a basket of goodies. The goodies can be candy, little toys, flowers, or larger presents for those closer to you. Then you put them on the doorstep and ring the doorbell. The point is to run to your car before they catch you. If they catch you, they get to kiss you. When you're little it's great fun because you're typically the one running and you get to decide who you want to catch you, and who you really want to get away from.

After Minnesota we lived in New Jersey, and we tried May Day. After that I can't really remember trying it again. We always said we would but one thing or another happened. Since no one else was doing it, it was easy not to try to start a tradition but just pretend it didn't exist.

So, if you have time, go celebrate May Day! You don't have to run away from the door, but hiding and leaving the basket with thoughtful goodies and a sweet note could just make someone's day!

Lately, if I haven't been stressing out from school or upcoming changes, I've been completely content with life. Here are some things that are just making me smile.


Napping.


Daffodils.


Baby Elephants.


My birthday is April 25th and that's when we get to find out if we're having a boy or a girl!

I remember graduating elementary school, middle school, and high school. Each time at least one teacher would read us the infamous book by Dr. Seuss, "Oh, The Places You'll Go!" Even at those younger stages I knew it was important. I knew it meant something. Each teacher was trying to inspire each student in a different way. Some would move on to be doctors, some to be famous, some to be teachers, some to be parents, and so on and so forth.

I'm not much older in years now. I graduated high school at the age of 18, and when I graduate college I'll barely be 22. Four years. They seem short to many. Some people aren't ready to face the "grown up world" after college, as many weren't ready to face the world after high school.

I haven't had the same experiences as many people. Getting married at the age of 18 helped me through many rough times, and made my experiences so very different from my peers'. I'm not saying that in a haughty way, or saying that makes me better or worse... I'm "just saying".

My college years have been filled with many of the same things: friends, drama, papers, projects, unwanted classes, strange weather, planning for the greater future, football games, parties, etc. However, it's not the same because I'm married. I didn't have to worry about boy drama, I didn't have to worry about a social life interfering with my homework, I didn't have to worry about what comes next. I was able to major in what I wanted to major in because I was married. After all, if I wasn't, English, Creative Writing wouldn't do me much good in the "real world", would it?

Many of my friends keep saying they can't believe they're leaving "this place". When they say "this place", they're referring to our college town/campus. They can't believe that they have to venture out to the next step: grad school, a "real" job, marriage... etc. They can't believe that they are finally venturing into another unknown. The four years or more spent at Appalachian State University (or whichever school they attended) went by too quickly for them. For me? It could have gone by faster and I would have been OK with it.

I'm not saying I'm not scared. I'm petrified. Expecting a child at this stage wasn't in mine and Clark's plans, but it was obviously in God's. We're moving, but we're used to it. Clark finally gets to take his turn and finish classes the "traditional" way. After that? Who knows. The thing is, though, we've been a part of the "real world" for almost four years. We've paid our bills, bought a new-used car, traded in the car for another one, filed taxes, and all that jazz. While some of my peers have done the same thing, it's different. Does that make sense?

I know I'm rambling. Bear with me.

This morning, instead of working on my Modern Theatre Literature and History paper, I was distracted going through old photos online. Album by album I found myself NOT missing it. I used to miss high school sometimes. How easy it was, the friends, the constant events, and so forth. Then I missed the sorority I had been a part of. The bonds, the parties, the drama.

But, now? I don't really miss any of it. And I am so thankful. I realize that I have so many glory days ahead of me; that the ones behind me don't really matter. They're a part of me, and I'll always remember... but I've changed so much. I may not be much older in years, but in other ways I feel ten times older.

Some people talk about high school being the greatest time of their life, some people say college, and some people say they're 20s. I don't precisely know what time of my life I'm going to define as "the greatest", but I feel like all I have to look forward to is the best yet to come. I don't want to live in the past, and I don't want to focus so much on the future that I forget where I am now.

I'm about to be a mom. It's the most wonderful and scariest feeling in the world. I've always wanted it. I don't feel like I'm sacrificing or losing anything by it happening earlier than planned. In fact, I feel blessed. I know that God wanted it to happen now, made it happen now, so I'm enjoying it now. It's not going to be easy, but nothing else seemed easy, either. Everything else was scary. Everything else seemed HUGE. But this? This is epic. This is TRULY life changing. I don't know how else to explain it.

I used to miss who I was because I thought I was "young" then and "old" now. I used to stay up late and giggle with friends and talk about boys and love being the center of attention. Now I go to bed early, talk to friends about my husband and hope I can understand their boy problems, and love making life about everyone else. Granted, I still love my days in the spotlight, but it isn't all about me. It's about my family and friends.

Some women don't want this feeling. Some women want to stay young, hip, career-oriented, and single (or at least, not married) forever. Or, they want all of it plus a husband who's the same way. I'm so not like that. There's nothing wrong with it, I suppose... but I just don't see how life can be fully satisfying without family.

I may never be published. I may never own horses. I may never travel to all the places in the world I want to see. I may never swim with dolphins, or ride an elephant anywhere other than at the circus. I may never own my dream house.

But I'll tell you what: It doesn't matter.

I am so happy because I have a God that loves me and lives within me, an amazing and supportive husband, baby #1 on the way, and wonderful friends and family who love me. To me, those are the most important and wondrous things in the world.

"Kid, you’ll move mountains!
So…be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray
or Mordecai Ale Van Allen O’Shea, y
ou’re off to Great Places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting.
So…get on your way!"