Snapshots in Music

I am driven by music. I said this in an earlier post, but sometimes I forget how true this statement really is. I have a song memory for every stage in life. Every boyfriend (unfortunately), my close friends, places I have visited, and sometimes even food or a restaurant has a song that goes along with it. My memory is exponentially enhanced by the music that runs through me.

As I sat down tonight to blog, naturally I opened up Pandora. The first song that started playing was "How Great is Your Love" by MercyMe. Interesting, how the flood of emotions, memories, images, even smells come back listening to this particular song. And almost instantly, my mind (and a piece of my heart) went back to a single moment in 2001, and "Ocean" by Ten Shekel Shirt started pouring through my head.

I spent the summer after my freshman year in college up at Lakeside Bible Camp on Whidbey Island. I was on staff as the Program Assistant, running games, doing random jobs for various people, and running around in the chicken suit occasionally. I also managed to get spanked with an omelet-covered spatula because I was teasing the cook. I was pretty much the camp gopher for an entire summer. While this completely messed with my need for a consistent workout routine in between college soccer seasons, it was quite possibly one of the most memorable summers in my small existence.

One day the staff headed out to play on the local playground, one of those castle structures FULL of tag and sardines potential. If anyone tries to tell you 20-year-olds are too old for playing a little sardines on the playground in mid-daylight, I am now proving you wrong. I remember about a handful of us fit into the large tire, and I think I remember someone hurting their ankle at some point, but I can't remember who it was.

As we drove out of the parking lot, Nicole was driving, I was shotgun, and Erin, Sarah, and either Joel or Cory were in the backseat. The song "Ocean" came on and I think I remember we all went quiet and listened to the lyrics. Someone remarked afterward that it was her new favorite song. Funny, I bet that person has moved onto to different songs and different music. But my snapshot will always hold still that song, and that moment.

I will never forget that summer, those images... from random nights out driving around the island, to late-night canoe rides and deep-sinking with grapes and root-beer, to having Narnia right in our very own closet, MercyMe and Ten Shekel Shirt. I also need to track down our silly staff video with me getting hit by a large rubber ball... actually two.

Click. :)

Food.

I guess we could really call this post "For The Record." I don't really have anything to prove; I guess I just like to give people glimpses into my real life, and not my online life. I don't think I act differently... I just think a lot gets lots in translation.

Last night, I threw together a batch of homemade flatbread. Whilst (sounds regal) I cooked the flatbread, I browned a little Garlic in Olive Oil, then threw in Salt and Organic Roma Tomatoes, and simmered it for about a half hour as it magically transformed into the most magnificent pizza sauce EVER. Meanwhile, I baked up some simple cheese pizzas on flatbread for my kids with some Organic sauce from the store. THEN, I sauteed a little Kale from my sister-in-law's garden, added Basalmic Vinegar, and proceeded to create heaven-in-a-pizza. Flatbread, Homemade Roma Tomato Sauce, Fresh Chopped Persian Cucumbers, Mozzarella Cheese, topped with sauteed Kale. By the way, did I mention the only actual recipe I used was for the flatbread, and I even partially created THAT recipe?! Didn't take pictures... I pretty much devoured the pizzas in two seconds.

All that to say, I want to share why I feel I can brag about this: I am absolutely and positively NOT a cook! And no way would I ever call myself a baker! Its why I married Aaron!

My Mother (who shall hopefully feel complimented and flattered by my saying this) tried her darndest to get me to sew, garden, cook, and bake as a kid. I believe I enjoyed it... at least until the oh-so-natural rebellious phase kicked in, and suddenly I wanted nothing to do with any of that. I think that's the only rebellion I ever went through. Sad really, I could have been so much more experienced by now at all that stuff. Thanks Mom, for instilling the values and skills at an early age!

I hate recipes. I'm great at starting them, but all I have to do is act a little airheaded and my husband swoops right in and finishes off the meal. I have started to tell him not to... I need to learn how to cook and finish off a recipe at some point in my life!

Then there's the whole fresh, organic, gardening... the thought of any of that used to completely overwhelm me. Plus calorie counting, the food pyramid, and limiting sweets... so sad.

I think through high school and college, it didn't really matter to me. Anything I ate I burned off in no time flat due to my constant athletic involvement, so I didn't have to think about it. I didn't even pay attention to my diet in college... and it probably could have helped my college soccer career last a little longer if I had been happier with my weight. Those school cafeterias and their unlimited selection... SO FUN. :) I probably consumed my lifetime intake of butter and salt in that place.

Fast forward 7 years, and here I am thinking way too often about what goes into my food, how its treated and grown, and how it will affect my body. Thanks to a little life experience, a few good friends and family members with good tips and resources, and LOTS of will power, I feel I am starting to feel physically better than I have ever felt. Cutting out modified sugars, pesticides, high-fructose corn syrup, and for now, MILK (I know, so sad)... feels so good.

And it feels good that I am figuring out how to cook what I LIKE to cook, and what my family enjoys. I felt too limited going through recipe books constantly, trying to make meals with a thousand ingredients, and getting completely overwhelmed. The best, most tasty food comes WHOLE! And somehow I create things I like better WITHOUT a cookbook. Guess I'm just wired a little differently.

Yes, I DO still consume many ingredients and foods that aren't so natural... its how we save money! I am simply trying to limit the amount of unnatural foods in my diet in the places it matters most! I do have lots to learn... LOTS.

So there's my food life in a nutshell. :P