sweets!

Something about being home after two weeks of travels made me appreciate cooking, so despite my trying not to be mom-ish, I'm posting another recipe. But this time dessert!I found this recipe via pinterest on this website, and thought I'd give it a try for a cookout this past weekend. This cookie recipe might not be the right start to any New Years resolutions, but.. it's worth it once you see the recipe name.

Oreo Pudding Cookies (told you.)


Ingredients:
1 cup butter, room temperature
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup white sugar
1 (4.2 ounce) package instant Oreo Pudding mix 
2 1/4 cups flour  
1 teaspoon baking soda 
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 Hershey's Cookies N Cream Candy Bars broken into small pieces (King Sized bars)
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips


To Make:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 

Combine flour, baking soda, and salt in a small bowl and set aside. Cream together butter and sugars. Beat in pudding mix until blended. Add the eggs and vanilla and mix well. Add the flour mixture and mix to combine. Stir in cookies n' cream pieces and chocolate chips.

Using a cookie dough scooper, place golf ball sized dough balls on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake at 350 degrees for 8 minutes. The cookies will feel and look under-cooked, but they aren't. Let cookies cool for 5 minutes on baking sheet before moving to a cooking rack. 

...so good.

day two, three, four...

Okay, I have to admit that I began writing down my "thankfuls and joys" in my head and telling Jake in person rather than on this blog. I will, however, leave a list of things at the end of this blogpost to sum up the past week.

Jacob and I enjoyed our Thanksgiving break more than we ever thought imaginable. It was exactly what our relationship, minds, and hearts needed. We spent almost every day together, just enjoying being carefree and having fun. It seems unreal that we might have forgotten how to have fun in only a few months, but I think in a way, we had. My last post revealed a good bit of complaining, and I apologize for that. I do like to be real in my writing and tell what I'm going through personally and what we're going through as a couple, but I don't want it to be composed of complaints.

Anyway, our break was rejuvinating and relaxing. We laughed a lot, we walked and talked a lot, and we were reminded of how perfectly we fit. (Prepare for the cheese..I can't help it) Jacob is the man of my dreams (silly, but true) and I tell him that a lot. He is the funniest person I know, loves me as I've never experienced, is selfless, kind, and has sacrified so much of his energy and strength on completing Physical Therapy school so that we will be able to provide for our family. God called him to become a PT and to use his knowledge and practice to serve the world, and God is making it happen. One day at a time, but only one year and a half left before Jacob moves past the phase of school, studying, and frustration into serving others, and eventually us serving together as he provides PT to the less fortunate, and to those in need elsewhere.

It's funny how our interests can work as one. Jacob will be a Physical Therapist, and I (still no certain career path yet) have a background and passion for the nonprofit sector in general. That being said, if he really does open his own PT practice as he hopes to do, I would plan to create a Foundation aspect as a part of his company. The Foundation would exist so that the employees may serve in areas of poverty in the U.S. and travel to other countries to serve those who do not have access to physical therapy.

"The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps." Proverbs 16:9


We'll see what we actually end up doing in the long haul, but it's exciting to think about the possibilities. I'm just glad we're together and like-minded.

Time for the thankfuls and joys that we slacked on writing this past week:

• Jacob passing his competency yesterday
• Thankful for the week of thanksgiving. Being with friends, family and one another.

• Visiting Jenna, and her being accepted into the Art Program at Kennesaw!
• Driving with my little sister. She received her license last Tuesday.
• Seriously contemplating adopting a kitten, and then Jacob letting me know that he's not kidding about being allergic.
• Finally receiving my diagnosis for my foot, and being able to start running again with Jake.
• Drive-in movies

• Jake getting to camp with his brother and nephews 

• Decorating the Christmas tree and apartment together for our first Christmas. Thank you Target dollar aisle.
• Being able to buy our tickets for Jacob's cousin's wedding in California in December.
• More Wonder Years..
• Conversations with friends.
• Being challenged by Jake to step outside my comfort zone.

• Red velvet whoopie pies (recipe here)

• Jacob loving his iPhone Siri more than me and tweeting that she's "robothot" #weird....#notthankful
• Chick-fil-A dates
• I am real joyful because we keep seeing really cute babies. Jacob is not.
• Eating Menchies froyo and feeling sick from the red velvet flavor.
• Finally finishing thank you notes from the wedding!

• Using our crockpot for the first time, and never going back. (recipe here)
• Falling asleep on Jake's lap for an hour right after arriving home from work.
• Getting excited that he has an entire month off from school in one week!

Will write again next week.

love, the stagnaros

day one

This post is a bit different from our usual, but it's something we feel compelled to try. I'm praying that through this we will truly gain perspective and gracious hearts for the plan God has created for mine and Jake's lives. Jake can agree that I've been complaining about the smallest things lately, but why? I'm often wishing for life to be more detailed, more interesting during this stage of school and interning, but isn't it already? Sure, school might leave Jacob exhausted and frustrated every week, and I find myself discouraged from job searching. Yes, we literally have to plan when we can manage to have quality time together, but I cannot thank God enough that we are together at all. We each have a desire to serve one another, our love has been challenged and grown, we have been encouraged by our new community in Roswell, and we are trusting God with what's next. Why wouldn't I wake every morning thankful for the Lord, his grace, mercy, and the life he has provided for my husband and I.

1 Chronicles 16:34, “Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.”

To get to the point of this post - I (and Jake here and there) will be writing a few things we are thankful for and find joy in for a total of thirty days. This will be my first post with day one (combination of joys from the week), but I will most likely combine each week into one post to make reading a little easier. I'm praying that this will contribute to us finding peace with our current circumstances and remind us of how full our lives are because Christ sustains both Jacob and I individually and our marriage. I'm also very much memory-driven, so this is fun for me to look back on:)

day one - joys and thankfuls

• Jake writing a note and giving it to me when I woke up Tuesday morning.
• Late night conversations
• Making burnt waffles and using left over waffles to make "waffle sticks"...clever.
• Going on a walk together tonight (freezing) and enjoying conversation without school/work mentioned
• Talking with my younger sister on the phone. She is super intellectual and kind, and will be taking her Driver's test on Tuesday. I don't know how the time has gone by so quickly, but I'm thankful for the love of sisters and the bond that we've had despite my being somewhat far away the past five years.
• Jacob receiving a phone call from his good friend, Chris Pope (who recently purchased a Moped, which in return left Jake wanting one..) He also, more importantly, recently proposed to a really great girl - Alli.  We are incredibly happy for them and thankful for their friendship!
• Small group Monday night - feeling like we're becoming closer friends with our church community and beginning to feel less like the only married couple without children in Roswell.
• My coworker buying me the pear ornament I told her I loved! We now have 4 ornaments. Thankful that I'm in such an encouraging environment and that these girls have become some of my closest friends.
• One of my great friends and practically family has his new single "Snow" on iTunes. Really excited for him! You can download it here: http://itunes.apple.com/artist/jason-gridley/id480195110?v0=9988&ign-mpt=uo%3D1
• Spending time with family and friends this weekend, so for that I am thankful. and joyful.

We'll be back soon! Love, The Stagnaros

1 Peter 1:3-9

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in its last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith - more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire - may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls." [ESV]

depth

For a night of much need quality time, Jacob and I decided to watch a few episodes of The Wonder Years, compliments of Amazon Prime. In fact, we are already on the second season. First The Cosby Show, now The Wonder Years. What has marriage done to us?..Old souls.

We have been talking lately about how quickly a relationship can lose depth among a busy and routine life.  Relationships with friends, one another, and God. And how easily we fail to be intentional with our time. This is something I'm beginning to pray for as Jake and I are only experiencing the mild version of busy, but can you imagine adding children to that mix? (We won't actually imagine that now..) I want God to be so real to me and to Jacob individually and in our marriage among the routines and schedules. It's hard to imagine not ever having the depth in our relationship with one another or with God, but becoming consumed in the world can do just that. Thankfully, nothing can truly separate us from God's love and his depth, and in that, we find hope and rest apart from this world.

And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God's love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow--not even the powers of hell can separate us from God's love. (Romans 8:38)

love, the stagnaros

Marriage > School

The past few weeks have been ultra busy for me in school (this is Jacob by the way) which has admittedly caused me to spend significantly more time with my computer and school work than with Kel. I hate that. It's weird though, I've been a student for seemingly an eternity yet it still isn't automatic. You see, we learn a lot of useful and useless things in PT school. One thing, which falls somewhere in the middle, is that when you're learning a new skill (in the correct context a motor skill), you eventually get to the point where you can perform the skill autonomously and you only focus your attention on the details to take full advantage of your ability, i.e. using the environment to your benefit. Unfortunately, it doesn't appear this is true of school. No matter how long I am in school, it continues to require much more attention than it's worth, I cannot perform adequately on auto-pilot.

The hard part isn't school though, I have done school for a long time now and by itself I can handle it. Don't get me wrong, the hard part definitely isn't marriage either, whoever said the beginning of marriage would be extremely difficult hadn't met Kelley. The hard part is that I got used to school, then we got married and I had a break from school, during which time I got used to marriage (as much as you can in two months), but now I'm married and in school and I'm not used to this. In fact as I type this I should definitely be studying neuro, but it's been a great adventure to learn how to do life after college, school after college, marriage after college and thankfully church after college...and Kelley's taking it like a champ, sorry school ruins me Kel. 

civil wars

A quick post from our weekend in Birmingham!

We traveled Friday evening to see The Civil Wars perform at the Alabama Theatre. It was by far the best performance Jake and I had ever seen. The group, Milo Greene, opened for The Civil Wars, and we really enjoyed them as well. So, just a few bands to look into if you already haven't.

Here's a few photos from our brief adventure ---

    Driving into Birmingham, AL. 

After a super delicious dinner at John's City Diner, we arrived at the Alabama Theatre for the concert.

Also captured a few videos from the concert to share! The Videos aren't the best, but the you'll like the sound :) Poison & Wine and Barton Hollow. Enjoy!

And a video from youtube of Milo Greene, the opening act.

                 

        Breakfast the following morning.

         

And a quick hike at Oak Mountain State Park to end our adventure.

I'm thinking we'll need more weekends like this! So nice to take a break.

In other news, Jacob now has a Twitter - @jacobstagnaro. He may or may not blow up your Twitter feed, so you can't say one of us didn't warn you.

Until next time!

Love, The Stagnaros